New York — US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday vowed an “economic D-Day” for countries that buy oil from Iran. Experts say that means one country in particular: China.Bessent didn’t name China on Monday, but he left little room for doubt.
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Xi Ain't Reading All That
I suspect isolating China will be as easy as conquering Iran.
Sure Why Not
Via the California Post, court documents reveal that York “responded to an ad on a known prostitution website in Columbiana County, Ohio and ‘arranged to have sexual activity with the female in exchange for $140.00.’”
Per the report, York went to the meeting location — a trailer park in East Palestine, Ohio. He was taken into custody after a law-enforcement agent from the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force determined that York had “in his possession his cellular device which was used to arrange the criminal act.” (Which apparently means that the “criminal tool” was the cell phone.)
The "heart" wants what it wants, I guess.
Main Character Syndrome
The US has long had it, but I think once upon a time it was more justified. We are, much more than 30 years ago, just another country.
One with a huge military (though that too has limits, as we see) and too much control over the international financial system, but no longer the center of everything culturally and economically.
To some extent that's because we "won." American influence is apparent in much of the world. But you don't need McDonald's franchises to have fast food chains.
The US is economically big enough that it matters, but the rest of the world doesn't need us to buy from them or sell to us nearly as much as "we" think they do.
Only about 4% of the world's population.
Monday, August 24, 2026
Why Indeed
Genius Bessent admits he can't go through with his threats.
Asked why the US is threatening Iran’s business partners instead of penalising them, Bessent said: “Well, we are giving everyone the opportunity to remedy bad behaviour. Why would I want to blow up the global financial system?”
Or at least admitting the consequences of doing so.
Sure Why Not
Pretty easy to draw the appropriate conclusions here.
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) — San Francisco 49ers owner John “Jed” York was arrested in the Valley over the weekend and found guilty of two misdemeanor charges.
York pleaded no contest Monday morning to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. He was arrested Sunday in East Palestine and posted $5,000 bond.
WKBN requested a police report, which states only: “On August 23, 2026, the East Palestine Police Department assisted the MVHTTF on the arrest of John York.”
The police report lists the time and location of the arrest as 9: 35 a.m. at Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community off state Route 170.
The release from East Palestine police states all further information must come from the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. WKBN reached out to the task force for further information and is awaiting a response.
Rich guy pleads no contest to lesser chargers, presumably.
Doug Ford: We Sure As Hell Can, Bitch
Much more than just electricity.US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on a trade war with Canada: "There's no possible way it can really affect US well-being"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) August 24, 2026 at 5:20 PM
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At Least The War Is Over
Our approach to all international disputes when anyone responds forcefully is "mommy he hit me back." I think most of even our dimmest jingoistic pundits have realized that isn't very convincing in this situation.
All of this began with the US murdering Khamenei and then blowing up a school for girls. I'm not sure what "taboos" are left that we can legitimately complain about.
All of this began with the US murdering Khamenei and then blowing up a school for girls. I'm not sure what "taboos" are left that we can legitimately complain about.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Tehran would not bow to an escalating pressure campaign by the Trump administration, after one of the country’s top security chiefs threatened reprisals against countries that joined the United States’ “economic war.”
Everyone Should Scream At Alan Whenever They See Him
Dershowitz and David got into an infamous altercation on Martha’s Vineyard in 2021 that resulted in the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Seinfeld” creator calling Dershowitz “disgusting” to his face. Dershowitz, who was a member of Trump, Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein’s defense teams at various points in his career, confirmed the fight in a 2022 interview with The New Yorker and opened up again on his falling out with David in a new profile published by The Atlantic on Aug. 18.
“Larry David doesn’t talk to me anymore,” Dershowitz told the publication. “He screams and yells at me when he sees me.”
David responded by telling The Atlantic: “I don’t know why he’s still thinking and talking about me. I have lots of confrontations on my show but rarely in life. And then only if I think I can take them in a fight. Hence the Dershowitz dust-up.”
Alan's made lots of new friends recently. Isn't hanging with the MAGA crew enough for him?
Haven't We Been Here Before
If they were smart, they would make Donald touch the stove.
TORONTO (AP) — Ontario’s Doug Ford tells AP Canada should be ready to cut electricity, critical minerals to US if trade fight worsens.
Will We Though
Above my pay grade, like many things, but the global map of US military bases is always a horrifying thing to see and I suspect having fewer dots on that thing would be good.
In my judgement, the US Armed Forces have probably permanently lost access to 15 Persian Gulf bases. Iran now poised to control access the Gulf States. US will have to negotiate new access in western Saudi Arabia, Israel, southern Europe. https://t.co/oG4aeEshab
— Barry R McCaffrey (@mccaffreyr3) August 22, 2026
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Sunday Evening
Monday is tomorrow! I am sure there will be many quality posts to celebrate the new week.
When Canada Is Dead And Gone
Not that there was much chance of Canada acquiescing to the Mad King's desire to have it be the "51st state," but we can see that this would not have been some sort of merging of equals with appropriate representation (how many senators does Canada get?), but colonial conquest.
I know it is silly even to engage such ideas, but I suppose there are some who still imagine something other than demented and malevolent intentions are possible.
Everyone Gets To Use A Pencil
The flip side of President Deals never sticking with his deals is nobody else is obligated to, either.
About Time Someone Said It
I'm no Carney superfan, but he does seem to have figured Trump out.
After opting against a trade deal with American counterparts, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada's government 'recognized from the start' that the U.S. has changed. 'We recognized that sometimes its signature was written in pencil,' Carney said.
It is very funny that one of the dealbreakers was the US demanding they trash their various French dual language requirements. Like asking the US to cancel football.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Coordination
This is illegal, but since laws aren't real anymore, we can at least laugh.
Allies of Mike Rogers, Michigan's GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, have asked AIPAC not to advertise on his behalf, triggering a rupture with the powerful but polarizing pro-Israel group.
Rogers spoke with AIPAC chair Michael Tuchin in Los Angeles last week. The next day, AIPAC shelved an already-cut video ad targeting Rogers' Democratic rival, outspoken Israel critic Abdul El-Sayed.
I do remember when people in DC did take this stuff seriously, to the extent that certain people wouldn't be in the same room with other people.
Soylent Beef Is Made Of PEOPLE
What is the mystery meat?
But when a reporter asked the most basic question about the arrangement — where exactly is all this beef coming from? — Trump refused to say.
"On the beef deal, which countries did you make the deal with?" a reporter asked Trump Friday afternoon.
"I don't want to say," Trump responded.
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