In my other life....

The Trump administration will cure us of our woke obsession with…dry land.

IEA warns of historic oil supply shock as Iran war disruption persists The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned of an unprecedented energy shock, with global oil production plunging by over 10 million barrels per day in March, as diplomatic efforts between Washin...

"In Singapore, the price for middle distillates reached all-time highs above $290 per barrel, reflecting the desperation of refiners to secure any available product. The IEA notes ... overall tightness in the market is unsustainable for the global industry." www.euronews.com/business/202...

Opinion | Is It Too Much to Ask to Care About Sudan?

"Is it too much for us to care about the world's largest humanitarian disaster," @anncurry.bsky.social asks in this excellent @nytopinion.nytimes.com essay about the horror unfolding in Sudan. Here's a gift link to Ann's essay: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/o...

Trump’s Erratic Behavior and Extreme Comments Revive Mental Health Debate

Excellent piece by @peterbakernyt.bsky.social about the debate concerning President Trump's mental health, noting that even conservatives and former associates are pointing to his erratic behavior and nutty comments and raising questions about his stability. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/u...

Hungary’s Orban, Beacon to the Right, Concedes Election Defeat

Viktor Orban has conceded the election in Hungary!!! A reminder that authoritarianism can be defeated, even when the playing field is tilted -- because voters resent corruption and misrule. But much depends on having the right candidate to oppose the authoritarian. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/w...

Iran’s IRGC warns any US military ship approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be treated as a ceasefire violation and face harsh and decisive measures.

Given the huge early turnout in Hungary odds seem very high that Magyar wil defeat Orbán very decisively; the question in that case would be whether Orbán goes with the Ukrainian electoral interference lie he has been preparing and whether foreign actors support him.

This is very much for real, and scary

#take9
#CyberCivilDefense

Opinion | Who Was Most Weakened by This War? Trump? Iran? 3 Opinion Writers Debate.

What's next with the Iran War? A roundtable conversation with me, @megankstack.bsky.social and Bret Stephens -- er, not entirely agreeing. Here's a gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/o...

A reminder of why we journalists are big believers in editors: (image is via Steven Pinker)

This all reminds me of the time Croesus asked the Delphic oracle if he should attack Persia and she responded, "If Croesus crosses the Halys River, he will destroy a great empire."

Turned out to be Croesus’s.

American Journalist Kidnapped in Iraq Is Freed

On a grim day, one bit of good news: Shelly Kittleson, the American reporter kidnapped in Iraq, reportedly has been freed: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/w...

This would be a good time for: a.) STRATCOM commanders to read up on Nuremberg and prosecutions for obeying orders to commit war crimes; and b.) for cabinet members to reread the 25th Amendment and have each other on speed dial.

Trump's threat is also counterproductive, playing into regime narratives about Western exploitation. Iranians are justly proud of their rich civilization--one reason they deplore their regime--so how can they not be repulsed by barbaric Western threats to destroy their civilization?

President Trump threatens not just war crimes but also what sounds like genocide, saying that in Iran "a whole civilization will die tonight." This is obviously morally repugnant and also raises concerns about the mental stability of a man who controls nuclear weapons.

Religious zealots in America battle religious zealots in Iran, and humanity loses. God should sue both sides for defamation.

One of the sources of American economic and scientific dominance over the last 200 years has been the way we welcomed some of the brightest minds from all over the world. We benefited and the world benefited -- yet now under Trump we're closing down our lighthouse and its beacon.

Trump Slashed Science Funding. Now the U.S. Could Face a Costly Brain Drain.

A study in September by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a Washington think tank, warned that without a reversal, the cuts to science could shrink the U.S. economy by nearly $1 trillion over 10 years. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/b...

US Deploys Bulk of Stealthy Long-Range Missile for Iran War The next steps in the US military campaign against Iran will commit nearly its entire inventory of stealthy JASSM-ER cruise missiles, drawing them from stockpiles devoted to other regions.

The Iran War has gobbled up a breathtaking amount of U.S. military capability vital for deterring a Chinese attack on Taiwan. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

ICE Agents Detain Newlywed Spouse of Soldier Training to Deploy

Trump's immigration policy: An Army staff sergeant brings his new bride to the base to get her military ID. She's undocumented but a lawyer is working on getting her a green card. ICE takes her away in handcuffs and may deport her any day. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/05/u...

Opinion | Trump May Be Turning Iran Into Another North Korea

The Iran war, an expert notes, is 'an operational success but a huge strategic failure' -- partly because we may be turning Iran into another North Korea. My column: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/o...

Pentagon To Host Good Friday Service Just For Protestants, Not Catholics

NEW: The Pentagon today invited more than 3,500 employees to attend a Good Friday service at its in-house chapel.

Except it’s only for Protestants, not Catholics. www.huffpost.com/entry/news-l...

Medical Examiner Rules That a Rohingya Refugee’s Death Was a Homicide

Remember Mr. Shah Alam, the semi-blind Rohingya genocide survivor whom immigration agents dumped on the street in Buffalo in the middle of winter? The medical examiner has found he died of dehydration and hypothermia: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/n...

Kristof Farms

A single bottle of wine--a 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti--just sold for $812,500. But here's the good news! You can get a world-class Pinot Noir from Kristof Farms and save $812,440! Think what you could do with those savings! KristofFarms.com: We're here to help!

Columnist reacts to Trump saying U.S. could take Iran's oil: 'Delusion' President Trump says the U.S. could take Iran's oil. Trump also says the U.S. and Iran are having "serious" talks. MS NOW Reporter David Noriega is in Jerusalem with the latest updates. New York Times...

President Trump says the U.S. could take Iran's oil. Trump also says the U.S. and Iran are having "serious" talks.

MS NOW Reporter David Noriega is in Jerusalem with the latest updates. @nickkristof.bsky.social and @rickstengel.bsky.social join Alex Witt to weigh in.
www.ms.now/chris-jansin...

President Trump threatens war crimes, such as destroying Iran's electrical grid and desalination plants. This is silly as well as immoral: Iran gets 3% of water from desalination, compared to half in Saudi Arabia and 90% in Kuwait. Do we really want to escalate in that direction?

We're opening The Most Beautiful Farm in The World to tours and wine/cider tastings, on Sunday, April 26, 1pm and also 2:45. Nick and Sheryl and their daughter will host. By reservation only: app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/f18... Any questions, ask info@kristoffarms.com

Opinion | The Old Man Dreaming Up Wars for Young Men to Fight

At the end of my grim column today about Trump's Iran War, I offer uplift. My holiday impact prize campaign raised $50.3 million for 3 nonprofits. This will help millions, so thanks to donors and to @bloombergdotorg.bsky.social for matching. I have the best readers! www.nytimes.com/2026/03/28/o...

Opinion | The Old Man Dreaming Up Wars for Young Men to Fight

In the Vietnam War, Senator George McGovern put it best: “I’m tired of old men dreaming up wars for young men to fight.”

In that tradition, President Trump now seems likely to send ground troops to Iran. Here's why that's such a reckless idea: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/28/o...