Another one bites the dust?

Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Domestic Petroleum Production, Refining, and Logistics Capacity MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY SUBJECT:       Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as

Several executive orders this evening invoking the Defense Production Act so Trump can directly financially support US oil/gas/petroleum/coal production, which is a great signal about how poorly this war is going economically and how little they planned for this
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

An 'Open for Open' Hormuz Deal Could Break the Iran Stalemate | Council on Foreign Relations Pressing economic concerns should compel the United States and Iran to decouple their blockades of the Strait of Hormuz from the complex and likely lengthy negotiations needed to reach a settlement on...

Even if Trump’s inexperienced negotiators—Vice President JD Vance and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—do finally meet their Iranian counterparts, there is scant reason to hope for a diplomatic breakthrough covering all the issues on the table.

If the United States does not develop the capability and the credibility to manage this threat, what is now a short-term, if painful, disruption will harden into a durable feature of the global energy system—raising the long-term costs of both the war and the peace that follows.

Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Gambit and the Limits of U.S. Military Power A war of endurance, not firepower: Iran leverages the Strait of Hormuz to raise global costs while betting it can outlast U.S. political will.

Iran has demonstrated that it can impose costs on global energy markets through limited disruption. Whether this takes the form of outright blockades, intermittent harassment, or even quasi-institutionalized “tolls” on Gulf shipping, the precedent is now established.

It’s the ‘Worsties’ – listing the 25 worst people in news media Being awful pays off in today’s attention economy, but it also deserves ridicule

A few weeks old, but I missed it. It's sort of like "can't tell the assholes without a program" for the news media
open.substack.com/pub/stopthep...

War briefing day 52: Iranians trying to provoke US into military action American forces have opened fire on an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel. How did this situation unfold? Is this just a tactical act or part of a wider strategy?

Four Iranian ships made a run at the blockade.

One was intercepted - This is what the US Media reported

Three made it through - This SKY piece is the first I've heard of it.

news.sky.com/share/13534236

Hedwig and the Angry Inch-Origin of Love YouTube video by Stella Dey

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UGa...

I saw this piece this AM and it brought to mind the first time I performed with the Bay Street Theatre in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The song Origin of Love, is derived from Aristophanes contribution to Plato's Symposium. Music video and a picture of me performing as Krzysztof in the comments.

STUBB: On battlefield, from December to April, Ukraine has been killing 30,000 to 35,000 Russians per month. And Russians are not able to recruit as many soldiers as they are losing. And 95% of these kills are happening unmanned, with drones.

Today's winner of the Internet. Congratulations!

Two weeks ago, in an op-ed in The New York Times, I argued that Iran was not collapsing under pressure, but instead moving toward a new form of durable power rooted in its ability to influence the global economy through the Strait of Hormuz. At the time, that claim ran against the dominant narrative

The Moment the World Realized Iran Is a Global Power This morning, on Morning Joe, something subtle but profound happened.

The world is beginning to treat Iran not as a problem to be solved, but as a power to be reckoned with.

That distinction marks the emergence of something rare in international politics: a new center of world power.

Trump turns totally toxic for Europe’s far right “Proximity with the United States in the current context did not go down well with Hungarian voters,” said a senior official from France’s National Rally party.

www.politico.eu/article/trum...

Trump becomes a toxic asset for Europe’s far right European nationalist parties were celebrating the White House’s support just months ago. But the war in Iran and the US president’s erratic behavior now risk turning him into a liability

Two nearly identical pieces

Who knew that negotiating for world peace is nothing like cutting a deal for concrete with the Gambino crime family?

Iran Says Hormuz Strait Will Close Two Years for Renovations The Strait of Hormuz board, packed with cronies of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, also approved a plan to put Khamenei’s name on the renovated waterway.

“The Khamenei Strait of Hormuz will be the biggest and most beautiful trade chokepoint EVER!” the ayatollah announced in a social media post.

This chart is spooky. Elasticity of demand is an underappreciated variable in the scenarios being advanced, I think.

Bulgaria enters uncharted territory as Radev wins big Preliminary results show that former President Rumen Radev has won Bulgaria's general election with a clear majority and the biggest result for a single party since 1997. Will Bulgaria finally get a s...

Meanwhile, in Bulgaria

www.dw.com/en/bulgaria-...

The Harm from Hormuz Why we should still fear a global slump from Trump’s Iran debacle

Basically, the U.S. can get the Strait reopened by loudly proclaiming victory while quietly accepting de facto defeat. All this will take is for Trump to accept reality, admittedly a hard climb.

Businesses can claim refunds starting Monday for Trump tariffs declared unconstitutional A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs which the U.S. Supreme Court eventually struck down is scheduled to launch on Monday. U.S.

Remember tariffs?

Worker's Song (Remastered 2019) YouTube video by Dick Gaughan - Topic

#Aprilmusicchallenge
Day 20 - A song everyone should hear

youtu.be/zuC4SC1bI2U?...

Iran Ceasefire Won't Fix the Economy What happens after the shooting stops? The uncomfortable answer is that a ceasefire with Iran may calm the headlines, but it does not erase the economic damage already done. In this clip, Justin…

Whatever happens with the ceasefire, it's worth remembering that even if the war ends, the damage remains. The broader economic consequences are large, and persistent, and affect all of us.

Allies fear a rushed US–Iran framework deal could backfire, leaving technical deadlock European allies fear an inexperienced U.S. negotiating team is pushing for a swift, headline‑grabbing framework deal with Iran that could entrench rather than resolve deeper problems.

JD and the Chucklefuck Twins = Form over substance.

European allies fear an inexperienced U.S. negotiating team is pushing for a swift, headline‑grabbing framework deal with Iran that could entrench rather than resolve deeper problems, diplomats with past experience dealing with Tehran said.

Hundreds trying to storm Wisconsin beagle research facility met with rubber bullets and pepper spray About 1,000 animal welfare protesters who tried to gain entry to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin have been turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the...

Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept..

Driving Home YouTube video by Cheryl Wheeler - Topic

#Aprilmusicchallenge
Day 19 - A song that takes you back to the past

youtu.be/hzaguP9lWE0?...

I only meant to post Shattered!

Favorites - YouTube

youtube.com/playlist?lis...