So, if you follow the markets, today was looking bleak. Around 6 am - 6:30 am we were looking at some significant losses as the markets freaked out over the possibility of Trump instructing the military to start doing war crimes and the conflict escalating. Oil futures up. Lots of F.U.D. (fear, uncertainty, doubt) which is not good for Wall Street.
Then between 7 am - 7:30 am, Trump "TACO'd," and the markets flipped in the opposite direction. Oil futures fell. The DOW jumped +800 points (+1.8%) at open at 9:30 am, other indexes similar (S&P500 +1.4%, NASDAQ+1.6% at opening bell at 9:30 am).
Meanwhile, the Iranians are denying that talks are even happening, let alone confirming Trump's bleats from before the markets opened.
And his deadline? Well, let's see, 5 days after Monday would be... the weekend! After markets close! Don't forget he started this whole cockamamy war late in the night Friday / early AM Saturday.
So, it's the same sort of market manipulation he's always been doing. He's punting. He's hoping he can jawbone oil futures downwards and the stock market upwards while he stalls. My guess is if the strait isn't opened by the close of markets Friday (4:00 PM) then we will see an escalation over the weekend with regards to bombs and explosions and the Marines, and then an early Monday AM bleat again about how much progress Trump is making negotiating.
I thought for sure someone had ghost-written the first part for him since it sounded somewhat legible and responsible, but then I saw the 'witch' and though, "nah, that's ole Donny for sure"
The knot I've had in my stomach since Jan 20, 2025 would make clear that I take very seriously the threat of this man to our livelihoods and freedoms, but sometimes you gotta have a laugh so as not to completely lose your mind...
well, I do no longer even titter, one week, I erased him for a full six days, no elec night, '15, like a long root canal needle in my hard forehead, I've felt the same since, I was at work, the place reveled in celebratory noise. Oh well, went home, had some soup. I will not be alright until he either flies away from D C for the last time, officially or he has no pulse. The theft and the insults to even female babies, does truly infuriate me. If I was a man, I could ignore this prick, half the time.
I am pretty sure he is just a really poor speller and whoever edits his posts missed it. Although it is sort of, what do they call it, a Freudian slip?
Yes, I decided not to go into my theories about him from my point of view as a career special ed person, but hey, you gave me my opening. I think there's a lot of evidence that Trump has a lifelong reading disability that affected his ability to learn to fluently(quickly) decode words. This always affects spelling. I think he has some reading comprehension issues as well; note his marked preference for getting info from TV and by talking to people on the phone. I think he has some oral communication difficulties as well. His ability to express himself verbally has never been great and is getting worse. People with these types of disabilities, if they're lucky, are able to "read" people and situations they encounter--it's a survival mechanism. Note what people often call his "lizard brain"; he seems to be able to hit people right where it hurts: "Little Marco", as one of many examples. Added to that, there's a lot of info that he did not have a kindly, supportive upbringing, and that's probably an understatement. Add it all together and we have this deeply flawed and disturbed guy who happens to be in charge of our country.
The markets know he's manipulating them. They'd be fools not to go along with it. They'll be rich by the end of the year letting Trump drag them around by the nose, and you don't go into Wall Street with much else in the way of goals.
“When you dance with the devil, you wait for the song to stop.” - Barry the Baptist. But, hey, at least they can talk to the guy, make deals. Not sure what it means to make deals and talk with someone who is an egomaniacal liar, although what do I know?
It puts into relief how strange it is that large parts of US Gov. policy turn on a dime based on rants that come out in ALL CAPS on a made-up social media platform owned by the president. This is the craziness that we're all used to at this point.
Trump is bringing the whole pandemic era, "We'd have fewer cases if we did less testing," and, "Cases are going to go away soon as it gets warmer, everyone will be back at church by easter," attitude to war fighting.
At least with Covid he could blame it on a virus which wasn’t his fault and to be fair mistakes were made all around. This time it is all him and directly down to his strategic incompetence. He got us into this mess and doesn’t know how to get out, and he can’t just let the virus rum its course this time.
It’s probably the same people selling and buying back and forth through his manipulation. He may not completely understand how he’s manipulating the markets, but his wealthy donors probably have a good grasp of his actions.
But those who trade on words Trump and his officials may say privately could be doing extremely well with these seesaws, as well as with prediction markets.
Yes, Yes, Yes. His whole bullshit schtick is making money. He's discovered that he can move the market on a dime. He doesn't give a rat's ass about the people of Iran. He doesn't even give a rat's ass about the people in this country. I can not scream it loud enough for some of my relatives, friends and colleagues, "HE'S A CON AND IT'S A SCAM!"
When I read the bleat first thing this morning, my first thought was, "He's lying about there being negotiations." My second thought was, "How many billions did he and his buddies just make on that market manipulation?"
Maybe, but that is the two steps forward and one step back dance move — 1/2 a TACO — as the overall direction is escalation just slowing down the rhythm. It’s delaying the market pain in hopes that either something comes up or the markets just adjust and don’t yip too much. But then what do I know as apparently negotiating with the ghosts of Khamenei and Larjani are producing good results.
Agreed. This has nothing to do with “negotiations,” except maybe negotiations with stockbrokers over exactly which stocks to buy before Trump makes his “announcement” that will goose the Dow so that he, his kids, and his friends can sell.
I know it's self-destructive, and not kind to the whole world who it will affect, but I really want one of these TACO manoeuvres to backfire on him. He thinks he can just speak a lie into reality and I want him to fail spectacularly and it really to hurt him.
Back in 2016, Trump boasted of his genius in not telegraphing his military intentions to another country w which we had seemingly intractable differences. We now know what's really behind not revealing his true intentions - He doesn't know what the H he's doing.
That was worth the read, but I'll explain. I wouldn't call Trump stupid, but he's way short of deep, analytical thinking needed in a world leader. Why? He's not a substantial reader by any means. He doesn't have the knowledge & mental infrastructure. All that noise abt 4D chess from Trump 1.0 was just buzz.
I completely agree. It's a strategy meant to dominate attention and create the illusion of power for a cult audience who equates creating a spectacle with power. In addition, if me trolling them for several years has taught me anything, they're never going to have an "aha" moment or even bother to investigate whether what is happening is having any positive results.
I knew as soon as he posted that he was lying about negotiations. But in Trumpworld, everything he believes is really true. He needs to be locked up now.
"Iran's foreign ministry denies Tehran-Washington talks. Published at 09:08
Iran's foreign ministry has issued a statement, saying: 'We deny what US President Donald Trump said regarding negotiations taking place between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.'"
We all know he just wants a way out. And he's hoping Iran is desperate enough to go along. But they won't. And I'm finding it kind of refreshing that they refuse to live in Trumpworld.
I’ve honestly wondered if someone is just play acting on a zoom call dressed up like a mullah. I’m not joking at all, I think his staff could manipulate him that easily.
I laughed at it, back then, but one sibling said, not to laugh at the clean white coats. still laughed, a bold fourteen, that in between age. too cocky to be afraid. etc etc
All his life, his go-to phrase has been "Just say it."
"Ivanka, Don Jr., tell the investors that 75% of the building is already rented." "But Daddy, it's only 30%." "Say it, okay? [Just say it. If the investors believe it, it will come true]."
"Just say you're going to investigate Burisma and Hunter Biden, okay? Just say it. You don't have to do it [as long as I get the big headline I want].
"Just say you've found 11,000 votes for me, okay? Just say it!"
"Mike Pence, just say you're rejecting the votes from some states because there's evidence of fraud. Just say it, okay? [That will buy me the time to consolidate my support.]
As the rest of the world is beginning to understand, Donald Trump is so attuned to money that he cannot imagine people who are not, which blinds him to most of the other motivators in life, and our enemies know how to take advantage of this.
It is especially a problem in international affairs. The president has little or no understanding of things like nationalism and religion. He can see their value as tools to be exploited domestically, of course, but that people and leaders in other nations might actually embrace and act on them is beyond his ken.
"Why," he wonders, "don't they just worry about their best business interests, and let all this other shit go? Who cares about national pride? Who cares about god? Those things only get in the way of making a deal, and only a crazy person would do that!"
We see this thinking in his persecution of the war in Iran. He's mad when Israel blows up gas plants: "Those are valuable!" He builds his invasion plans around preserving oil processing facilities: "We can use those!" Then, when our friends and foes alike are motivated to attack these business assets to further their own ideas about secular and sacred autonomy, he's blown out of the water.
Now we see Trump flopping and gasping on the shore like a confused and desperate carp. His only hope is that he can thrash his way back into the water and resume life as a bottom feeder. He will have learned nothing and will remain forever unaware of what's going on above his head.
I once landed a pretty big fish, up north, in the boundary waters they want to ruin, in MN
later we put it in the ' smoker ' it was a dogfish, full of BONES, inedible, too many bones.
sort of makes me think of a rotten little boy born in Queens, who never finished taking from others, lying, boasting, cheating, wanting, always empty. not teflon, a cheap imitation.
I did a bit of winter sno-shoeing around Orr, and exploring , carefully around Grand Rapids, MN, Longville, is a really nice little town to visit on a quiet Fri/non tourist time, I now avoid all of CASS and of course Hubbard,
unless you go around to the west. I started peeking around WI,some neat spots too. went fishing, and a little hunting.
It's such a place, slept on an island one night, either Picket or a nearby lake, with my maybe future in laws, what a great little fire for nighttime coffee, think we hit the sleeping bags at around seven p.m. Also grabbed a small mouth bass on Rice Lake, in boring cent. MN, that was a fun evening though, set a little record, and I'm not skilled at landing these gilled critters
Whatever happens from here, we are in a place where we interrupted promising negotiations with Iran that could have led to a stable peace with a preemptive war that did their regime colossal damage, and rather than replacing the regime we've got the same regime pissed off and further radicalized. We turned a hostile country that was not a real threat to us into a country that will play the long game, never allowing the thought of revenge to leave their minds, wondering how they can exact some sort of adequate retribution through terrorist strikes or cyber attacks. We have done nothing to promote our own safety. The best Trump can hope for is the retaliation comes later rather than sooner, under a Democratic administration, so the GOP can once again blame Dems for something they made happen.
The Iranians don’t seem to be in the mood to negotiate at the moment, and why would we when we essentially doubled crossed them with *negotiations* to start the war.
You have one element of this backwards. Ali Khamenei wanted his son, Mojtaba, to succeed him, but the clerics were not willing to sign off on such a hereditary form of succession.
We did them him a favor in the opening days of this misadventurous war.
Yes, diplomacy, as all other administrations have practiced. Slow and steady, often not exactly what the US wants, but with an understanding that other countries/cultures do not function that same as we do. This administration is definitely missing that understanding, or really, does not care.
It feels like the most dangerous trap in political analysis is the compulsion to superimpose strategic intentionality over sheer incompetence. To argue that this administration executed a tactical retreat or merely "blinked" in the face of Iranian defiance fundamentally misdiagnoses the mechanics of the current crisis of 2026 America. A calculated withdrawal, or even the colloquial act of "chickening out" requires a preexisting, coherent framework from which to retreat. One cannot abandon a strategy that never existed. This administration has never had a strategy about anything.
This is not a pivot to a "less bad option" or a sophisticated deployment of the Madman Theory, instead, it is the erratic flailing of an executive profoundly devoid of geopolitical foresight. The abrupt reversal on striking civilian power plants, a catastrophic threat issued and retracted within a 48-hour window, does not indicate a sudden, rational appraisal of economic consequences or a fear of widening the conflict. Rather, it reflects an impulse-driven approach completely untethered from systematic policy formulation. The administration did not lose faith in its plan; there was no plan to begin with.
Why can't we just stop pushing this BS polite fiction that a hidden calculus operates beneath the bluster? The rapid contraction of stated objectives, from the total decimation of the Iranian regime to the singular, desperate goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, is not a diplomatic maneuver. It never has been, and never will be. It is simply the chaotic byproduct of an administration operating in a complete vacuum of competence. Acknowledging this reality, rather than projecting strategic depth onto erratic behavior, is the necessary first step to accurately assessing the severe peril of the current geopolitical crisis we are trying to live through.
I've seen comments here and on other sites that Trump does have some sort of strategy that we just don't understand but I don't believe that. I do believe he does care about making more money for himself and the billionaires (aside- I don't think he is a billionaire; he lies about his net worth). He has NO strategy in dealing with any world events. He is an old man who seems to listen to the last person who got a chance to whisper in his ear. That is how he governs. It is terrifying.
Thinking beyond Iran, it should be clear to anyone with a pulse that if Putin decided to roll through the Baltics or Xi moved to take Taiwan, Trump wouldn't lift a finger to stop them. Putin and Xi have observed Trump in action and under stress, and when push comes to shove, Trump will always make decisions based on saving *his* ass and not the national interest.
Also, whoever shorted the markets last week is making a killing today since Trump announced talks with Iran have been "productive".
Imagine if the Confederates took over Rhode Island after the Civil War. That's basically what Taiwan is. American arrogance is still at an all time high lol.
I've never minded other people making more money than me in the past, VJ, but in 2026, I'm at the point where I want to roll out the guillotine for all these motherfuckers.
It's the insatiable greed that amazes me because I admit I'm not wired that way. There is no such thing as "enough" with these people, and that's because they're entitled as hell. So let's see what happens when the law stops protecting them. 😈
I chat with my Chinese spy sometimes about how amazing it would be if the CPC set up a free dental clinic in Birmingham AL, or a free maternal clinic in Albuquerque NM, and watch as thousands of Americans line up for it. Attitudes towards China and ~socialism~ would change overnight. Not with bombs, or diplomacy, but with meeting raw human needs.
American lawmakers of both parties would have a lot of explaining to do. 😁🛠️
If I say one word about Asia, or anything near the Pacific, I have one brother, who screams marxist / right in my face, he's pretty confused. He loves his big sis and does not relish calling her a commie, one day he called me a pinko
Marxist policies lifted 800 million people out of poverty in less than 50 years. Only American ignorance and arrogance would not see that as a massive victory for the human race.
To him, it's not because they're incapable of doing the job, it's bkz they're acting in service of others, rather than going for big bucks in the private sector. And they're real losers if they end up giving their lives for any cause.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say there were no talks between the Iranians and Trump. Which Iranian officials ? How would we even contact them in a country with an internet blackout ? No Iranian official is going to use a phone and risk an Israeli missile. Note also that Trump’s five-day pause matches the trading week on energy markets. As usual he’s just flailing, having painted himself into a corner.
Trump, Hegseth, Vance, Miller, and Rubio are all itching to use a "tactical" nuclear weapon in Iran. And you can bet that Netanyahu is egging them on. So, a 5 day countdown...
We had a great time in Las Vegas at the end of February, had a great dinner with our retired bartender friend and his wife at the Prime Steakhouse in the Bellagio at a table by the windows overlooking the fountains. I have been attending peaceful protests at least once a week recently. I guess my life is in as good of a place as it can get these days.
The thing that is missed in talk about The Rapture? Based on multiple "predictions" over the years, The Rapture has come and gone. You and I missed it. As did multiple others. What remains? Hell on Earth. I guess claiming it is still coming is comforting, but really let's face reality!
I’ve been assuming that the deal will be the US gets to use one on Tehran and Russia gets to chuck one at Kiev and neither side will complain about the other’s use against civilian targets in non-nuclear states (not that there will be any of those left in 5 years or so if that happens).
Even Pooty Poot was warned not to use them in Ukraine. Double standard or sheer stupidity or both. I'll go w both, if it's true these immature - age has nothing to do w maturity for these MAGA dangerous clowns - want to use tactical nukes.
"One assumes that the United States military would have refused to obey orders to commit a war crime like attempting the “total decimation” of a country."
Sigh. I've lost the ability to navigate sarcasm. This was sarcasm, right?
The military has been purged of Black and female officers. Are we pretending that wasn't the prelude to illegal actions? We all know it was. I hate playing pretend.
I can't wait for all of my 80+ year old relatives to go on their vacations this month and tell me how Democrats have ruined air travel and should be convicted as traitors. I just smile and nod. I'm the out group, they are the in group. It's only a matter of time before the out group starts taking the stuff of the in group, that being their goal. As Comer says about the airports, hey, it's all good if it owns the libs.
From CNN: Dow soars after Trump calls off strikes on Iran, pending talks
Oh, and, by the way, oil's down to $89.19/bbl this morning.
So there, Failing New York Times! See that, Bulwark? See that, Fake News CNN!
Donald J. Trump: Super Genius!
This stuff drives me crazy. The markets are as volatile as Trump is. Nothing has really changed, but the markets are acting as if something did. And Trump and Hegseth and the rest of them, including their media sycophants and the crazy MAGA base will celebrate this as some kind of victory. And tomorrow? If the Dow drops and oil prices rise, they'll be back to blaming Joe Biden for everything.
"One assumes that the United States military would have refused to obey orders to commit a war crime like attempting the “total decimation” of a country."
SERIOUSLY? Did they refuse to obey the illegal orders to bomb any survivors from the first bomb of the so-called "drug" boats? My biggest fear is that the US Military will not refuse to obey illegal orders. Not abroad and not here at home....
The tongue is a bit in the cheek, but not totally:
Are we going to have to start carrying whistle to our airports? Will ICE agents ditch the masks, as these are untrained warriors, and will they have their names and IDs displayed? And last, but hardly least, will they leave their guns home?
Hopefully, the answers to the last two questions are yes, so we can leave the whistles at home.
I asked this on Facebook, and was answered by a friend that she saw them at Dulles in their usual garb sans masks. She was creeped out by the way they looked her up and down.
So, if you follow the markets, today was looking bleak. Around 6 am - 6:30 am we were looking at some significant losses as the markets freaked out over the possibility of Trump instructing the military to start doing war crimes and the conflict escalating. Oil futures up. Lots of F.U.D. (fear, uncertainty, doubt) which is not good for Wall Street.
Then between 7 am - 7:30 am, Trump "TACO'd," and the markets flipped in the opposite direction. Oil futures fell. The DOW jumped +800 points (+1.8%) at open at 9:30 am, other indexes similar (S&P500 +1.4%, NASDAQ+1.6% at opening bell at 9:30 am).
Meanwhile, the Iranians are denying that talks are even happening, let alone confirming Trump's bleats from before the markets opened.
And his deadline? Well, let's see, 5 days after Monday would be... the weekend! After markets close! Don't forget he started this whole cockamamy war late in the night Friday / early AM Saturday.
So, it's the same sort of market manipulation he's always been doing. He's punting. He's hoping he can jawbone oil futures downwards and the stock market upwards while he stalls. My guess is if the strait isn't opened by the close of markets Friday (4:00 PM) then we will see an escalation over the weekend with regards to bombs and explosions and the Marines, and then an early Monday AM bleat again about how much progress Trump is making negotiating.
It's incredible to me how the markets react to this guy. They act like he's honest and has magic powers.
Did you notice that he used 'witch' instead of 'which' in his bleat? Coded message?
Time to tie him up and see if he floats!
"How do you know he's a witch?"
"She turned me into a newt! I got better because I just invested five hundred shrubberies into the newt to human conversion artisan guild!"
You neglected to mention ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine :-)
Who?
Instead of these guys being outfitted in Florsheim footwear, why not cement shoes?
And throw them in the Potomac.
Let’s tie a couple of anvils to his feet before we throw him in the water.
I'm praying he doesn't.
I thought for sure someone had ghost-written the first part for him since it sounded somewhat legible and responsible, but then I saw the 'witch' and though, "nah, that's ole Donny for sure"
do NOT be amused by this ass hat, punk dud of a lying president, he is not entertaining, no more attention to this prick, is all noise
The knot I've had in my stomach since Jan 20, 2025 would make clear that I take very seriously the threat of this man to our livelihoods and freedoms, but sometimes you gotta have a laugh so as not to completely lose your mind...
well, I do no longer even titter, one week, I erased him for a full six days, no elec night, '15, like a long root canal needle in my hard forehead, I've felt the same since, I was at work, the place reveled in celebratory noise. Oh well, went home, had some soup. I will not be alright until he either flies away from D C for the last time, officially or he has no pulse. The theft and the insults to even female babies, does truly infuriate me. If I was a man, I could ignore this prick, half the time.
Someone else definitely wrote most of it for him.
And “I am please to”
I know it’s the least of his crimes yet it bothers me deeply.
Exactly, see above.
No, DJT is just dumb.
I am pretty sure he is just a really poor speller and whoever edits his posts missed it. Although it is sort of, what do they call it, a Freudian slip?
Hard to spell when you can barely read.
Yes, I decided not to go into my theories about him from my point of view as a career special ed person, but hey, you gave me my opening. I think there's a lot of evidence that Trump has a lifelong reading disability that affected his ability to learn to fluently(quickly) decode words. This always affects spelling. I think he has some reading comprehension issues as well; note his marked preference for getting info from TV and by talking to people on the phone. I think he has some oral communication difficulties as well. His ability to express himself verbally has never been great and is getting worse. People with these types of disabilities, if they're lucky, are able to "read" people and situations they encounter--it's a survival mechanism. Note what people often call his "lizard brain"; he seems to be able to hit people right where it hurts: "Little Marco", as one of many examples. Added to that, there's a lot of info that he did not have a kindly, supportive upbringing, and that's probably an understatement. Add it all together and we have this deeply flawed and disturbed guy who happens to be in charge of our country.
Yes I did. Perhaps future presidential candidates should be subjected to spelling tests.
Oh but he aces his cognitive tests!
No, that is just more evidence that he is semi-literate.
Plus "pleased" & "in-depth". The misspellings/grammar errors!!!!!
To go with that, he probably revels in creating market panic. “Ooo look I made a mess hee hee.” My two year old has more sense.
Except that he and his cronies are making bank on the artificially induced market chaos....
I completely agree. :-/
“Ooo look I made a mess hee hee, AND OTHERS ARE TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP FOR ME MWHAHAHAHA.” Schizoid "two-year-old + evil genius" in one sentence.
The markets know he's manipulating them. They'd be fools not to go along with it. They'll be rich by the end of the year letting Trump drag them around by the nose, and you don't go into Wall Street with much else in the way of goals.
“When you dance with the devil, you wait for the song to stop.” - Barry the Baptist. But, hey, at least they can talk to the guy, make deals. Not sure what it means to make deals and talk with someone who is an egomaniacal liar, although what do I know?
Yeah just like the Republican party, tech companies, Big law firms, networks, Law firms billionaires. Am I missing anybody?
Short-term trading is betting on what you think other traders will do, not so much on whether they ought to be doing it.
For anyone who thinks that the decision makers in the stock markets are rational, I say look at the last 3 weeks.
It puts into relief how strange it is that large parts of US Gov. policy turn on a dime based on rants that come out in ALL CAPS on a made-up social media platform owned by the president. This is the craziness that we're all used to at this point.
Trump is bringing the whole pandemic era, "We'd have fewer cases if we did less testing," and, "Cases are going to go away soon as it gets warmer, everyone will be back at church by easter," attitude to war fighting.
At least with Covid he could blame it on a virus which wasn’t his fault and to be fair mistakes were made all around. This time it is all him and directly down to his strategic incompetence. He got us into this mess and doesn’t know how to get out, and he can’t just let the virus rum its course this time.
Anyone who trades on a word Trump says probably deserves what happens next.
It’s probably the same people selling and buying back and forth through his manipulation. He may not completely understand how he’s manipulating the markets, but his wealthy donors probably have a good grasp of his actions.
But those who trade on words Trump and his officials may say privately could be doing extremely well with these seesaws, as well as with prediction markets.
Yes, Yes, Yes. His whole bullshit schtick is making money. He's discovered that he can move the market on a dime. He doesn't give a rat's ass about the people of Iran. He doesn't even give a rat's ass about the people in this country. I can not scream it loud enough for some of my relatives, friends and colleagues, "HE'S A CON AND IT'S A SCAM!"
When I read the bleat first thing this morning, my first thought was, "He's lying about there being negotiations." My second thought was, "How many billions did he and his buddies just make on that market manipulation?"
the five days will change to four or seven for another day trading dip adventure, the money is piling up.
His standard punt is "two weeks."
Like his health plan.
well, the robbing and taking will continue unless someone like PATEL
BONDI or a committee ( oversight ) does anything. hmmm
Maybe, but that is the two steps forward and one step back dance move — 1/2 a TACO — as the overall direction is escalation just slowing down the rhythm. It’s delaying the market pain in hopes that either something comes up or the markets just adjust and don’t yip too much. But then what do I know as apparently negotiating with the ghosts of Khamenei and Larjani are producing good results.
I saw that. Just another casino now. And we’ll find out who had TACO on the Polymarket card soon enough.
Agreed. This has nothing to do with “negotiations,” except maybe negotiations with stockbrokers over exactly which stocks to buy before Trump makes his “announcement” that will goose the Dow so that he, his kids, and his friends can sell.
Trump is also the TOFU King - TRUMP ONLY FUCKS UP.
When has he not?
You read my mind, this is exactly what I was thinking!
I totally agree! This is blatant market manipulation by the self-styled Orange God King!
I know it's self-destructive, and not kind to the whole world who it will affect, but I really want one of these TACO manoeuvres to backfire on him. He thinks he can just speak a lie into reality and I want him to fail spectacularly and it really to hurt him.
Back in 2016, Trump boasted of his genius in not telegraphing his military intentions to another country w which we had seemingly intractable differences. We now know what's really behind not revealing his true intentions - He doesn't know what the H he's doing.
Calling Donald Trump ‘Stupid’ Is the Easiest Way to Miss His Deliberate Strategy
DR STACEY PATTON
MAR 21, 2026 https://drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/calling-donald-trump-stupid-is-the
That was worth the read, but I'll explain. I wouldn't call Trump stupid, but he's way short of deep, analytical thinking needed in a world leader. Why? He's not a substantial reader by any means. He doesn't have the knowledge & mental infrastructure. All that noise abt 4D chess from Trump 1.0 was just buzz.
Nor is he curious to know anything.
Yes, a puppet to anyone who helps him line his pockets, a paradox ,a good conman is
always was an attention-HOG
You don't have a shred of evidence of any deliberate strategy beyond self-enrichment and self-aggrandizement.
But those who "advise' him all have strategies
I completely agree. It's a strategy meant to dominate attention and create the illusion of power for a cult audience who equates creating a spectacle with power. In addition, if me trolling them for several years has taught me anything, they're never going to have an "aha" moment or even bother to investigate whether what is happening is having any positive results.
No, he's stupid. Everything he says and tweets reflects it.
It appears that he is lying about the negotiations. Maybe Iran makes a big drone strike to call his bluff…..
I knew as soon as he posted that he was lying about negotiations. But in Trumpworld, everything he believes is really true. He needs to be locked up now.
https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-23-2026#0000019d-1aff-d4a1-a1bd-5bff361f0000
"Trump claims US has been holding talks with ‘respected’ Iranian leader"
Is the respected Iranian leader in the room with us now, Mr. President?
He's behind that curtain!
And meanwhile...
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/ce35wke27ynt?post=asset%3A31adf341-4807-426b-87ce-6067b3483ef2#post
"Iran's foreign ministry denies Tehran-Washington talks. Published at 09:08
Iran's foreign ministry has issued a statement, saying: 'We deny what US President Donald Trump said regarding negotiations taking place between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.'"
Shocking! /s
We all know he just wants a way out. And he's hoping Iran is desperate enough to go along. But they won't. And I'm finding it kind of refreshing that they refuse to live in Trumpworld.
Now if only Senators, congressman, networks, big law firms, big tech figured that out. (what Iran did)
LOL!!!
I’ve honestly wondered if someone is just play acting on a zoom call dressed up like a mullah. I’m not joking at all, I think his staff could manipulate him that easily.
You know, all them Muslims look alike to MAGA!
Amen, amen.
Maybe if we started playing "They're Going to Take Me Away, Ha Ha" we could spin that into reality.
nice young men in their clean white coats. I knew you laughed , I heard you laugh, what a memory
.
Maniacally. That song used to scare me. Now that we're living it I was right.
I laughed at it, back then, but one sibling said, not to laugh at the clean white coats. still laughed, a bold fourteen, that in between age. too cocky to be afraid. etc etc
As soon as Trump issued his threat against Iran's power stations, Iran saw him and raised him water desalinization plants.
All his life, his go-to phrase has been "Just say it."
"Ivanka, Don Jr., tell the investors that 75% of the building is already rented." "But Daddy, it's only 30%." "Say it, okay? [Just say it. If the investors believe it, it will come true]."
"Just say you're going to investigate Burisma and Hunter Biden, okay? Just say it. You don't have to do it [as long as I get the big headline I want].
"Just say you've found 11,000 votes for me, okay? Just say it!"
"Mike Pence, just say you're rejecting the votes from some states because there's evidence of fraud. Just say it, okay? [That will buy me the time to consolidate my support.]
Exactly! I want it to finally catch up to him and for him to feel pain from it. I just don't want the world to burn as a result.
Speaking lies into reality has worked spectacularly well for him.
That's what's so frustrating. All his life, someone has swept up his messes. I want to see him dropped in the soup for real.
I'm thinking he would grab a spoon and smile.
Iran doesn't *want* Trump to leave yet. If he tries to get out, they'll hit as hard as they can to egg him in to staying.
Pluss, Bibi wants us to stay, so there's no chance he'll even think about it any time soon.
Think? You really believe trump thinks? Can you point to any evidence of that?
As the rest of the world is beginning to understand, Donald Trump is so attuned to money that he cannot imagine people who are not, which blinds him to most of the other motivators in life, and our enemies know how to take advantage of this.
It is especially a problem in international affairs. The president has little or no understanding of things like nationalism and religion. He can see their value as tools to be exploited domestically, of course, but that people and leaders in other nations might actually embrace and act on them is beyond his ken.
"Why," he wonders, "don't they just worry about their best business interests, and let all this other shit go? Who cares about national pride? Who cares about god? Those things only get in the way of making a deal, and only a crazy person would do that!"
We see this thinking in his persecution of the war in Iran. He's mad when Israel blows up gas plants: "Those are valuable!" He builds his invasion plans around preserving oil processing facilities: "We can use those!" Then, when our friends and foes alike are motivated to attack these business assets to further their own ideas about secular and sacred autonomy, he's blown out of the water.
Now we see Trump flopping and gasping on the shore like a confused and desperate carp. His only hope is that he can thrash his way back into the water and resume life as a bottom feeder. He will have learned nothing and will remain forever unaware of what's going on above his head.
I once landed a pretty big fish, up north, in the boundary waters they want to ruin, in MN
later we put it in the ' smoker ' it was a dogfish, full of BONES, inedible, too many bones.
sort of makes me think of a rotten little boy born in Queens, who never finished taking from others, lying, boasting, cheating, wanting, always empty. not teflon, a cheap imitation.
Like the BWCA reference. Been there many times. Less so w T in the WH.
my trip was repeated in another 20 years, I'm a big fan of Jay Cooke also.
we hit the wayback, brought planks with to get the truck in, good blueberry year, both times, my first trip was I don't know, six nights .
Love Itasca, the north shore and Gooseberry Falls!
I did a bit of winter sno-shoeing around Orr, and exploring , carefully around Grand Rapids, MN, Longville, is a really nice little town to visit on a quiet Fri/non tourist time, I now avoid all of CASS and of course Hubbard,
unless you go around to the west. I started peeking around WI,some neat spots too. went fishing, and a little hunting.
Been to Jay Cooke several times, including last fall. Awesome park.
It's unique, and well planned. beautiful little hidden park in sw MN too
it is gorgeous go peek at Lake Shetek, ( park )
It's such a place, slept on an island one night, either Picket or a nearby lake, with my maybe future in laws, what a great little fire for nighttime coffee, think we hit the sleeping bags at around seven p.m. Also grabbed a small mouth bass on Rice Lake, in boring cent. MN, that was a fun evening though, set a little record, and I'm not skilled at landing these gilled critters
Now that he’s likely somewhat alienated our Middle Eastern allies he just might need help rethinking his position.
Whatever happens from here, we are in a place where we interrupted promising negotiations with Iran that could have led to a stable peace with a preemptive war that did their regime colossal damage, and rather than replacing the regime we've got the same regime pissed off and further radicalized. We turned a hostile country that was not a real threat to us into a country that will play the long game, never allowing the thought of revenge to leave their minds, wondering how they can exact some sort of adequate retribution through terrorist strikes or cyber attacks. We have done nothing to promote our own safety. The best Trump can hope for is the retaliation comes later rather than sooner, under a Democratic administration, so the GOP can once again blame Dems for something they made happen.
The Iranians don’t seem to be in the mood to negotiate at the moment, and why would we when we essentially doubled crossed them with *negotiations* to start the war.
Exactly!
perfection. and purposefully, like they are irrelevant ( the false concern of protestors shot , that was low )
We also had a good treaty with them that was working, and Orange Julius tore it up.
Toddlers do like tearing things up and coloring on the walls.
https://drstaceypatton1865.substack.com/p/calling-donald-trump-stupid-is-the
Calling Donald Trump ‘Stupid’ Is the Easiest Way to Miss His Deliberate Strategy
DR STACEY PATTON
MAR 21, 2026
You have one element of this backwards. Ali Khamenei wanted his son, Mojtaba, to succeed him, but the clerics were not willing to sign off on such a hereditary form of succession.
We did them him a favor in the opening days of this misadventurous war.
Yes, diplomacy, as all other administrations have practiced. Slow and steady, often not exactly what the US wants, but with an understanding that other countries/cultures do not function that same as we do. This administration is definitely missing that understanding, or really, does not care.
All they know is hammers, so everything is treated as a nail.
No photos of Marco that don't show the Florsheim's, please.
It feels like the most dangerous trap in political analysis is the compulsion to superimpose strategic intentionality over sheer incompetence. To argue that this administration executed a tactical retreat or merely "blinked" in the face of Iranian defiance fundamentally misdiagnoses the mechanics of the current crisis of 2026 America. A calculated withdrawal, or even the colloquial act of "chickening out" requires a preexisting, coherent framework from which to retreat. One cannot abandon a strategy that never existed. This administration has never had a strategy about anything.
This is not a pivot to a "less bad option" or a sophisticated deployment of the Madman Theory, instead, it is the erratic flailing of an executive profoundly devoid of geopolitical foresight. The abrupt reversal on striking civilian power plants, a catastrophic threat issued and retracted within a 48-hour window, does not indicate a sudden, rational appraisal of economic consequences or a fear of widening the conflict. Rather, it reflects an impulse-driven approach completely untethered from systematic policy formulation. The administration did not lose faith in its plan; there was no plan to begin with.
Why can't we just stop pushing this BS polite fiction that a hidden calculus operates beneath the bluster? The rapid contraction of stated objectives, from the total decimation of the Iranian regime to the singular, desperate goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, is not a diplomatic maneuver. It never has been, and never will be. It is simply the chaotic byproduct of an administration operating in a complete vacuum of competence. Acknowledging this reality, rather than projecting strategic depth onto erratic behavior, is the necessary first step to accurately assessing the severe peril of the current geopolitical crisis we are trying to live through.
YES! This last paragraph is esp. important. I heard a bit of it from the BBC this morning.
Its so refreshing whenever you come across a news organization telling the truth about the situation, glad the BBC was on it!
and the * shield * here on bulwark went right out and said
the bbc , unfair. all we have is horseshit, bullshit, lies and propaganda
eliot attacked in a quiet gentle way the reporting of the bbc, yawn
yesterdays or previous. still though, compared to local media, I 'll go w/bbc, thank u very much.
I've seen comments here and on other sites that Trump does have some sort of strategy that we just don't understand but I don't believe that. I do believe he does care about making more money for himself and the billionaires (aside- I don't think he is a billionaire; he lies about his net worth). He has NO strategy in dealing with any world events. He is an old man who seems to listen to the last person who got a chance to whisper in his ear. That is how he governs. It is terrifying.
Thinking beyond Iran, it should be clear to anyone with a pulse that if Putin decided to roll through the Baltics or Xi moved to take Taiwan, Trump wouldn't lift a finger to stop them. Putin and Xi have observed Trump in action and under stress, and when push comes to shove, Trump will always make decisions based on saving *his* ass and not the national interest.
Also, whoever shorted the markets last week is making a killing today since Trump announced talks with Iran have been "productive".
"whoever" is making a killing minus a healthy kickback to Trump himself.
That wouldn't surprise me at all. That said, I still find myself shocked when the markets buy into Trump's bullshit after all this time.
Can you say insider trading?
They'd be crazy not to. The world still acts like Trump's word means something. This is the only way to make money in America these days.
definitely
Imagine if the Confederates took over Rhode Island after the Civil War. That's basically what Taiwan is. American arrogance is still at an all time high lol.
all pre-planned, the texts in secret code go out, then a certain amount of hours later, the money rolls in, all simply legal. with ' friends '
I've never minded other people making more money than me in the past, VJ, but in 2026, I'm at the point where I want to roll out the guillotine for all these motherfuckers.
Amen brother.
yeah, I''m not envious, but seek a little consequence / justice - that is fading ...
It's the insatiable greed that amazes me because I admit I'm not wired that way. There is no such thing as "enough" with these people, and that's because they're entitled as hell. So let's see what happens when the law stops protecting them. 😈
I've been reading Lenin and Nasser. We The People could organize, take a few billionaires hostage, and watch how quickly the ruling class responds.
Notice how he pledged full support to the Middle Eastern allies. If only he felt that way about our NATO allies.
I chat with my Chinese spy sometimes about how amazing it would be if the CPC set up a free dental clinic in Birmingham AL, or a free maternal clinic in Albuquerque NM, and watch as thousands of Americans line up for it. Attitudes towards China and ~socialism~ would change overnight. Not with bombs, or diplomacy, but with meeting raw human needs.
American lawmakers of both parties would have a lot of explaining to do. 😁🛠️
The Black Panthers did something similar but with feeding the poor in their communities. Then the Feds made the Public Enemy #1 and we know why.
Fred Hampton is a hero to me. Solidarity.
That's actually an incredibly good idea. Republicanism shuts down medical care, communism opens them.
In America you can change parties but not policy. In China you can change policy but not The Party.
If I say one word about Asia, or anything near the Pacific, I have one brother, who screams marxist / right in my face, he's pretty confused. He loves his big sis and does not relish calling her a commie, one day he called me a pinko
this, is a whole new time. labels, labels
Are you talking about the place where the toothbrush was invented?
been calling trump a useless failing mini mao for some time now, he's a dud ( and a thief )
Marxist policies lifted 800 million people out of poverty in less than 50 years. Only American ignorance and arrogance would not see that as a massive victory for the human race.
I've simply saying trumpy can do nothing right. I'm aware of what you stated.
personally, I'm about the most non-arrogant U S citizen. no apathy here, no decadence, I see the good, the ugly, and I own it.
Please explain: how do we have a "great military" when it is filled with "suckers and losers"?
To him, it's not because they're incapable of doing the job, it's bkz they're acting in service of others, rather than going for big bucks in the private sector. And they're real losers if they end up giving their lives for any cause.
because he has rebuilt it since then. Just ask him - he'll tell you!
I’m going to go out on a limb and say there were no talks between the Iranians and Trump. Which Iranian officials ? How would we even contact them in a country with an internet blackout ? No Iranian official is going to use a phone and risk an Israeli missile. Note also that Trump’s five-day pause matches the trading week on energy markets. As usual he’s just flailing, having painted himself into a corner.
I thought he himself said they’d killed everybody, so they have no one to talk to.
He also said last year that we “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities — so why must we “reobliterate” them now?
It’s like the investment mantra — past statements do not guarantee future words.
Trump, Hegseth, Vance, Miller, and Rubio are all itching to use a "tactical" nuclear weapon in Iran. And you can bet that Netanyahu is egging them on. So, a 5 day countdown...
That'll hasten The Rapture for sure.
For once the rapture doesn’t sound like a bad idea.
If all the evangelical/fundie xtians suddenly disappear, we'll be better off, wherever they go.
I'd like to get one last trip to the tropics in before then, but after that, I don't disagree.
We had a great time in Las Vegas at the end of February, had a great dinner with our retired bartender friend and his wife at the Prime Steakhouse in the Bellagio at a table by the windows overlooking the fountains. I have been attending peaceful protests at least once a week recently. I guess my life is in as good of a place as it can get these days.
There's a prediction market play on the Rapture occurring before the end of 2027. It's sort of a reverse Pascal's Wager.
The thing that is missed in talk about The Rapture? Based on multiple "predictions" over the years, The Rapture has come and gone. You and I missed it. As did multiple others. What remains? Hell on Earth. I guess claiming it is still coming is comforting, but really let's face reality!
"Free Beer Tomorrow!! Also, Jeezus (and Free Wings) are Coming Back Tomorrow!!"
Which is great because Russia and China are firmly in Iran's corner.
He’ll probably want to clear it with Putin first.
I’ve been assuming that the deal will be the US gets to use one on Tehran and Russia gets to chuck one at Kiev and neither side will complain about the other’s use against civilian targets in non-nuclear states (not that there will be any of those left in 5 years or so if that happens).
Even Pooty Poot was warned not to use them in Ukraine. Double standard or sheer stupidity or both. I'll go w both, if it's true these immature - age has nothing to do w maturity for these MAGA dangerous clowns - want to use tactical nukes.
To paraphrase the great Charlie Sykes: A clown with a tactical nuke - is still a clown with a tactical nuke.
There are no talks going on btw the US and Iran. We're at the point where the religious fanatics in Iran are more trustworthy than the US prez.
Sad, isn't it, that the leader of our country is less credible than the party he's decided to go to war with.
HE IS A CHILD
SAD!
"One assumes that the United States military would have refused to obey orders to commit a war crime like attempting the “total decimation” of a country."
Sigh. I've lost the ability to navigate sarcasm. This was sarcasm, right?
The military has been purged of Black and female officers. Are we pretending that wasn't the prelude to illegal actions? We all know it was. I hate playing pretend.
I can't wait for all of my 80+ year old relatives to go on their vacations this month and tell me how Democrats have ruined air travel and should be convicted as traitors. I just smile and nod. I'm the out group, they are the in group. It's only a matter of time before the out group starts taking the stuff of the in group, that being their goal. As Comer says about the airports, hey, it's all good if it owns the libs.
They've also purged every admiral and general who would "stand in the door" over committing war crimes.
I hate giving comments that are terrible but truthful ❤️s!
Behold the Power of TACO!
From CNN: Dow soars after Trump calls off strikes on Iran, pending talks
Oh, and, by the way, oil's down to $89.19/bbl this morning.
So there, Failing New York Times! See that, Bulwark? See that, Fake News CNN!
Donald J. Trump: Super Genius!
This stuff drives me crazy. The markets are as volatile as Trump is. Nothing has really changed, but the markets are acting as if something did. And Trump and Hegseth and the rest of them, including their media sycophants and the crazy MAGA base will celebrate this as some kind of victory. And tomorrow? If the Dow drops and oil prices rise, they'll be back to blaming Joe Biden for everything.
"One assumes that the United States military would have refused to obey orders to commit a war crime like attempting the “total decimation” of a country."
SERIOUSLY? Did they refuse to obey the illegal orders to bomb any survivors from the first bomb of the so-called "drug" boats? My biggest fear is that the US Military will not refuse to obey illegal orders. Not abroad and not here at home....
I assumed that was sarcasm, but I really can't tell anymore.
I hope you're right, but I just looked again, and like you, at best, it isn't clear.
The tongue is a bit in the cheek, but not totally:
Are we going to have to start carrying whistle to our airports? Will ICE agents ditch the masks, as these are untrained warriors, and will they have their names and IDs displayed? And last, but hardly least, will they leave their guns home?
Hopefully, the answers to the last two questions are yes, so we can leave the whistles at home.
I asked this on Facebook, and was answered by a friend that she saw them at Dulles in their usual garb sans masks. She was creeped out by the way they looked her up and down.
The only guns ICE will carry at the airports are ones they can plant on ppl they don't like so they can arrest them as terrorists.
Don’t give them any ideas! Wait, we’re safe—they probably don’t read the Bulwark.
They don't read in general because they can't read.
they will switch to sooper-dooper pepper spray