Trump just declared victory while promising to keep fighting, compared Iran to Venezuela “formula that’s working,” walked back unconditional surrender, claimed mission complete but “we can go further,” and suggested Iran might have stolen a Tomahawk to bomb their own school.
So, which narrative sticks? Declare victory for base, threaten escalation to justify continuation, float Venezuela puppet-state model, deflect war crimes. When you have no actual endgame, you try every story simultaneously and see which polls best.
The tell: Trump surprised Iran hasn’t capitulated, admitted Vance “philosophically different” and “maybe less enthusiastic about going” . That’s the model:regime change theater, oligarchical control maintained.
War entering second week, 1,230+ dead in Iran, oil prices spiking, mission objectives changing daily… but Trump speaking in past tense like it’s already over while simultaneously threatening harder strikes. Performing multiple endings at once. This imbecilic machine/brain is broken—circuits clearly fried.
The complexity cascade in action: Each incoherent message creates new crisis requiring new contradictory message. Launch war without plan → generate cascading failures → throw narratives until something sticks → repeat. Classic authoritarian move: declare victory regardless of facts, maintain flexibility based on political needs, never commit to verifiable outcome.
Now that Trump has decided the Iran invasion was an "excursion," not a war, it looks like Markwayne Mullin, far from being ignorant, has the power of clairvoyance....
I read one clever tweet that said -without much exaggeration- that we had a cabinet of WOATS: The Worst Of All Time.
To be fair Pam Bondi's destructive leadership of the Department of Justice is doing exactly what Trump wanted. But you forgot to mention how she made a laughing stock of herself by declaring at one of those embarrasing "Channeling of Pyongyang" cabinet meetings that Trump had saved 119 million American lives though drug seizures. And she then corrected it by saying it was 258 million. I'll be charitable and say she's just a supreme groveller with no shame at all.
Agree 💯- we all knew, while the Senate was confirming these amoral half-wits, that disaster was the only logical outcome from this bunch. What I underestimated was the sheer evil and inhumanity each has inflicted upon this great country.
Finally, I also thought Rubio was the one adult in the room and he has fallen so low and so quickly by selling his soul. While the other’s probably sleep fine at night, apart of me thought Rubio struggled at bit - but no more. It’s just acting. He is as horrible of a human as the rest of this deadly keystone cop Administration.
When I heard Mullins speak it was quite obvious within minutes he's a dim bulb.. Who votes for someone like this? What's Oklahoma's education system like? Maybe he ran unopposed.
An excellent piece, Paul. Having the devastating effect of Trump’s cabinet members brought to light in this way is overwhelmingly depressing….as it should be, I guess 😔
re Two names saying "we haven't declared war." As a former Senator & Congressman he should know that that's because only Congress has the power to declare war.
But this guy's reputation is such that I'm not sure he knows this. What's certain is that he doesn't care.
I was hoping for just a little optimism. Maybe tomorrow. Thanks, Paul. You nailed it.😞
Optimism? T**** has surrounded himself with abject sociopaths and the occasional psychopath.
I know… I know..😞
Trump just declared victory while promising to keep fighting, compared Iran to Venezuela “formula that’s working,” walked back unconditional surrender, claimed mission complete but “we can go further,” and suggested Iran might have stolen a Tomahawk to bomb their own school.
So, which narrative sticks? Declare victory for base, threaten escalation to justify continuation, float Venezuela puppet-state model, deflect war crimes. When you have no actual endgame, you try every story simultaneously and see which polls best.
The tell: Trump surprised Iran hasn’t capitulated, admitted Vance “philosophically different” and “maybe less enthusiastic about going” . That’s the model:regime change theater, oligarchical control maintained.
War entering second week, 1,230+ dead in Iran, oil prices spiking, mission objectives changing daily… but Trump speaking in past tense like it’s already over while simultaneously threatening harder strikes. Performing multiple endings at once. This imbecilic machine/brain is broken—circuits clearly fried.
The complexity cascade in action: Each incoherent message creates new crisis requiring new contradictory message. Launch war without plan → generate cascading failures → throw narratives until something sticks → repeat. Classic authoritarian move: declare victory regardless of facts, maintain flexibility based on political needs, never commit to verifiable outcome.
Now that Trump has decided the Iran invasion was an "excursion," not a war, it looks like Markwayne Mullin, far from being ignorant, has the power of clairvoyance....
I read one clever tweet that said -without much exaggeration- that we had a cabinet of WOATS: The Worst Of All Time.
To be fair Pam Bondi's destructive leadership of the Department of Justice is doing exactly what Trump wanted. But you forgot to mention how she made a laughing stock of herself by declaring at one of those embarrasing "Channeling of Pyongyang" cabinet meetings that Trump had saved 119 million American lives though drug seizures. And she then corrected it by saying it was 258 million. I'll be charitable and say she's just a supreme groveller with no shame at all.
Agree 💯- we all knew, while the Senate was confirming these amoral half-wits, that disaster was the only logical outcome from this bunch. What I underestimated was the sheer evil and inhumanity each has inflicted upon this great country.
Finally, I also thought Rubio was the one adult in the room and he has fallen so low and so quickly by selling his soul. While the other’s probably sleep fine at night, apart of me thought Rubio struggled at bit - but no more. It’s just acting. He is as horrible of a human as the rest of this deadly keystone cop Administration.
What about the bobble head weasel, Scott Bessent. - ugh!
You know Susan it might have saved space to list the names of Cabinet members who aren't an embarrassment....I suppose there must be one or two.
When I heard Mullins speak it was quite obvious within minutes he's a dim bulb.. Who votes for someone like this? What's Oklahoma's education system like? Maybe he ran unopposed.
One of your finest efforts. Thank you.
Yes, they all are individually incompetent and collectively corrupt. And all flows from and back to Trump.
"Even when no one winds up behind bars" We can always hope, no?
You were generous, at least more generous than I.
An excellent piece, Paul. Having the devastating effect of Trump’s cabinet members brought to light in this way is overwhelmingly depressing….as it should be, I guess 😔
Yes, it's djt who's responsible for this atrocity...yet, it would not have been possible without the eagerness of the former gop.
What must happen to all these treasonous, vermin scum is to be put in jail for life or worse 😀 so they can never ever have any decision making power.
re Two names saying "we haven't declared war." As a former Senator & Congressman he should know that that's because only Congress has the power to declare war.
But this guy's reputation is such that I'm not sure he knows this. What's certain is that he doesn't care.