These are “mentally disturbed people,” says Trump. “Animals”.
They’re Animals
Reporter: Mr. President, how would it not be a war crime to strike Iran’s bridges and power lines?
Trump: Because they killed 45,000 people … They’re animals and we have to stop them and can’t let them have nuclear weapons.
Note: Those are exact quotes. The ones below are slightly different.
Mentally Disturbed People
Reporter: Are you concerned that your threat to bomb power plants and bridges amount to war crimes?
Trump: No, not at all. … Mentally, these are disturbed people.
Reflection of the Day
“The Iranian regime is killing Iranian civilians. That’s why we have to kill Iranian civilians.”
Reflections on Animals
“The people of Iran are not animals. The animal is the one who bombs girls’ schools. The animal is the one who bombs a nation’s infrastructure. The animal is the one who bombs residential areas. The animal is the one who assassinates the official leaders of a country and takes pride in their assassination. The animal is the one who bombs universities and pharmaceutical factories.”
Promise Everything, Deliver Nothing
Tough Choices
Greenland, the Original Sin
My Position Too
“This is the most un-Christian President I’ve ever seen, by a mile, and I’ve also bashed the hell of out Biden, Obama, Bush and Clinton here. If you disagree, that’s fine, just block me, but I’m not going to sit and listen to this demented maniac without saying something.”
I have lost a lot of readers over this. The irony is people think I am doing it for clicks. Comments are up, but my traffic is way down.
I am losing readers, thus money. So be it.
“I’m not going to sit and listen to this demented maniac without saying something.”
White House Press Conference Today
“Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again. I mean complete demolition by 12 o’clock, and it will happen over a period of four hours if we wanted to, we don’t want that to happen,” Trump told reporters during a White House press conference.
Iran Rejects a U.S. Ceasefire Plan
NPR reports Iran rejects a U.S. ceasefire plan as Trump again threatens to bomb its infrastructure
Iran’s state media said the country rejected a U.S. plan for a temporary ceasefire and countered with a proposal of its own for a permanent end to the war, as President Trump again threatened to bomb Iranian bridges and power plants if it didn’t open the Strait of Hormuz.
Attacking civilian infrastructure that doesn’t contribute to military action would be a war crime under international and U.S. laws, according to legal experts.
Asked by a reporter if he was concerned about committing a war crime, Trump said, “No. I hope I don’t have to do it.” He said he believed the Iranian public is willing to suffer more U.S. bombing to gain freedom.
Diplomatic initiatives are underway
Proposals for a 45-day ceasefire to end the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran are still being hammered out with no agreement by the U.S. and Iran over the terms.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said Monday Iran rejected a U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire. It said Iran conveyed to officials of mediating country Pakistan the need for a permanent end to the war, and that Iran’s response includes demands such as lifting sanctions and ending other wars in the region.
Speaking to reporters early Monday on the White House South Lawn, President Trump acknowledge a proposal and said it is “not good enough, but it’s a very significant step.”
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said he had a call with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani.
Qatar’s prime minister also had a series of phone calls with officials from India, Spain and Norway, and emphasized the need for negotiations to contain the crisis and ensure global energy security and regional stability, freedom of navigation and environmental safety, according to the Qatari Foreign Ministry.
In a post on X on Sunday, the ministry said that “experts from both sides presented a number of visions and proposals that will be studied.”
Regime Change or Not?
Flashback, March 14, 2026, WSJ: They Were Promised Regime Change. Now Many Iranians Feel Betrayed.
At the start of the war on Iran, Israel and the U.S. said they were paving the way for Iranians to rise up and topple their government. Many Iranians cheered on the offensive as a last resort to overthrow rulers who killed thousands of protesters in January.
One Tehran-based civil-society activist and former political prisoner said Iranians were truly hopeful two weeks ago as the war began. Now, the person said, they feel betrayed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken on a similar tone, saying in a speech Thursday that Iranians might not be able to bring down the regime, just days after he exhorted them to be ready for the coming moment to strike.
“The penny has dropped for a lot of people that this may be much more about state collapse than regime change,” said Ellie Geranmayeh, an Iran expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
In early January, Trump encouraged Iranian protesters to overthrow their government, posting on social media that the U.S. was “locked and loaded” and that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.” Days later, he decided against an attack after advisers convinced him the U.S. didn’t have the necessary forces in place. Critics at the time feared for the future of protesters who had been emboldened by Trump’s call to action.
When launching the war on Feb. 28, Trump and Netanyahu again called Iranians into the streets. But Iranian security forces had prepared for the war with plans to disperse decision-making and a widespread crackdown ahead of the fighting.
Help Is On the Way
Truth Social Link: Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Jan 13, 2026, 7:43 AM
Just Like That
We have gone from “HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! ” Make Iran Great Again liberation to “These are mentally disturbed animals” …
Where “Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again. I mean complete demolition by 12 o’clock, and it will happen over a period of four hours if we wanted to, we don’t want that to happen.”
Allegedly, the “animals” are “willing to suffer more U.S. bombing to gain freedom.”
Uh… What freedom is that?
I repeat …
A Totally Deranged Trump Goes Stark Raving Mad on Truth Social
“Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”
It’s hard to know where to go with this other than to suggest Trump has completely lost his mind.
We are now hours away from help via total destruction.
However, hope is not totally lost, as noted last evening in Praise Be to Allah! Negotiations to Prevent Living Hell Allegedly Underway.
“Living Hell for Crazy Bastards” may be postponed.
Or not.
It all depends on this: Speaking to reporters early Monday on the White House South Lawn, President Trump acknowledge a proposal and said it is “not good enough, but it’s a very significant step.”
We have made a significant step to prevent “Living hell”. In a matter of hours we will find out if the step was significant enough.
Trump = AMERICANS = Biden
America is a jewish dominion. Always was from the beginning. zionism = freemasonry = “AMERICA”
It’s a racist satanic club and you ain’t in it — you just work, kill and die for them
the war crime is waging illegal war on another nation. this thing was a war crime when the 1st bomb dropped.
no need to quibble. war and war.crimes go hand in hand unfortunately.
Anyway, have a smoke and a good night. we will see what happens tomorrow.
The Teheran bridge they bombed had not yet been opened.
That moots any dual use justification. It was a war crime, one of a long series.
Nothing spells intentions like bombing universities.
Trump today: Iran has made a serious proposal but it’s not good enough. They want a 45 day ceasefire. We are going to bomb everything tomorrow if they don’t make a better proposal.
Iran today: We do not want a ceasefire. We want the war to end, and for the US to pay reparations. Trump is negotiating with himself.
Trump tomorrow: Iran has made a good enough proposal to allow me to pause the destruction of their country. But if the strait doesn’t open soon, I will bomb them to the stone ages.
TACO Tuesday.
There is huge put volume for May 15 on HYG. Looks like the junk bond market is about to blow up. Maybe private equity + junk bonds + debt will finally implode bigly. Trump/GOP will get 100% of the blame if it happens.
Here’s the link for barchart subscribers.
https://www.barchart.com/options/open-interest-change/increase?sector=etf
I’m already positioned for profits in case anyone is wondering.
It’s the belligerents who are calling for a ceasefire and that’s only because they need more time to get more weapons and troops in place. U.S. and Israel think Iran is stupid. The U.S. completely destroyed any hope for a peaceful solution when it killed Khamenei
Everytime the Trumpster ramps up the smacktalk, he TACOs. Judging by the ridiculous crap coming out of his mouth, especially all the stuff he’s making up about negotiations, it sure seems like he will have some excuse ready tomorrow if there’s no off ramp. He’s still trapped, nothing has changed
I think we all hope you are right. It has been his standard. But his desire for retribution and his desire to look like a winner is his driving force. So he’s expecting Iran to make him look like a winner while he loses. It’s Tuesday in Iran already.
I by no means approve of some of what’s been happening, but I am not on the ground, and not privy to the conversations and decisions being made and by whom, so with that being said, let’s look at the facts, and see if any crimes fit…
– Reporter: Mr. President, how would it not be a war crime to strike Iran’s bridges and power lines? > It would not be considered a war crime if the infrastructure serves a military purpose. (Ex. Does the military use said bridge, for any military needs, actions, shipments, reinforcements etc.).
– Reporter: ‘Isn’t bombing civilian infrastructure a war crime?’ > Each situation depends on certain criteria, based upon the situation at hand and at that time (see above).
– Indiscriminate attacks (Ex. Iran to neighboring Countries in current war).
>> The Administration has not been charged with, and not sure there is evidence of any, based on what constitutes a “War Crime” up to this point. I obviously don’t have enough facts to say one way or another.
Poor Stu. Your head is so far up Trump’s ass, you can’t see what is going on. If you want to see reality, you have to pull your head out first.
Plenty of war crimes have been committed already. Bombing a country back to the “Stone Age” implies indiscriminate aggression.
BTW, Iran has been deliberate in attacks on neighboring countries, in reaction to attacks on Iranian infrastructure. They warned that there would be consequences for hosting military bases from which attacks originate, and initially focused on military infrastructure. Israel/U.S. ignored Iran’s warning of attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure, and as a result Iran attacked energy infrastructure in Israel and other Arab countries. Attacks on Iranian industrial facilities has resulted in attacks on others’ factories, etc. Instead of taking responsibility for their own actions, the Arab leaders cry unfair and still refuse to confront the real aggressors.
meanwhile it looks like its all going just as planned: Gov. Desantis has signed legislation that gives him new authority to designate domestic terrorist organizations and allows colleges to expel students involved in those groups.
You didn’t lose readers, you lost trolls that came here for Biden bashing and now are unhappy you call out Trump for stupidity day after day. At this point, why would anyone with a functioning brain still support the demented demon in the White House?
Huge put volume for end of May on SPY confirms my suspicious of a “Sell in May” stock disaster but markets can stay irrational longer than I can stay put solvent.
its about my pocketbook not personal: “Its the economy stupid!”
reg fuel here in the midwest is around a dime below 4.00 a gallon. If and when that goes to just under 5.00 a gallon than whomever is in office is toast
Trump Calls Irainians “Disturbed Animals” ? …..But…”It Takes One to Know One”
I’m not sure I agree that blowing up bridges and power plants is equivalent to killing civilians and why was it okay for Ukraine to do it to Russia? I don’t think the world has a consensus on what constitutes a war crime. 100,000 civilians died in Iraq but you never heard the words “ war crime”. People are just not serious anymore.
Yes, war crimes were addressed regarding Iraq. We are not signatories on the war crimes Rome Statute. Add to the Supreme Court protecting trump as immune from prosecution recently..he’s golden. Which is gross just to say out loud.
Well said!
Another Dumb fuck.
This whole freaking war is a war crime. Iran didn’t threaten us or do anything to us.
Russia was blowing up Ukrainian infrastructure from day 1 of their invasion. Ukraine has simply responded in kind.
Yes. Both war crimes.
Dumb fuck.
Blaming Ukraine for Russia attacking them is as Orwellian as it gets.
Russia started slow in attacking infrastructure, and is careful to avoid civilian casualties. This has actually been infuriating from the perspective of many in Russia who have seen what Ukraine is really about and want their regime ended ASAP.
Meh
Are you joking? Or are you just that stupid?
Russia began systematically attacking Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure in September 2022, with a major nationwide escalation on 10 October 2022 involving more than 80 cruise missiles and 24 drones.
🇷🇺 Timeline of Russia’s Infrastructure Attacks on Ukraine
🔥 Initial Phase: September 2022
• Russia’s first coordinated campaign targeting critical energy infrastructure began in September 2022.
• Early strikes hit power plants such as Kharkiv TEC‑5, marking a shift from battlefield targets to civilian energy systems.
⚡ Major Nationwide Escalation: 10 October 2022
• On 10 October 2022, Russia launched a massive wave of 84 cruise missiles and 24 loitering munitions across Ukraine.
• Targets included Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and other major cities.
• This attack is widely recognized as the start of the full-scale infrastructure degradation campaign.
❄️ Winter 2022–2023: Sustained Grid Attacks
• Through late 2022, Russia fired over 1,000 missiles and drones at Ukraine’s energy grid.
• By mid‑December 2022, nearly half of Ukraine’s power grid was damaged or offline.
🔌 Impact by 2024
• By mid‑2024, Ukraine had only one‑third of its pre‑war electricity‑generating capacity remaining.
• Gas distribution and district heating systems were also repeatedly hit.
🧭 Why This Matters
For strategic context—especially relevant to your interest in energy infrastructure and resilience—this shift in September–October 2022 marked:
• A deliberate Russian strategy to break civilian morale and pressure Kyiv.
• A campaign widely condemned as war crimes by Western governments and the ICC.
• A major driver of Ukraine’s push for air defense systems and grid hardening.
Three time Trump voter here.
Now I say we are the crazy bastar-s living in hell.
Impeach!
You are definitely an interesting sort
Everyone gets virgins. Now that’s liberation.
Virgins are boring
Apparently, even Trump.
Trump’s moral compass is set to emancipator. Even though the people would suffer with the loss of electricity, it would cripple the regime. Once the regime has been overthrown, the US would help rebuild those power plants.
Did the United States help rebuild Libya after Gaddafi?
“No, the United States did not undertake a major role in rebuilding Libya after the 2011 overthrow and death of Muammar Gaddafi. While the US participated in the NATO-led military intervention that helped topple Gaddafi’s regime (primarily through airstrikes, intelligence, and logistical support under a UN mandate to protect civilians), post-conflict reconstruction efforts were minimal and largely avoided by Washington.”
That was the Black Messiah who bombed Libya. A false prophet.
I think Trump is more like the Antichrist than Obama was even though Obama was a deceiving person who fooled the masses. The prophesied Antichrist is able to fool most Christians and Obama didn’t do that. Trump has the overwhelming support of evangelical Christians and they see him as a savior, yet what he is doing (along with Israel) is objectively evil.
Trump certainly has the ”Paradise Lost” numbers:
with 1/3 willing to follow him into the depths of hell.
That ratio is attributed to “Revelation 12:4, 7-9, where a great red dragon’s tail sweeps a ‘third of the stars’ from the sky”.
Is orange the new great red?
Nor did we help rebuild Serbia after bombing them for 78 days. We are Empire of Chaos.
the US would help rebuild those power plants. riiiight lol just like the mouse that roared! A tiny, impoverished European nation declares war on the United States of America, planning to lose in order to collect post-war compensation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7L7WLFBYR4
A funny movie.
And if Iran blows up U.S. power plants, who will fix them? China?
Don’t we still have cities and towns awaiting cleanup from storm damages, particularly in areas affected by powerful storms like those in Michigan and Oklahoma?
For a hefty share of the oil no doubt…
maybe he should shut the fuck up about stealing thier oil then.
keep kidding yourself.
Trump is set to dominate, nothing else.
trump maybe able to destroy the entire grid, i doubt it. its large and would take considerable effort and risk.
it may cripple the regime, I doubt it. knowing the regime, they will feel the pain last.
it will widen the war. Israel and tje gulf states will feel pain. their territories are small compared.to Iran.
but if that’s the route we want to take? so be it.
Taco was looking in the mirror and was referring to himself, no doubt.
Bully pulpit.
Now Trump Calls Them “Disturbed Animals” ? I wonder if the Donald has carefully thought of what will show if he wipes off his steamed up Mirror?
Color me surprised.
Winning hearts and minds isnt Trump’s forte, it is exciting emotions.
That’s why so many of his supporters are angry and heartless and/or mindless.
What happened to the $200 billion supplemental request the Pentagon wanted? No mention of it since March 20.
doesn’t have the votes last i heard.
thank you Mr Bouie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVnFTrohaP4
@Mish you’re losing readers because you don’t focus enough on paper market Vs physical market disconnect and other problems. People are moving towards blogs that don’t solely rely on official index numbers but show what’s really happening even though many may use doubtful sources.
E.g you should focus on giving us your opinion on what’s actually happening to markets with that pricing disconnect and what it means if official silver or oil prices have nothing to do with reality anymore.
E.g Some price examples of physical delivery I want to see mentioned here besides calling out Trump
Singapore gasoil platts at 230usd/barrel
https://www.investing.com/commodities/nymex-singapore-gasoil-platts-c1-futures
Jet fuel prices
https://www.iata.org/en/publications/economics/fuel-monitor/
I still like reading your blog but focussing on Trump you seem to have lost a bit the picture of what’s happening in the financial world in reality.
No one in the US gives a rat’s ass about fuel prices in Singapore.
They care about prices here.
Regardless, Trump is impacting global prices, he is mentally instable.
Everyone liked it when Biden was mentally unstable and I commented on that.
Now, 35% of the nation has their head up Trump’s ass.
Mishelin award granted for best comment in this thread. But savvy investors care about global financial information anywhere there are profits to be made!
But you should. It will have huge implications on the supply chain of anything imported into USA.
Ever tried to get your COMEX silver delivered? Hint it’s not working anymore, it’s just paper rolled over and the implications will be big.
You had great analysis of how the economic situation lead to a Trump win in 2024 elections.
Please look at economics and it’s impact from a broader perspective, Trump is more a symptom than the cause. He is the the accelerator but not the reason for what’s going to happen.
How can there be economic growth with 10-20% or energy taken out of the system? Supply chains collapsing, copper unavailable for green transition at payable prices, fertilizer worldwide production decreased by 20-50% depending on the source… What will this mean for the next winter?
Yes I do believe that USA, Canada, Russia and China somewhat can keep away from collapse and simply face two digit inflation at least and further widening of gap of poor vs rich. The rest of the world looks however very dim if the Iran war continues, and even opening up the Hormuz straight will not bring back the LNG and oil and fertilizers to previous levels because so much of the infrastructure is damaged and will need years to be replaced.
Don’t you see that US shale oil has peaked and basically no oil rigs got deployed meaning output by 2027 is gonna decrease fast? US did the war on Venezuela and Iran to keep oil in US hemisphere and while it’s a success I’m Venezuela it seems to turn into disaster in Iran.
Some of what you are focusing on its true. Some is not. I agree that there are many things happening in the world that are important. But just because Mish focuses on the US more than the rest of the world, is no reason for you to complain. It’s his blog and he can write about what he wants. If you don’t like his focus, then just leave, or better yet, start your own blog that focuses on what you want.
It’s the US that expanded the war focus. And this year the external shock on US economy will be so big that it will affect US deeply.
We are worldwide way deeper into oil troubles Vs what the mainstream thinks.
Paper oil market is 50x the size of physical oil market. Who is short when oil goes 150-200 USD? That could completely break the financial system in the USA when it pops and Trump’s and Netanyahu’s escalation make this very likely. Usually it’s oil producers that are short.. meaning the middle east. If Iran takes out their infrastructure they will call force majeure and a cascade will ripple that 50x larger than physical market. This likely will need a bigger bail out Vs 2008 and it’s not unlikely to happen this or next week. I’m assuming many banks are shorting oil besides the producers, because others would have their positions liquidated already.
No one will talk about last months unemployment or inflation numbers anymore if this pops. And the trigger is basically right in trump’s hand because Iran can and will retaliate…
Slowly the financial media is waking up but it’s not on front-pages yet. Once it’s on front-pages of mainstream media it will be too late
The republican political machine has done a very good job of making it an us against them theme. Republican against dem. Listen to conservative talk radio you will get what i mean.
Its because their policies do not work for the average republican voter.
The major trump supporters have bought into maga as a their identity. They double down on trump because to admit they were wrong. They would have to own it.
Idiot
Trump is not in charge of this war. Nutty Yahoo is, and he has the full force of the U.S. military at his disposal to do exactly what he wants.
Nutty doesn’t care how much it costs because it’s free money to him. $200 billion is just the first installment.
The plan? Turn Iran into Gaza. Turn southern Lebanon into Gaza.
Level every building to the ground so that the landscape is nothing but mounds of rubble. Turn it into Mad Max with gangs in control instead of a civilized government. Have the people fight like animals over scraps of food. (Trump did say they were animals, right?)
Post-Gadafi Libya will seem like Disney World compared to what Israel has in store for Lebanon and Iran, all financed by the United States.
We’ve got to blow up Iran to save Iran
He is clearly referring to the IRGC here. Applying this statement to the entire Iranian population is disingenuous and only serves to add to the rage bait.
Really? Why say anything at all? Nothing will come from it other than generating ire and nashing of teeth… and sinking deeper down the spiral.
And all just to lose long time followers? Nothing stated here will change what Trump does. Nor will anybody’s life be improved by working themselves into a lather every time he says something stupid. Is this an economics and geopolitical blog? or a personal venting ground to stir up social outrage… or more.
This is probably the best take since Trump was elected. The world would be a better place if more people took this approach to Trump.
I’ve seen a friend fall down a similar hole while watching Aljazeera every waking hour for a year. Now he can’t hold a 5 minute conversation without talking about how jews need to die.
I think Mish it’s time to ask yourself, “Where are you going with these posts on Trump and why?”
Jerry says “you are doing a excellent job. certain things need to be said.
not the lies and bullshit you see on most other so called superior news outlets
but looks like no ceasefire. they would be out of there mind to agree to anything with
this regime. thanks for the massive effort it takes to keep this site up to date”
Why am I doing these posts?
Because they are important. That’s why.
The #1 story every day on every site (WSK, WaPo, NYT, Bloomberg etc, are these stories). I comment on the news.
35% of the nation identifies with MAGA. I lost those readers.
Too bad.
MAGA reading comprehension skills were dubious at best anyway.
“Nothing stated here will change what Trump does. Nor will anybody’s life be improved by working themselves into a lather every time he says something stupid. Is this an economics and geopolitical blog? or a personal venting ground to stir up social outrage… or more.“
I think Venezuela would disagree with you. That’s why Greenland and the EU were quite concerned. In fact they stood up to him not only with their words but with troops as well. Trump has shown time and again that he will not ask for permission. The only way to combat this lawlessness is for the public to speak out and use the law. Republicans have shown they are feckless and unwilling to do anything about this American Carnage. Iran has been bombed. Who is next? There have been and will be real world consequences to his actions. Noncombatant civilians have been killed.The world has no trust in us. Our currency is losing ground. Gold is off the charts. Trump is holding the word economically hostage. And for what? No one knows for sure. But he is clearly out of control. He is an ignorant, narcissistic, mentally disturbed person. And I’m not some pop psychologist with my take on it. I have considerable and unfortunate experience with these types of people. And in my conversations with members of the psychology field they are in complete agreement. He is doing real damage to the world and to America’s place in it. This will come back on us and the carnage will continue until he is reigned in. Consider Mish’s posts to be protests. We cannot ignore EOs that are clearly illegal. We cannot ignore the killing of innocent civilians. We cannot ignore the trampling of our rites. We cannot ignore his efforts to throw the midterm elections. We cannot afford to let his words go unchecked least they become actions. You need to understand that when he spouts this or that, he is testing the waters. If he gets cheers or no pushback he goes with it. He said he didn’t like foreign wars. Now people are dead. I fear he will get comfortable with it. None of the guardrails that the founders inscribed into the constitution have done what needs to be done. It’s up to the people to speak up and protest where ever they can. Mish and I are old enough to understand what happens when people don’t take a stand and voice their concerns. This is not an ignore it and hope he doesn’t really mean it kind of moment. This is a get involved and Demand the government hold up their end of the bargain and hold his feet to the fire moment. Complacency is complicity. Consider this my protest post. I hope there are like minded people here who will demand more and better from their representatives. They put the 25th amendment in the constitution for a reason. We may not be able to change what he does, but we need to insist our elected officials do something about it.
meanwhile on the home front our own hurt: https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/general-mills-facility-closing-in-st-charles-over-150-impacted/
Plants closing in Missouri? You reap what you sow red state morons.
The US is already screwed with this war of Trumps, in it for the long run. If Trumps leaves office for whatever reason and JD takes over it’s going to be the equivalent of changing your shirt because you shit your pants
I very much disagree that JD Vance can keep the train running down the tracks like Trump. I’m sure he will snap back in line once his lease is snapped.
He would not have survived this long in Trump’s office if he didn’t know how to play ball.
Yep…the lunatics are running the asylum
He thinks of non-rich Americans the same way.
you are doing a excellent job. certain things need to be said.
not the lies and bullshit you see on most other so called superior news outlets
but looks like no ceasefire. they would be out of there mind to agree to anything with
this regime. thanks for the massive effort it takes to keep this site up to date
For people that are tired of posts re: Trump and want more economic analysis, no worries. If Trump follows through on his threat, there will be no end of opportunity to blog about the unending and expanding economic catastrophe that follows.
The market is largely acting as if this is not a big deal, but you can’t paper over reality forever.
It’s so weird how many people don’t get how intricately politics and economics are intertwined. They think Mish has veered away from economics.
The whole “rescue them” line was just bullshit from Netanyahu. His ilk think all goyim are animals.
The Chief Pedophile of the United States should be in a mental institution. Of course you could say the same thing about millions of his supporters who see nothing blameworthy about his behavior as a longtime pedophile. Such is the way of cults and their members.
Standing up for principles is risky. I’m sorry you are losing readers. These are terrible times.
Mish, you will not lose me. Covering these actions critically are indeed appropriate for an economic blog. Those who cannot see that are wholly invested in the machinations of the current administration politically rather than economically. I perceive you as an independent observer and reporter of these destructive actions which will have fiscal impacts of such import as to exceed anything my generation has witnessed. Keep up the good work. Well done.
Facts Only
President Trump has threatened to bomb Iranian bridges and power plants if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire, instead proposing a permanent end to the war, lifting of sanctions, and reparations.
Legal experts state that attacking civilian infrastructure without military justification could be considered a war crime under international and U.S. laws.
Trump has referred to Iranians as "mentally disturbed people" and "animals" in public statements.
Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, with Qatar and other nations mediating between the U.S. and Iran.
The U.S. and Israel initially framed the war as a means to support Iranian regime change, but many Iranians now feel betrayed by the lack of follow-through.
Trump has encouraged Iranian protesters to overthrow their government, but his administration has not taken direct military action to support them.
The conflict has led to economic concerns, including potential disruptions in global oil markets and financial instability.
Domestic U.S. politics are divided, with some readers criticizing the focus on Trump's rhetoric while others defend the need to hold him accountable.
The article includes commentary from various perspectives, including critics of Trump's policies and supporters who believe his actions are justified.
Executive Summary
The article presents a tense geopolitical standoff between the U.S. and Iran, with President Trump threatening to bomb Iranian infrastructure—including bridges and power plants—if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire, instead demanding a permanent end to the war, lifting of sanctions, and reparations. Legal experts note that targeting civilian infrastructure without military justification could constitute war crimes under international law. The conflict has escalated despite diplomatic efforts, with Trump's rhetoric intensifying, including dehumanizing language like calling Iranians "mentally disturbed animals." The situation is further complicated by domestic U.S. politics, economic concerns, and global energy market instability, with potential repercussions for oil prices and financial systems. The article also highlights internal U.S. divisions, with some readers criticizing the focus on Trump's actions while others defend the need to scrutinize his statements and policies.
The narrative captures a moment of high stakes, where military threats, diplomatic maneuvers, and economic pressures intersect. Trump's approach is framed as both aggressive and unpredictable, with critics arguing it risks widening the conflict and destabilizing global markets. Meanwhile, Iran's refusal to accept a temporary ceasefire underscores its demand for a more comprehensive resolution, reflecting deep-seated grievances and the complexity of ending the war. The article also touches on broader themes, such as the role of media in shaping public perception, the economic impact of prolonged conflict, and the ethical implications of targeting civilian infrastructure.
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative presents a clear and urgent crisis: Trump's threats against Iran are framed as both a strategic response to Iranian actions and a potential violation of international law. The article gives credit to the complexity of the situation, acknowledging diplomatic efforts, legal concerns, and the human cost of war. However, the narrative also leans into emotional exploitation, particularly through Trump's dehumanizing language and the framing of Iranians as either victims or aggressors. This creates a moral panic, where the stakes are heightened by the specter of war crimes and global economic collapse.
Patterns detected in the article include emotional exploitation (ARC-0012 Rage Bait, ARC-0015 Fear Appeals) and distortion (ARC-0024 Ambiguity, ARC-0031 Exaggeration to Absurdity). The repeated use of Trump's inflammatory rhetoric—calling Iranians "animals" and threatening total destruction—serves to provoke anger and fear, while the lack of clear context for Iran's actions (e.g., their demands for a permanent ceasefire) creates ambiguity. The article also employs a form of false framing (ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey) by oscillating between Trump's extreme statements and the legal or diplomatic nuances, making it difficult to pin down a consistent narrative.
The root cause of this narrative is a paradigm of militarized diplomacy, where threats and coercion are normalized as tools of statecraft. The unstated assumption is that Iran's actions are inherently aggressive, while U.S. actions are framed as defensive or liberatory—despite the lack of evidence that Iran posed an imminent threat to the U.S. This echoes historical patterns of interventionism, where regime change is justified under the guise of liberation, only to leave behind destabilized nations (e.g., Libya, Iraq).
The implications for human agency are stark: civilians in Iran and beyond bear the brunt of the conflict, while political leaders on both sides escalate rhetoric and violence. The economic costs—rising oil prices, financial instability—will disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The second-order consequences include further erosion of trust in U.S. leadership, potential regional destabilization, and the normalization of war crimes as acceptable state behavior.
Bridge questions: What perspectives are missing from this narrative? How might Iranian civilians view Trump's threats differently than U.S. audiences? What would it take to shift the focus from military threats to diplomatic solutions? How does the media's framing of this conflict influence public perception and policy outcomes?
Counterstrike scan: If this narrative were part of a coordinated influence campaign, the playbook would likely involve amplifying Trump's inflammatory rhetoric to polarize audiences, using fear of war crimes to discredit U.S. actions, and framing Iran as either a victim or an irrational aggressor. The actual content partially aligns with this pattern, particularly in its focus on Trump's statements and the emotional weight given to legal and ethical concerns. However, the inclusion of multiple perspectives—including criticism of Trump and acknowledgment of Iran's demands—suggests a more balanced approach than a pure influence operation would employ.
