Richard M. Nixon

Many of you miss our column. It will return for the election. It will not focus on Trump personally, because it can’t. It’s like analying ferrets. We have never pretended there is a method to what he does. The whole point of the thing was to tell the truth and write what you couldn’t find elsewhere.

They are still writing thousands of words about him being a serious man who prostitutes himself and so forth, when for damn near fifteen years I’ve shown you left, right, and sideways he’s a clown without an original thought in his head.

The Iran war is 60% unpopular with the dust still in the air. Unless Tehran turns into Alexandria, Virginia by '28, Vance and Rubio - together or separately - will need to run fast and far from it. But they won't be able to.

Hegseth has an American flag pocket square. Of course there are far more clear and present dangers, but it was once understood that respect for the flag meant not turning it into articles of clothing.

He does. He doesn’t control money in the country.

@ronziegler.bsky.social What?

Phil Leotardo

Within Iran Pahlavi is at best a symbol, and not a major one. He doesn’t have people or money. There is some desire to install him as a transitional figure, but none to go backward.

“In terms of winning.” You see what you want to see.

Yes. Lamb ran towards Biden. It was the wrong thing to do. In terms of winning I said so then, and I stand by it. Fetterman had his questions but as opposed to now his message was coherent and he seemed to want to be there. Kenyatta—who is talented—ran on the solid left but he’s Black and gay.

The Guardian story was 30 minutes ago. Get out of here.

MS Now headline, noon yesterday, showing Hormuz closed

An image from the Guardian 10.30am Eastern showing Hormuz as closed

From half an hour ago.

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It has nothing to do with what I do or don't believe the president can do. It is a tool applicable to current politics.

The War Powers resolution is not a bad idea. You put some backs to the wall that way. In this climate it could help you swing elections.

If it is advantageous or convenient to kill the leader of another country, it's in your interest to get his own people to do it.

There it is.

All statements by this office are sourced. If the source can be named, it is named. It is not to say all intelligence is correct; in these matters a record of six or seven in ten is seen as good. Those of you who have followed this office for some time understand it more than meets that standard.

Ships in the area are receiving messages that they are not allowed to pass. That is not to say Hormuz is mined, etc. As yet I am not aware of that.

I am told the Straits of Hormuz are closed.

First, Iran is not an imminent threat to the United States or Israel. The regime is brutal and repressive, but not suicidal. History and intelligence bear this out. There is no reason to do this now.

Ships in the area are receiving messages that they are not allowed to pass. That is not to say Hormuz is mined, etc. As yet I am not aware of that.

I am told the Straits of Hormuz are closed.

From the Pentagon: "It just gets more ridiculous."

The line is "an escalating series of strikes with off-ramps" - that is, two or so days of bombing, followed by pause. War conducted by clowns.

They appear to be doing this without a concrete idea of success or a plan to prevent escalation.

It doesn't look good.

It is relatively easy to destroy the faces of a regime. It is not easy at all to destroy its roots, its sympathizers, and those who would rush into the vacuum to rebuild it, or build a separate regime for themselves.

Never mind the goal of political change - air power alone almost never produces it. The bigger this gets - and it will get bigger - you might wind up fighting half the Arab world, either traditionally or otherwise.

First, Iran is not an imminent threat to the United States or Israel. The regime is brutal and repressive, but not suicidal. History and intelligence bear this out. There is no reason to do this now.