Trump warns of impeacement if Democrats win the midterms, a warning that may help boost Democrats.

 

Kamala Harris has publicly opposed the Iran war, saying that Americans really don't want this war. She is absolutely right. If she were our president right now, we would not be at war with Iran. In the last election, Trump won with 49.9% of the vote to 48.4% for Harris, so a difference of 1.5%. Hillary Clinton in the 2020 matchup with Trump, actually won the popular vote by that same margin, 1.5%, but lost in the Electoral College, giving Trump his first foray into national politics, something very unfortunate for our nation and for the entire world. Donald Trump will certainly be rememberd in the history books, but not in the way he would want to be remembered.

Major polls, including The Economist and CNN, have reported approval ratings for Trump of 36%–38% and disapproval ratings reaching 58%–61%.

Neither Harris nor California Governor Gavin Newsom is polling particularly well right now either, so Democrats may need some new faces for the next presidential election.

Donald Trump has not ruled out a military draft. 

If so, there will be a record number of conscientious objectors. He also warns that he'll be impeached if Republicans don't win the midterms, a message that may actually invite votes for Democrats.  

Wash. Post, As oil prices soar amid war in Iran, G-7 decides not to tap emergency stockpiles

Rising oil prices are shaking global stock markets and pushing gas prices toward $4 a gallon. .

Gas prices have been rising fairly steadily in our small town, but with some ups and downs.

Iran picks Ali Khamenei’s son, a powerful regime insider, as its next supreme leader

Khamenei's son is selected as Iran's supreme leader; 7th U.S. service member dies

Mojtaba Khamenei is deeply intertwined with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His selection sends a strong message of defiance to President Donald Trump.

Iran's new leader is age 56. Trump has called him "unacceptable," but he appears to be very popular right now with Iranians.

Wash. Post, War with Iran spreading economic damage far beyond oil and gas markets

Other economic sectors in Iran are already being affected and the damage is also spreading to other countries.

Wash. Post, Early Iran strikes cost $5.6 billion in munitions, Pentagon estimates

Wash. Post, Intel report warns large-scale war ‘unlikely’ to oust Iran’s regime

Donald Trump has said that he is just waiting for Iran to "cry uncle" but that looks rather unlikely, as Iranians' support for their new leader appears to be growing. Most Iranians seem to have greatly increased their support of the leadership just since the US attacks, something not really so surprising. 

Trump blames Iran for the destruction of the girls' school where at least 175 people were killed, including children and teachers. Does that really look like something Iran would have done? Isn't attacking a school a war crime? 

Classified Reports Shows Iran’s Weapons-Grade Uranium Could Be Recovered Despite Trump Claims Nuke Site Was Annihilated: NYT

Many questions remain. Both American and international support for Trump's Iran war appears to be shrinking by the day, but Trump may dismiss that as just more "fake news," his favorite label for any news he doesn't like.

Russia seems to be a major beneficiary of the war. Netanyahu also seems to be off-the-hook, at least for now.

Is a negotiated settlement with Iran still possible? Iran seems to be in an even stronger position than ever before, with both increased citizen and international support. Is any other country even supporting the US in this war? Israel may be supporting the war--or is that only Netanyahu? Russia seems to actually be benefiting the most.

There is a discussion on Reddit about anti-semitism: 

Israel is the primary beneficiary of this war against Iran, while America bears the costs.

Is any implied criticism of Israel automatically considered anti-semitic? Is this a lasting legacy of the Nazi era in Germany? 

NYTimes, 

Newsom Compares Israel to ‘Apartheid State,’ Questions Military Support

Newsom's comments Tuesday came after he sharply questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration. Netanyahu, Newsom said, "has got his own domestic issues. He’s trying to stay out of jail and he’s got an election coming up. He’s potentially on the ropes. He’s got folks, the hard line, that want to annex the West Bank,” with Newsom adding about Israel that some “are talking about it appropriately as sort of an apartheid state.”

Some acadamic commentators have characterized Israel as an aparthied state, as has Amnesty International.

================================================================

Tillis calls on Miller to depart White House: ‘Out of his depth’

While Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem will soon depart her Cabinet-level post, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also wants White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller to leave as well. Tillis told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday that Miller, a longtime adviser to Trump dating back to his first presidential campaign, is “out of his depth” and has been “repeatedly responsible for embarrassments” for the administration. When Tapper asked whether Tillis thought Miller should be relieved of his duties, the retiring senator replied, “Oh, of course I do.” Tillis is not seeking re-election, so is now speaking out freely.

Many of us also would like to see Miller leave the White House.

======================================================================

After being imprisoned for 19 years, then at 2 am on Wednesday 8 February 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots, wrote her last ever letter. Addressing her brother-in-law, King Henri III of France, she told him, "I am to be executed like a criminal at eight in the morning."

So then, just a few hours later, it was "off with her head."

Her letter, written in French, is now on display at the Perth Museum in Scotland. 

Time and time again. US clocks make a change. Donald Trump could stop the Iran war right now, even today.

 

The US changes over today from standard to daylight saving time, meaning that we now lose an hour. It would be best to stay with either system for the entire year, but in most of the nation, the clock still changes twice a year. The changeover causes many disruptions, even some accidents. But eliminating it by sticking to one system or the other has never been done, in part because of disagreement about which system is best.

Iran’s foreign minister says ‘no one knows’ who will be supreme leader – hours after official claimed one was chosen

It might be prudent for Iran not to reveal too much about any new leader to prevent the US and Israel from trying to assassinate him. But a specific individual still needs to be named, someone for Iranians to actually rally around.

The US and Israel have now been bombing Iran continuously. How can we get this to stop? People are being killed daily and many buildings are being destroyed. It's time for bombing wars to end. Nuclear agreements have been reached, so how about an agreemet on no more bombs? Better yet would be an agreement to settle disagreements by peaceful means. Wasn't the UN supposed to do that? Why is the US even bombing Iran right now? Just to save Netanyahu from prison? Probably most Americans actually oppose this war.   

NYTimes:

We Are Finally Free From Khamenei’s Suffocating Gaze

               Here's someone who actually welcomes the Iran war. Iran is certainly not a democracy.

Trump may need billions for the Iran war. Congress stands in the way.

Speaking now as a US citizen, also as a registered voter and taxpayer, I wouldn't 

want even one more cent to go to Trump's Iran war. Let Netanyahu go free, whatever 

he might have done and let's just stop all this. Come to an agreement now with Iran. 

Donald Trump could make that happen as our president if he reached out.

March 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom has significantly sharpened his criticism 

of the Israeli government.

• "Apartheid State": In early March, during a recent book tour, Newsom stated that some 
• people are "appropriately" labeling Israel "sort of an apartheid state" due to the policies of 
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Newsom said that the current Israeli leadership is
•  walking down a path that leaves the United States with "no choice" but to reconsider its 
• military support for the country.
• Criticism of Netanyahu: He specifically targeted Mr. Netanyahu, accusing him of using the 
• conflict in Gaza to manage his own domestic legal issues and political survival. (We already 
• knew that.)

Newsom has even hinted at the end of the "Jewish" state. 

Defacto, most Israelis will be Jewish, just as most Iranians will be Muslim, he was saying.

But being an adherent of a particular religion would not be an actual requirement for future

Israeli leadership or even citizenship. 

It's hard to envision a leader in Israel not being of the Jewish faith, nor an Iraqui leader who

is not a Muslim. In the US, JFK's Catholic faith was controversial. Even more controversial 

would be a US political leader--or the leader of any nation--who might profess to being an

athiest or even an agnostic. 

As of March 2026, Newsom has become even more sharply critical of Israel, specifically 

referring to it as an "apartheid state" and calling on the U.S. to reconsider military support 

due to the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He accused Netanyahu of 

dragging the U.S. into a conflict with Iran for domestic political survival. 

Now let's change the subject entirely by viewing some amazing Caribbean sea creatures.

 Spectacular images reveal unique sea creatures and corals off Caribbean islands.

The US under Trump now poses the greatest danger to the world.

 

Since Benjamin Netanyahu is the only guy that Donald Trump listens to now, someone needs to convince Netanyahu to stop the war against Iran. Netanyahu had urged Trump to start this war and he can get him to stop it. Netanyahu simply had urged the war to protect himself from legal prosecution. Time now for Netanyahu to come clean and make amends, as too many people are getting killed. It's a long story, but that's basically what has happened.

Let's offer Netanyahu perpetual immunity from prosecution, or whatever else he asks in exchange for stopping the war. Yes, Bibi is a liar and a crook. He has been facing prosecution. He has deferred that prospect by goading poor befuddled Donald Trump into attacking Iran, so now Israel has become a pariah as a result. This is not anti-Semitism, due rather to the deliberate criminal actions of just one person: Benjamin Netanyahu, who cunningly took advantage of Trump's rapid mental decline to try to get himself off the hook. But now Israel's international reputation has started sinking quite fast. And the contradiction between Israel being a Jewish state and also a democracy has been more starkly revealed. So, save Iran, save Israel. 

The Guardian: As of March 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom has shifted to a more critical stance on Israel, recently comparing its treatment of Palestinians to an "apartheid state" and questioning continued U.S. military support. While previously a staunch supporter who visited shortly after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, he now heavily criticizes Prime Minister Netanyahu's leadership.

PBS, Newsom’s Apartheid Remark Signals Shift in Democrats’ Middle East Messaging

California Goveror Gavin Newsom has correctly identified the problem in my opinion. If he runs for president next time, he has my vote. 

Amnesty International has now issued an urgent action against Israel:

Block the Bombs & Stop the Genocide: Ending U.S. Arms Transfers to Israel - https://amnestyusa-org.zoom.us/j/85364864931?pwd=aPjo80gfYbaddesaa9bEW11pQDwY3b.

Wash. Post, Trump demands ‘UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER’ from Iran; U.S. evacuates citizens from Middle East

Iran Prez Vows To Stop Attacking Neighbors — But Says Trump Admin Can Take ‘Dreams’ Of Surrender ‘To Their Grave’

Iran's reputation has grown as quite a brave country standing up to an unprovoked attack that had assassinated their Supreme Leader, while Israel and the US face international approbrium. 

Reports Claim U.S. Was Likely Responsible for Deadly Strike on Iranian Girls’ School as White House Says Investigation Is Ongoing

The attack was launched just two days before first lady Melania Trump had said she hoped for “peace” for all children.

Funerals were being held, including for some of the 165 school girls killed in US attacks.

NY Times, State Department Bypasses Congress to Send Israel More Than 20,000 Bombs

These bombs are intended to kill Iranians. 

Our fellow humans of all ages living in Iran are being killed by American bombardments under the direction of a very befuddled Donald Trump and a very canny Israeli leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. There is no good reason for launching this aggression against Iran nor has the US Congress approved it as is required by law. 

‘15 out of 10’: Trump’s jaw-dropping Iran war rating after 6 U.S. troops killed

Trump thinks his war on Iran is now going just great. He says he plans to expand the operation.

Daily Beast, Why Trump’s Iran War is Just Another Family Business

THE SPOILS OF WAR

And Jared Kushner is the bagman.

Iran's president apologizes for strikes on neighbors as missiles and drones still pound their cities

Wash. Post, Trump says U.S. to expand Iran targets as Tehran rejects idea of surrender

Iran updates: Trump vows Iran will be 'hit very hard' after Iranian president's mixed signals on ending attacks

Wash. Post, Classified intel report warns large-scale war ‘unlikely’ to oust Iran’s regime

A U.S. report doubts that Iran’s opposition would take power following either a short or extended U.S. military campaign.

Trump Flat Out Declares Iran Is Already ‘Decimated for a 10-Year Period’

FOX, Stephen Miller: The US military is not fighting 'politically correct'

— Miller says Trump 'unleashed' military from 'woke Pentagon' constraints after years of political correctness. 

Now the US  military can go all-out on just killing people.

Reuters, Trump to forge ahead with immigration crackdown driven by top aide Stephen Miller

And Mr. Miller is also keeping busy trying to deport even more immigrants. (He doesn't realize that they've come here because we really need them.) 

He is apparently trying to impress Trump into keeping him on while firing or demoting several other operatives. 

Since Donald Trump considers himself a king with unlimited powers, he isn't concerned about laws or rules or world opinion--or about rulings by other government officials or courts, or even about the protection of US citizens. Instead, he just makes decisions for the entire world or for our country following directives provided by guys like his buddies Netanyahu and Stephen Miller (and Miller is also trying desperately to keep his job after other recent firings or demotions). After issuing orders, then Trump leaves it up to his designated helpers and other underlings to see that the orders are carried out, allowing him to resume his daily snoozes. Or has he just been resting his eyes? 

Wash. Post, The U.S. labor market lost 92,000 jobs in February in warning sign for

 economy

                                        
                  Bagpipers are coming to DC. Our country certainly could use a little levity.

  Refilling the Great Salt Lake won't be an easy ttask, but efforts are already underway. 

NY Times, I’ve Never Been a Patriot, but Spain Standing Up to Trump Has Made Me One

The writer of the article mentioned above actually speaks Catalán, one of Spain's minority languages, and, as such, has sometimes been part of a minority seeking independence from Spain. 

Catalán is a language much like Spanish. When I was in Spain, I just spoke Spanish with Catalán speakers and we mostly understood each other. 

Hours after Donald Trump called Spain "terrible," he threatened to cut off trade with Spain over its government’s refusal to allow two jointly operated bases in Andalucía to be used to strike Iran. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez then declared. "Nosotros decimos NO a la guerra en Irán." (We say NO to war in Iran.) Sánchez has called Trump's war on Iran reckless and illegal and has announced a prohibition on using Spanish bases to launch strikes. Trump has threatened a trade war in retaliatiion. But actually the US has a trade surplus with Spain, so cutting off trade there is not such a huge threat. Sánchez had not been particularly popular, but his popularity has now gone up quite a few notches. 

Sagrada Familia [Sacred or Holy Family] is a Barcelona cathedral that never seems to be quite finished, but after more than 100 years of off-and-on construction, it is now nearing completion.

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