You’re not singing anymore….

The title of this blog is the first line of the UK footballer fans chant when the visiting top team favoured to win – is losing.

Saudi Arabia’s $925bn (£682bn) sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which invests a chunk of the kingdom’s oil riches, on Wednesday confirmed that it was now time to stop spending big and start spending smarter.

Speculation quickly began to circulate that the PIF would call time on its $5bn loss-making investment in the rebel LIV Golf league, a flagship of Saudi Arabia’s high-flying sports diplomacy.

“LIV is a test case,” says Daniel Brett, of the research firm Global SWF. “It fits in quite neatly with the broader PIF story, which is: more discipline, more scrutiny and tougher choices.”

Mohammed bin Salman
Mohammed bin Salman faces a much tougher road to emulate and surpass Dubai as the region’s magnet for investors Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

The PIF’s shift to thrift will ripple through global markets, where the fund has bought into everything from hotels and airports to banks, tech companies and football teams

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/04/17/saudi-turns-back-on-world-as-iran-war-derails-spending/

For example:

LIV Golf just the start. Saudis abandon sportswashing after huge losses

Giles Turner

Apr 17, 2026

London | Saudi Arabia’s potential reversal on its costly golfing venture is part of a wider pullback on sports investing as it looks to prioritise returns rather than cultural influence.

LIV Golf, the upstart league that challenged the supremacy of the PGA Tour, has cost the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) more than $US5 billion ($7

https://www.afr.com/world/middle-east/liv-golf-just-the-start-saudis-abandon-sportswashing-after-huge-loses-20260417-p5zome

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CISA: proposed operational budget cuts

I used to be on the CISA mailing list due to my interest in protecting small businesses in the UK back in the 1990s. Their global support has been immensely useful, but if this bill is passed that aspect of global education will cease.

With cyber threats increasing dangerously, the Trump administration proposes to cut the budget of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) by $707 million for the fiscal year 2027.

The administration said it plans to restore CISA to its core mission of protecting federal networks and enhancing the cyber security and resilience of critical infrastructure.

The proposed budget cuts followed remarks by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing the agency of straying from its core mission of “what it was created to do: hunt and harden systems.”

However, critics say the budget cuts would have significant national security implications at a critical moment when the country faces increased nation-state cyber threats.

Trump claims CISA budget cuts would reduce weaponization, waste, and redundancy

Defending the proposal, the administration argued that the operating budget cuts would reduce weaponization and waste by eliminating duplication of similar programs already existing at the federal and state levels.

Additionally, the administration stated that some of CISA’s programs had diverted from the agency’s core mission of protecting critical infrastructure, resulting in poor management and inefficiency. It claimed that some were “more focused on censorship than on protecting the Nation’s critical systems,” while others were actively engaged in self-promotion.

“CISA was more focused on censorship than on protecting the Nation’s critical systems, and put them at risk due to poor management and inefficiency, as well as a focus on self-promotion,” the budget proposal reads.

Trump had accused the agency of working with tech companies to “target free speech” through censorship, undermining Americans’ First Amendment rights.

CISA programs affected by the Trump admin’s CISA operating budget cuts

The proposed operating budget cuts would eliminate offices involved in international affairs, stakeholder engagement, council management, and combating misinformation.

“Budget eliminates programs focused on so-called misinformation and propaganda, as well as external engagement offices such as council management, stakeholder engagement, and international affairs,” the White House wrote.

It would also affect school safety programs already undertaken by state and federal governments to reduce redundancy.

Additionally, CISA’s threat hunting, capacity building, and vulnerability management division would lose $15.2 million in federal funding. Similarly, the agency’s regional operations, which help local governments in hardening their defenses, would lose $42 million and 71 field advisors.

The Stakeholder Engagement Division, council management teams, and international affairs team, which closely works with global partners, would also shut down completely. The National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center, which analyzes cross-sector risks, also stands to lose $18.5 million.

Similarly, the Partners’ Cyber Defense Education and Training (CDET) program would lose $45 million. The CyberSentry program and Cyber Analytic and Data System programs also stand to lose 75% and 55% of federal funding, respectively.

If passed, the proposed cuts would reduce CISA’s operating budget to $2 billion. In 2025, CISA had an operating budget of $2.4 billion. In the same year, President Trump proposed cutting $491 million from CISA’s election security program, which lawmakers reduced to $135 million after a heated political debate in Congress.

While the administration plans to save $707 million in the overall reduced CISA’s operating budget, the proposal would cut $386 million in direct funding and eliminate 867 roles, reducing the total number of employees to 2,865.

After Trump took office in 2025, approximately 1,000 CISA employees or about one-third of its workforce, left the agency. Reasons for leaving ranged from policy changes, reassignments, layoffs, or Trump’s voluntary buyouts, which offered financial incentives such as continued pay or early retirement benefits.

Key beneficiaries of Trump’s proposed cuts to CISA’s operating budget

While the Stakeholder Engagement Division, which supports 8 of the 16 critical infrastructure, would cease to exist altogether, it would move to another division and receive a $6.6 million boost. Similarly, the Sector Risk Management Agencies would receive 8 additional roles.

The proposed budget also adds 53 new Cybersecurity State Coordinators roles, with three designated for Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/trump-proposes-707-million-cut-to-cisas-operating-budget-even-as-nation-state-cyber-threats-rise/

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Ukraine, out of the headlines but not out of our hearts

I am reproducing this ‘lonely Ukraine’ message where their endless subjection to Russian aggression has gone out of the headlines, much to the pleasure of Putin.

Ukraine Is Becoming Old News, And I Can See It

Fewer people are still paying attention than we think

Viktor Kravchuk

Apr 17READ IN APP

My wife is the one who watches how many people are here.

I get anxious around numbers. The moment I start watching them, I am afraid I could start writing for them instead of saying what is in front of me.

So she looks at the subscriptions, the counts, the metrics. I look only at the sentences and your replies.

Last week she told me two things.

She told me that new people have been finding this journal every single day.

I see your names, your comments. I can see when a reader finds this journal and they stay because it reached them.

But she also told me there are fewer of you here now.

Not as many people are here as there were eight months ago.

It didn’t happen all at once, just a little less, but month after month since last August.

Which means something simple:

More people are leaving than arriving.

She told me carefully, like she knew I wouldn’t take it well.

She knows me.

I didn’t answer, but I kept coming back on the next days.

It wasn’t the numbers that stayed with me.

It was what they points to.

Four years.

A child born the day this war began is now old enough to ask questions.

A generation has grown up under sirens.

Four years is long enough for most things these days to start fading.

To become what people think they already understand.

Or just something they are tired of.

Old news.

A country can become old news while the war is still happening.

The headlines move. Attention moves.

What happened this morning will always outrun what has been happening for four years.

And attention right now is oxygen.

I know that is a lot to ask of people who did not start this war.

People have their own lives, their own weight…

Here, with all of you, it can feel like the entire world is still paying attention.

But this is only a small part of the world we live in.

And most of it doesn’t see this at all.

There are people around you who stopped feeling this.

I cannot reach them, but maybe you can.

If any of this here has ever stayed with you, you can pass it on:

Share

I don’t think I am doing anything special here.

I think most of you would do the same or even more if this was your country and your life.

That is what keeps me writing.

Ukraine has been asking for attention for four years.

That is a long time to ask anything.

What is happening here goes beyond Ukraine. It is about whether anything we say we value actually holds.

Freedom. Decency.

The idea that people deserve to exist without someone deciding they should not.

This is not abstract.

It is happening.

And when attention fades, something is lost with it.

Not here alone.

Everywhere.

I can see it happening from here.

—Viktor

🇺🇦


Some people don’t look away.


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US diesel stocks under strain

Requests to store distillate fuel in tanks with a railroad connection soared to 250,000 barrels in March, up from 30,000 barrels in February and none in January, according to The Tank Tiger, a terminal storage clearinghouse. And as of last week, there have already been requests for 125,000 barrels worth of storage in April. 

All of those requests occurred on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, the key export hubs for the fuel. 



Meanwhile, stocks of the fuel are falling, and near their lowest since last July on the Gulf Coast. That could mean Midwest refiners may see an opportunity to profit by exporting diesel overseas. To do that, they need to send their fuel to the coasts. While those shipping routes are possible by pipeline to the East Coast, it could be economically viable to send the fuel by railcar for export, said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates.

And while pipelines connect the Midwest and the Gulf Coast, it’s not possible to send physical product all the way to the coast from the Midwest on a pipeline — meaning a railcar or a barge become the only viable options to send fuel for export in that direction, Lipow said.

Nationally, 9,112 railcars worth of petroleum products were delivered to terminals in March, up nearly 10% from March 2025, according to The Tank Tiger’s data.

“Exports from the coast can be attractive for Midwest refiners, particularly for diesel, when shortages overseas strengthen export economics and justify moving barrels toward coastal outlets,” said Steven Barsamian, chief operating officer at The Tank Tiger.

Diesel is vital to the world economy because it powers essential freight, construction and agriculture sectors. The longer the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, the more intense the competition for oil and products is likely to become.

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/us-diesel-traders-turn-rail

Trump is encouraging further depletion of US diesel:

Trump signals tankers headed to US to load up ‘sweetest’ oil: ‘We are waiting for you’

Story by Sophie Brams

 • 6d

The Hill

‘We’re ready to go,’ Trump warns if Iran peace talks falter | NewsNation

President Trump said Saturday morning that “massive numbers” of empty tankers are headed to the U.S. to stock up on oil and gas, as Iran continues to restrict movement in the Strait of Hormuz.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-signals-tankers-headed-to-us-to-load-up-sweetest-oil-we-are-waiting-for-you/ar-AA20EuZq

Is Trump manipulating the markets?

Why some are accusing Trump of manipulating stock markets

April 10, 20257:17 PM ET

Wall Street has been whipsawed for more than a week by President Trump’s every word about tariffs. Now he’s facing accusations of using his power to deliberately manipulate the markets.

The scrutiny started with a tale of two social media posts. On Wednesday, shortly after the U.S. stock market opened, Trump posted on his Truth Social network in all caps: “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!”

Less than four hours after his post, Trump said on Truth Social that he would pause the harshest of his tariffs on most countries.

Stocks immediately skyrocketed in relief, with the Dow closing up almost 3,000 points — meaning that any investors who had followed Trump’s advice in the morning and bought into the stock market right away would have made quite a bit of money by the end of the day.

Prior to his post, share prices had been plummeting for days, as fears mounted about the economic damage Trump’s new trade policies could cause. Powerful investors and billionaire business leaders had increasingly gone public airing their worries about the new tariffs and the resulting financial panic.

By Wednesday afternoon, Trump seemed to hear them when he hit pause.

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/10/nx-s1-5360062/why-some-are-accusing-trump-of-manipulating-stock-markets

Keep track of US stocks of diesel:

https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/diesel-price?op=1

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Polling around the world

Meloni, Starmer, Macron currently polling ‘under water’. It is hard to know if such polls are truly accurate or politically biased.

YouGov is a example of a polling company which was founded by right wing members of the Conservative Party.

Here is an opinion on Reddit:

Is YouGov Impartial?

The owner of YouGov is Stephan Shakespeare. He co-founded the market research and opinion poll company in 2000 with Nadhim Zahawi, current Conservative MP for Stratford-on-Avon and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Industry. Zahawi left the business specifically to stand for election as a Conservative candidate in 2010. Shakespeare was a failed Conservative candidate in 1997 for MP of Colchester.

Shakespeare was appointed by the Conservative government as Chairman of the Data Strategy Board (DSB). This is an advisory body which was set up to ‘maximise value of data for users across the UK’. He was also announced in 2012 by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Cabinet Office ministers as leader of an Independent Review of Public Sector Information. He has also been a member of the Government’s Public Sector Transparency Board and shows on the most recent board minutes from 2015.

He was former owner of the centre-right political blog, ConservativeHome, now owned for Lord Ashcroft. He was also involved in other right-wing projects and web-sites including 18 Doughty Street, an online broadcast critiquing left-leaning commentary and opinion pieces.

YouGov has now expanded its involvement into market research businesses in the Middle East, the United States, Germany, Scandinavia, France, and Asia.

YouGov brands itself as ‘What the world thinks’, but is it only selectively representing public opinion when its origins lie clearly on the right wing of politics?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/cwyx05/is_yougov_impartial/

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Soldiers march on their stomach

Concerns are mounting over food shortages aboard US warships deployed to the Middle East, with reports from service members on the USS Tripoli and USS Abraham Lincoln describing limited and poor-quality meals.

USS Abraham Lincoln

USS Abraham Lincoln

Dan F., whose daughter is a Marine aboard the USS Tripoli, told USA Today he was alarmed after seeing a photo of her meal. “A lunch tray, two-thirds empty, carried one small scoop of shredded meat and a single folded tortilla,” he said. Another image from the USS Abraham Lincoln showed “a small handful of boiled carrots, a dry meat patty and a gray slab of processed meat.”

Family members say service members are rationing food. Dan’s daughter told him fresh produce was unavailable and that supplies were running low. “We have the strongest military in the world. You shouldn’t be running out of food,” he said. “The one thing we had over our adversaries [was] we fed our people.”

A sailor aboard the Tripoli echoed those concerns, saying crew members “eat when they can” and divide food evenly. “Supplies are going to get really low… morale is going to be at an all-time low,” he wrote in a message to family.

Efforts by families to send food and essentials have been complicated by a suspension of military mail. The US Postal Service halted deliveries to 27 military ZIP codes in the region due to “airspace closures and other logistical impacts from the ongoing conflict,” according to Army spokesperson Maj. Travis Shaw. The suspension remains “in effect until further notice.”

Packages already sent, including those filled with snacks, hygiene products, and essentials, are now stuck in transit. “No military mailings are being returned to the sender… they are held until they can be delivered,” USPS spokesperson David Coleman said.

Communities across the US have rallied to send care packages, but many have not reached their destinations. “The food is tasteless and there’s not nearly enough and they’re hungry all the time,” said Karen Erskine-Valentine, a West Virginia pastor supporting deployed sailors. “That kind of breaks your heart.”

With no clear timeline for restoring mail service and warships remaining at sea for extended deployments, families say uncertainty is growing, both about supplies and the well-being of their loved ones.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.

https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/uss-abraham-lincon-uss-tripoli-food-shortage-meal-rationing-iran-war-middle-east-article-154097383

The GCC imports most of its food.

Over 70% of GCC food imports typically arrive via the Strait of Hormuz, which is a crucial maritime chokepoint for shipping. The ongoing conflict in the region has significantly disrupted this route, forcing GCC countries to activate emergency protocols and reroute logistics. agroberichtenbuitenland.nl

Thousands of US troops are stationed in the GCC. Maersk is assisting GCC since March 26th using land bridges:

Danish container shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk (MAERSKb.CO), opens new tab is using a “land-bridge” system via ports in Jeddah ​in Saudi Arabia, Salalah and Sohar in Oman and Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates, to funnel ​in cargo before moving it by land to destinations across the Gulf region.

Charles van der Steene, Dubai-based regional managing director for the Middle East, said Maersk was ramping up the network and coordinating with Gulf governments, which have introduced faster procedures to ​speed deliveries.

While it is prioritising critical goods, namely food and medicines, there is still capacity to spare on ​these alternative routes, he added.

Cargo volumes into the port in Jeddah have jumped 40% since the conflict began, van der Steene said.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/maersk-says-gulf-land-bridge-routes-still-have-capacity-food-medicines-2026-03-26/

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Contempt for life and international law cannot be normalised

Israeli bombings in Lebanon, April 8, 2026. X/ @BradSocha

Current Displacement Figures in Lebanon

As of now, more than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict and violence. This represents a significant portion of the population, with many fleeing their homes under urgent circumstances.

Breakdown of Displacement

CategoryNumber of Displaced PeopleTotal Displaced1,000,000+Children Displaced300,000+Registered with Government517,000+Sheltering in Collective Sites120,000+

Context of Displacement

  • The displacement has been driven by intense airstrikes and evacuation orders, particularly affecting southern Lebanon and the Beirut area.
  • Many displaced individuals are seeking refuge with family or friends, while others are living in makeshift shelters or on the streets.
  • The humanitarian situation is critical, with urgent needs for food, shelter, and medical assistance.

This ongoing crisis continues to evolve, and the number of displaced individuals may increase as the situation develops.

 rescue.org The Intercept

https://metro.co.uk/2026/04/08/scenes-devastation-israel-bombs-lebanon-100-times-10-minutes-27900858/?ito=article.mweb.share.top.native

PM Sanchez of Spain condemns Netanyahu:

“Netanyahu’s contempt for life and international law intolerable”: Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez

ANI

Updated At : 04:25 AM Apr 09, 2026 IST

……………….

“Just today, Netanyahu launched his harshest attack against Lebanon since the offensive began. His contempt for life and international law is intolerable. It’s time to speak clearly: Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire. The international community must condemn this new violation of international law. The European Union must suspend its Association Agreement with Israel. And there must be no impunity for these criminal acts,” the Span

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/netanyahus-contempt-for-life-and-international-law-intolerable-spanish-pm-pedro-sanchez/

And Pope Leo calls for peace:

Friday 17 April |

pope-leo-xiv-epiphany-closes-holy-door-jubilee2025

Pope Leo expresses closeness to Lebanon, Sudan

Kathleen N. Hattrup – published on 04/12/26

3 years of bloodshed in Sudan, and Lebanon’s civilians the victims of the war. Pope calls for peace.

Pope Leo is again calling for peace in Lebanon, noting that individual consciences and international law should lead to protecting civilians.

Negotiations are scheduled to begin in the coming days in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli diplomats; the Pope did not comment on the breakdown of negotiations between the United States and Iran.

After leading the Regina Caeli, he said:

In these days of sorrow, fear, and unwavering hope in God, I feel closer than ever to the beloved people of Lebanon.  The principle of humanity, inscribed in the conscience of every person and recognized in international law, entails a moral obligation to protect the civilian population from the horrific effects of war.  I call on the parties in the conflict to declare a ceasefire and urgently seek a peaceful solution.

Pope Leo also drew attention to the ongoing situation in Sudan, which continues to create the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world.

Next Wednesday marks the third anniversary of the start of the bloodstained conflict in Sudan. How much the Sudanese people are suffering, innocent victims of this inhuman tragedy! I renew my fervent appeal to the warring parties to silence their weapons and begin, without preconditions, a sincere dialogue aimed at ending this fratricidal war as soon as possible.

https://aleteia.org/2026/04/12/pope-leo-expresses-closeness-to-lebanon-sudan/

See the role of Catholics in the history of Lebanon:

https://ewtn.co.uk/article-10-things-to-know-about-the-catholic-church-in-lebanon/

Some history (since the end of the Ottoman Empire)

France was in Lebanon during the French Mandate from 1923 to 1946, following the end of World War I and the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. The mandate officially established Greater Lebanon, which later became the modern Lebanese Republic. Wikipedia toulamuseum.com

And despite Arabic being spoken, French is still taught in schools:

In today’s education system, French remains a compulsory school language in most schools, making it the most taught foreign language in Lebanon. From elementary school to high school, the majority of classes are taught in French. This results in a large portion of the population speaking the language. Between 40% to 50% of Lebanese people are also French speakers.

https://www.mosalingua.com/en/what-languages-are-spoken-in-lebanon/#what-is-lebanons-official-language

Current French relations with Saudi Arabia:

France plays a significant role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, particularly in defense cooperation and economic growth. The two countries have strengthened their ties through defense agreements, cultural exchanges, and business investments, with France supporting Saudi Arabia’s military capabilities and economic diversification efforts. newarab.com tacticalreport.com

The incentive to join Hezbollah:

Many Lebanese, particularly those who experienced humiliation or personal loss during Israeli occupation (between 1982 and 2000), chose to join the resistance, with some aligning with Hezbollah or affiliated groups like the Lebanese Resistance Brigades, taking on roles in combat, logistics, and intelligence.321 Hezbollah has been recruiting members from within its stronghold in the Shia dominated areas, including in the southern Lebanon region.322 As of December 2024, Hezbollah has started recruiting ‘new fighters and was trying to find ways to rearm through domestic production and by smuggling materials through Syria’.323 However, Daher stated that ‘Hezbollah does not actively recruit members; instead, individuals seek to join, and there are usually more volunteers than available positions. Joining the group and leaving is done on volunteer basis.’324

Daher further noted that ‘the group’s legitimacy, particularly for its fight against Israel’s occupation and annexation of the south of the country (1978-2000) and continued bombings, alongside the rise of Hassan Nasrallah as a leader (1992-2024), has strengthened recruitment dynamics’.325 According to an October 2024 study by UMAM Documentation and Research, Hezbollah recruited and indoctrinated children through its 18 Al Mahdi Schools, mosques, hussainiyas (Shia religious centres) and hawzat (seminaries) in areas under its control.326 However, Daher stated that ‘Hezbollah does not recruit children, and that Hezbollah leadership has issued fatwas explicitly prohibiting the recruitment of child soldiers’.327 The source further noted that ‘recruitment is carried out through personal networks and word of mouth, and that there have been isolated cases of Druze and Christians converting in order to join Hezbollah’.328

https://www.euaa.europa.eu/lebanon-country-focus/51-hezbollah

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In 1963 JFK told Israel not to develop a nuclear weapon on Dimona

In the year of his assassination, John F Kennedy warned Ben Gurion of Israel not to develop a nuclear weapon. They did so.

President Kennedy gave Israel a strong warning about its nuclear reactor in 1963

Kennedy, who was otherwise close to Israel, was furious with its ostensible nuclear weapons program.

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/president-kennedy-gave-israel-a-strong-warning-about-its-nuclear-reactor-in-1963-589107

Now President Trump warns Iran not to develop a nuclear weapon.

74 Times President Trump Has Made Clear That Iran Cannot Have a Nuclear Weapon

The White House

March 2, 2026

https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/03/74-times-president-trump-has-made-clear-that-iran-cannot-have-a-nuclear-weapon/

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Is he crazy? Discuss.

I am reproducing Robert Reich’s expression of alarm on Substack today:

He is Seriously, Frighteningly, Utterly, and Completely Losing His Mind

We are in great danger

Robert Reich

Apr 16READ IN APP

Friends,

It’s a catastrophe on the way to becoming a cataclysm.

Trump is rapidly going stark-raving mad. He’s a clear and present danger to the United States and the world.

Yesterday he lashed out at The New York Times after its chief White House correspondent questioned his mental health and stability and pointed to his “erratic behavior and extreme comments.”

“HAVE THEY NO SHAME? HAVE THEY NO SENSE OF DECENCY?” Trump posted in CAPITAL LETTERS about the Times, inadvertently echoing the famous words of Joseph Welch when standing up to Joseph McCarthy during the Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954. Trump went on to take issue with the Times’s coverage of his war in Iran rather than his mental state, as if to prove the Times’s point.

He keeps saying he’s “won” the war with Iran, although he’s never said what “winning” means. At one moment his goal is to free Iran’s people. At another, it’s to end Iran’s capacity to produce a nuclear weapon. At another, to destroy Iran’s missiles. At another, to achieve “regime change.” At another, to open the Strait of Hormuz (which was open before Trump started his war). At another, he says he’ll know the U.S. military operation in Iran is over when he feels it “[in] my bones.”

He can’t even stay on the same subject for more than a few minutes. In the middle of a high-level Cabinet meeting about the war, he spends five minutes talking about his preference for Sharpie pens. He interrupts another Iran war update to praise the White House drapes.

He threatens that if Iran doesn’t reopen the strait, “a whole civilization will die tonight.” Then he says America doesn’t need the strait reopened. Then he says: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

He calls the Pope “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy” because the Pope wants peace. He posts an AI-generated picture of himself as Jesus, then says he was only depicting himself as a physician.

He won’t give up on his illegal and dangerous (for the economy) criminal investigation of Fed Chief Jerome Powell, claiming it’s not just about Powell’s renovations at the Fed but also a “probe on incompetence,” adding he’ll fire Powell if he doesn’t resign after his term as chair ends.

He claims that the United States “needs” Greenland. He confuses Greenland with Iceland. He says whales are being killed by windmills. He claims that he won all 50 states in 2020. That he defeated Barack Obama in 2016. He says the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should be executed. He goes on an eight-minute ramble about poisonous snakes in Peru. He boasts of ending a fictional war between Cambodia and Armenia.

After Robert Mueller’s death, he says, “Good, I’m glad he’s dead.” He blames the murders of Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle on “the anger [Rob Reiner] caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.” After Joe Biden is diagnosed with an aggressive form of Stage 4 prostate cancer, Trump says, “I’m surprised that the public wasn’t notified a long time ago because to get to Stage 9, that’s a long time” (there is no Stage 9 cancer).

He’s been losing it for a while now, but in the last few months it’s become far worse.

In 2017, 27 psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals concluded in The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump that Trump’s mental condition posed a “clear and present danger” to the nation.

In 2021, members of Trump’s own Cabinet — horrified by the January 6, 2021, violence at the Capitol and Trump’s lack of urgency in stopping it — discussed whether to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office due to mental incompetence.

During his 2024 campaign, he attacked Kamala Harris and then went into the stratosphere of his bonkers mind:

“She destroyed the city of San Francisco, it’s – and I own a big building there – it’s no – I shouldn’t talk about this, but that’s OK, I don’t give a damn because this is what I’m doing. I should say it’s the finest city in the world – sell and get the hell out of there, right? But I can’t do that. I don’t care, you know? I lost billions of dollars, billions of dollars. You know, somebody said, ‘What do you think you lost?’ I said, ‘Probably two, three billion. That’s OK, I don’t care.’ They say, ‘You think you’d do it again?’ And that’s the least of it. Nobody. They always say, I don’t know if you know. Lincoln was horribly treated. Uh, Jefferson was pretty horribly. Andrew Jackson, they say, was the worst of all, that he was treated worse than any other president. I said, ‘Do that study again, because I think there’s nobody close to Trump.’ I even got shot! And who the hell knows where that came from, right?”

It’s no longer possible to overlook his conspiracy-obsessed paranoia, his uncontrolled rage, his emotional volatility, his delusional claims, his vengeful rantings, his foul-mouthed posturing, his increasing detachment from reality.

Yet his Cabinet members and aides keep their heads down. Republican members of Congress pretend not to notice. His billionaire supporters dare not speak of his rapid decline. The media tries to “sanewash” his growing incoherence.

But some voices on the right — people who have long been supporters of Trump — have had enough.

Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene says Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s civilization is “not tough rhetoric, it’s insanity.” Far-right podcaster Candace Owens calls him “a genocidal lunatic.” Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones says Trump “does babble and sounds like the brain’s not doing too hot.” A White House lawyer in Trump’s first term, Ty Cobb, says Trump is “clearly insane.” Former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham says “he’s clearly not well.

The public is catching on. Fully 61 percent of Americans think he’s become more erratic with age, while just 45 percent say he is “mentally sharp and able to deal with challenges” (down from 54 percent in 2023).

For the good of the nation and the world, it’s time we face the reality: The most powerful man in the world does not have the mental capacity to do the job. Donald Trump — who has a family history of dementia — is increasingly unhinged.

We are all endangered. What happens if, in a demented rage, he hurls a nuclear bomb? Who is watching the “football” with the nuclear codes? Who’s ready to stop him to save the world?

Don’t wait. Impeach him now.

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© 2026 Robert Reich
548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104
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And global discussions are taking place as our world economy collapses after Trump and Netanyahu’s illegal war on Iran:

Mental health professionals state that Trump exhibits typical behaviors associated with Cluster B personality disorders, which include antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder. Antisocial personality disorder, characterized by a lack of empathy toward others, is commonly referred to as sociopathy. Borderline personality disorder features impulsive behavior and intense emotional reactions, often requiring psychological therapy or medication.

▶ A domestic mental health authority emphasized that Trump distinctly displays traits of narcissistic personality disorder. Diagnosis requires meeting at least five of nine criteria, and Trump reportedly aligns with nearly all of them. Key characteristics of this disorder include an exaggerated sense of self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, and a lack of empathy toward others. The Jesus AI image exemplifies his overestimation of self-importance. His demand for excessive admiration often escalates into anger, as seen in his sudden imposition of tariffs on China at hundreds of percent. Trump has also mocked a Hollywood director couple who lost their son last year, among countless instances of apparent insensitivity to others’ suffering.

Trump’s mental health issues were widely debated during his first term. Ahead of the 2024 election, over 200 U.S. mental health experts warned that Trump exhibits “malignant narcissism, a serious and incurable personality disorder,” marked by deceitfulness, destructiveness, paranoia, and danger. While the Goldwater Rule prohibits psychiatrists from commenting on individuals they have not personally examined, these experts felt compelled to issue warnings.

▶ Another domestic mental health professor noted, “While Trump clearly shows narcissistic personality traits, it is difficult to conclude that he is dysfunctional as a president or individual.” The professor added, “Many of his remarks and actions are reprehensible, but it is unclear whether they stem from a personality disorder or political intent.” There have been no reports of Trump undergoing mental health treatment. The global community may need to endure “this Trump” for a significant period longer.

https://www.chosun.com/english/opinion-en/2026/04/15/P3L3FVSREBDXJMXINXO3S74JYI/

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He said ‘no more wars’

This headline of ‘more’ troops is apparently not quite correct. These troops have been on their way since the end of March and will arrive soon:

US to send thousands of troops to Iran after Trump says war is ‘almost over’

Story by Sarah Hooper

 • 8h

Backup for US forces in the region will arrive this month (Picture: US CENTCOM)

Backup for US forces in the region will arrive this month (Picture: US CENTCOM)

The Pentagon is set to send thousands more troops to the Middle East this week, even after saying the war in Iran was about to be over.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/us-to-send-thousands-of-troops-to-iran-after-trump-says-war-is-almost-over/ar-AA20WtA0

Terrence Goggin (Substack) suggests it would take 100,000 US troops to take over the free and open running of the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before the illegal war began against Iran.

As of July 2025 to Feb 2026 there were probably 50,000 maximum stationed in the GCC. Since April 1, 2026, between 10 to 20,000 may have been added, though those in Bahrain were evacuated home. Each US aircraft carrier carries around 6,000 troops (there are 3 in the GCC region).

Mapping US troops and military bases in the Middle East

The United States has maintained a military presence in the Middle East for decades, currently stationing between 40,000 and 50,000 troops across at least 19 sites.

INTERACTIVE-US Military presence in the Middle East June 2026-1772272730
(Al Jazeera)

By Al Jazeera Staff

Published On 12 Jun 2025

|

Updated: 28 Feb 2026 10:11 AM

……………..

Of these, eight are permanent bases, located across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/12/mapping-us-troops-and-military-bases-in-the-middle-east

Note, Iranian trust in US peace talks is non existent:

During the recent peace talks between the US and Iran, Iranian officials expressed suspicion that the US was not negotiating in good faith, citing previous instances where military actions occurred while talks were ongoing. This has led to concerns that the US may be using military pressure as a tactic in the negotiations. Axios Wikipedia

And in Lebanon:

Trump says Israeli strikes on Lebanon a ‘separate skirmish’ not part of Iran ceasefire

Apr 8, 2026 6:50 PM EDT

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-says-israeli-strikes-on-lebanon-a-separate-skirmish-not-part-of-iran-ceasefire

Let us not forget what Smotrich said in March:

Smotrich urges Israel to annex southern Lebanon as assault intensifies

Israel’s far-right finance minister says Litani River must be ‘the new Israeli border’, as attacks on Lebanon ramp up.4 mins

SHAATH, LEBANON - MARCH 23: Aftermath of an IDF airstrike is seen on March 23, 2026 in Shaath, Lebanon. Israel has continued its aerial and ground assault in Lebanon after Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, launched missiles at Israel in what it said was retaliation for the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. (Photo by Adri Salido/Getty Images)
The United Nations says more than 1.2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon since early March amid Israel’s intensified attacks [Adri Salido/Getty Images]

By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters

Published On 23 Mar 202623 Mar 2026

Israel’s far-right minister of finance, Bezalel Smotrich, has urged his country to annex southern Lebanon, as the military has destroyed bridges and homes in an intensified assault on the area.

In an Israeli radio interview on Monday, Smotrich said that the bombardment of Lebanon “needs to end with a different reality entirely”, which includes a “change of Israel’s borders”.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/23/smotrich-urges-israel-to-annex-southern-lebanon-as-assault-intensifies

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