Bob Kagan just declared “checkmate” on America in Iran while the US prepares to fall off an energy cliff in the next two weeks. You should probably buy an EV soon.
Really good post, Dean! You're calling it all out and this is a 3 alarm fire alert. You've given us action steps. Awesome and your support for Americans is inspiring and so very much appreciated. 🙏 🇺🇸
Yes … my son who has Fidelis (Medicaid) has a serious medical condition that will no longer be covered as of 2/1/2026 due to Trumps Big Beautiful Bill..
This issue really hits home. You have a LOT of company. Thinking this ridiculous decision will "trickle down" ( or maybe it's trickle up) to Drs offices, hospitals, pharmacies, medical supply companies, physical therapy.....about anything that was covered.
How ironic that while this stupid US administration is doing all it can to prohibit transition to a local, renewable, climate-change-stalling energy grid, it has created spurring conditions for the rest of the world to do so!
1973, the year of the Yom Kippur War, the year of the first oil shock, the year I got my learners permit and the year that gas prices tripled. 1976, the year that I entered the labor market, the year that stagflation was in the headlines, the year Jimmy Carter was elected and interest rates started to go through the roof. 1980, the year of a recession and the year that Reagan was elected. 2026, a year that rhymes with the those years. 2028, a year that could move our politics to a time not seen since 1932, if we're lucky. Great Depression, maybe. WWIII, possible. It could be avoided if enough people in this country could learn from the past and not repeat it.
Re. your first short paragraph: while I’ve known for some time this is what we are witnessing, this pattern, it hit me just now as I read your words that it’s like the terrible articles we encounter in the news that someone has killed their spouse and perhaps their kids… And sometimes there’s a suicide as well, but not always. And it’s the mindset that “if I can’t have it, nobody can.”
But usually that’s been the result of circumstances that swirled and got out of control, like something going down the drain, whereas in this case, the corrupt irrationality of admin 47 - both at home and globally - has led to that very feeling, of things heading toward the drain for the world as a whole…
And yet, as you state, they want it all and it’s never enough… And then you state that if they can’t have it, nobody can.
It’s an extremely dismal scenario, and the simplicity of it is a gut punch.
I'm just using my earthquake survival list. Of course, I've actually been stocking up since last August. It doesn't take a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. Thanks, Bob!
Thanks for this. I want to add an action to this list - Congress needs to be responsible and accountable to impeach Trump and his regime because we are now destroying the world - it's an environmental disaster and an economic disaster.
Was said MONTHS AGO that the longer trumps stayed in power the WORSE HE, WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD NEVER BE BELIEVABLE “WILL” BECOME BELIEVED.! The fucker truly is in the process of shutting down the world! O MY FUCKING GOD! And yes i am beyond pissed at trump and all their billionaires boys for flushing it all down the toilet, while all those fuckers pick drapes for their fucking well stocked bunkers! Yes, angry too…because this was all a “man-TRUMP-disaster” that has, is & currently doing destroying the world.
Which is where we come in to call our reps and senators. I’m on the fence about how effective this is but I saw an article I think from Meidas that after a certain number of personal calls, and unscripted, it does get their attention to at least pay attention.
Yes, but you see, DJT has made America great again! The rich are richer (a lot richer), he and his family are now beyond rich, gold leaf reigns in the West Wing, the reflecting pool has a bright blue coat of paint, a billion dollar ballroom is on its way while women's rights have been turned back to the 50s, civil rights gains have been trampled, concentration camps have been built and on and on.
The curtain has been pulled back and the mythology spun by the US has been exposed. The fat man behind the curtain with his cronies have shown the world what the US is really about: money. Money money money money.
Nicely done. I have always enjoyed reading R Kagan for his bluntness and historical perspective. However I agree with your comments. While he does clealry see what is happening he cannot accept that he is a co-author to the mess. The shattered world order that remains after Trump will need another Marshall Plan to recover except this time it will need to come from Europe...and Canada.
Trump and his greedy gang of big oil oligarchs just shot themselves in the perennial a**. While Trump so arrogantly (In case you are wondering, arrogant implies autocratic, biggety, bragging, cheeky cold-shoulder, conceited, contemptuous, cool disdainful, domineering, egotistic, high-and-mighty, high-handed...) failed with his war on Iran, big oil had no choice but to lose the bet they placed on their horse called Trump, shall we say, massively - an understatement. The ramifications will continue on for quite some time with everyone in the world needlessly suffering.
Can we talk clean energy now everybody? Please? I believe the planet might very well be breathing a sigh of relief right now.
Fantastic and terrifying article, Dean. Thank you for the facts and numbers. Holy wow, are we screwed. And I don't mean just the U.S. us, but the whole fucking planet. And I know asking why is stupid, I guess, but why the absolute fuck is the planet allowing one old crazy bad excuse for using up air to do this????! One old fucking POS. Really, I don't think asking why is stupid. At this point, when the world is going to hell for NO reason, is that man not being stopped by the rest of the world? The whole fucking world vs one old dump. C'mon, planet, make him GO AWAY! And take his flying monkeys with him. There's gotta be a way. Napoleon was exiled. Must be a gulag somewhere that would take them.
Money, money, money,money, money. And no spines. I'd be ashamed if I were in Congress, enough to wear a bag over my head everywhere I went. Those people are inexcusable on every level.
Ms McLane, according to a Politico article by Giselle Ewing, 04/17/2025, Senator Murkowsky of Alaska stated in a speech in Anchorage: "We are all afraid". The Senator did not give specifics. Why is she a political figure if she has no courage?
Not just Americans. The world is going to have to live with the consequences while Trump, somehow oblivious to it all, manages to gaslight himself, along with the millions of MAGA morons who put him in office and enabled this, into believing that none of this is happening while simultaneously blaming everyone else for said consequences. Especially Biden and us in Europe.
DT is not man enough to end this. he has to stand up to Bibi and just exit the middle east and lick his wounds... it's painful, but it's better than driving the U.S. off the cliff or taking a submersible down to the Mariana Trench. it takes a monumental amount of courage to admit you were wrong about everything, and DT was wrong about everything. But he is not of that Courage. This is why Character matters in leadership. If DT had good character, he would never have attacked Iran, and without that character, he can't get out
Trump always acts without thinking. He doesn’t have intelligent people to speak with either. He relies on those surrounding him because of their blind obedience rather than any knowledge they might possess.
Really good post, Dean! You're calling it all out and this is a 3 alarm fire alert. You've given us action steps. Awesome and your support for Americans is inspiring and so very much appreciated. 🙏 🇺🇸
🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🕊️United
This is exactly what he wanted… to destroy everything that is genuinely beautiful.. 🤷🏻♀️😔
And this delusional bastard is now going to use tax payers money to build his ostentatious decadent ballroom/bunker ..
He’s going to need that bunker .. when we the people come for him ‼️‼️
with a guillotine!
Or the Gallows.. like he did for his esteemed VP .. Pence..
Is a catastrophic failure We the people will be hurt physically and financially 🥲😥
Yes … my son who has Fidelis (Medicaid) has a serious medical condition that will no longer be covered as of 2/1/2026 due to Trumps Big Beautiful Bill..
This issue really hits home. You have a LOT of company. Thinking this ridiculous decision will "trickle down" ( or maybe it's trickle up) to Drs offices, hospitals, pharmacies, medical supply companies, physical therapy.....about anything that was covered.
And my NYSEG electric bill went from $250/month to $800/month .. WTF‼️‼️‼️
How ironic that while this stupid US administration is doing all it can to prohibit transition to a local, renewable, climate-change-stalling energy grid, it has created spurring conditions for the rest of the world to do so!
1973, the year of the Yom Kippur War, the year of the first oil shock, the year I got my learners permit and the year that gas prices tripled. 1976, the year that I entered the labor market, the year that stagflation was in the headlines, the year Jimmy Carter was elected and interest rates started to go through the roof. 1980, the year of a recession and the year that Reagan was elected. 2026, a year that rhymes with the those years. 2028, a year that could move our politics to a time not seen since 1932, if we're lucky. Great Depression, maybe. WWIII, possible. It could be avoided if enough people in this country could learn from the past and not repeat it.
Contemporary here. Agree.
Yes, all of us of a certain age, have seen this, and have our parents' memories of the depression.
The trumps of this world want it all. More is never enough. And if they can’t have it, no one will. Morally bankrupt thugs.
I volunteer at a food pantry. Today I will be passing along your advice to stockpile and helping them with a plan. Thank you.
Re. your first short paragraph: while I’ve known for some time this is what we are witnessing, this pattern, it hit me just now as I read your words that it’s like the terrible articles we encounter in the news that someone has killed their spouse and perhaps their kids… And sometimes there’s a suicide as well, but not always. And it’s the mindset that “if I can’t have it, nobody can.”
But usually that’s been the result of circumstances that swirled and got out of control, like something going down the drain, whereas in this case, the corrupt irrationality of admin 47 - both at home and globally - has led to that very feeling, of things heading toward the drain for the world as a whole…
And yet, as you state, they want it all and it’s never enough… And then you state that if they can’t have it, nobody can.
It’s an extremely dismal scenario, and the simplicity of it is a gut punch.
I'm just using my earthquake survival list. Of course, I've actually been stocking up since last August. It doesn't take a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. Thanks, Bob!
Thanks for this. I want to add an action to this list - Congress needs to be responsible and accountable to impeach Trump and his regime because we are now destroying the world - it's an environmental disaster and an economic disaster.
Was said MONTHS AGO that the longer trumps stayed in power the WORSE HE, WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD NEVER BE BELIEVABLE “WILL” BECOME BELIEVED.! The fucker truly is in the process of shutting down the world! O MY FUCKING GOD! And yes i am beyond pissed at trump and all their billionaires boys for flushing it all down the toilet, while all those fuckers pick drapes for their fucking well stocked bunkers! Yes, angry too…because this was all a “man-TRUMP-disaster” that has, is & currently doing destroying the world.
It's time for France, 1968. Well, beyond time.
Thank you mary, my mind is spinning, gotta google France 1968. 💙🍀✌🏽
Sure thing - here is an intro video. They got rid of De Gaulle over it....
https://youtu.be/AVWcHxMsMg8?si=msUvnLIvZ-3a2Yxw
Thanks from me too. More than enough to keep track of but here we are, and it’s important.
Danny the Red!
perhaps demented boy trump disaster too as he never grew up.
Hard to do when the republicans are in the pay of putin.
Which is where we come in to call our reps and senators. I’m on the fence about how effective this is but I saw an article I think from Meidas that after a certain number of personal calls, and unscripted, it does get their attention to at least pay attention.
Yes, but you see, DJT has made America great again! The rich are richer (a lot richer), he and his family are now beyond rich, gold leaf reigns in the West Wing, the reflecting pool has a bright blue coat of paint, a billion dollar ballroom is on its way while women's rights have been turned back to the 50s, civil rights gains have been trampled, concentration camps have been built and on and on.
The curtain has been pulled back and the mythology spun by the US has been exposed. The fat man behind the curtain with his cronies have shown the world what the US is really about: money. Money money money money.
My late husband always used to say that—and he was right.
Nicely done. I have always enjoyed reading R Kagan for his bluntness and historical perspective. However I agree with your comments. While he does clealry see what is happening he cannot accept that he is a co-author to the mess. The shattered world order that remains after Trump will need another Marshall Plan to recover except this time it will need to come from Europe...and Canada.
Trump and his greedy gang of big oil oligarchs just shot themselves in the perennial a**. While Trump so arrogantly (In case you are wondering, arrogant implies autocratic, biggety, bragging, cheeky cold-shoulder, conceited, contemptuous, cool disdainful, domineering, egotistic, high-and-mighty, high-handed...) failed with his war on Iran, big oil had no choice but to lose the bet they placed on their horse called Trump, shall we say, massively - an understatement. The ramifications will continue on for quite some time with everyone in the world needlessly suffering.
Can we talk clean energy now everybody? Please? I believe the planet might very well be breathing a sigh of relief right now.
Maybe we can go back to those 4 or 5 wind turbine companies trump admin paid off to NOT build off east coast and I believe California.
Hell of a post Dean.
Thank you for choosing to spend considerable time and energy painting a clear picture of the mess that idiots have caused. Thank you!
Sadly, this is an excellent piece.
Fantastic piece. Very depressing.
That’s how i felt. I don’t want to be un prepared but don’t want to panic either
Fantastic and terrifying article, Dean. Thank you for the facts and numbers. Holy wow, are we screwed. And I don't mean just the U.S. us, but the whole fucking planet. And I know asking why is stupid, I guess, but why the absolute fuck is the planet allowing one old crazy bad excuse for using up air to do this????! One old fucking POS. Really, I don't think asking why is stupid. At this point, when the world is going to hell for NO reason, is that man not being stopped by the rest of the world? The whole fucking world vs one old dump. C'mon, planet, make him GO AWAY! And take his flying monkeys with him. There's gotta be a way. Napoleon was exiled. Must be a gulag somewhere that would take them.
Inference tells us Trump has a powerful secret method of control over Congress and industry. Hmm, whatever could it be?
Money, money, money,money, money. And no spines. I'd be ashamed if I were in Congress, enough to wear a bag over my head everywhere I went. Those people are inexcusable on every level.
Ms McLane, according to a Politico article by Giselle Ewing, 04/17/2025, Senator Murkowsky of Alaska stated in a speech in Anchorage: "We are all afraid". The Senator did not give specifics. Why is she a political figure if she has no courage?
Not just Americans. The world is going to have to live with the consequences while Trump, somehow oblivious to it all, manages to gaslight himself, along with the millions of MAGA morons who put him in office and enabled this, into believing that none of this is happening while simultaneously blaming everyone else for said consequences. Especially Biden and us in Europe.
It makes my head explode thinking about it all.
Amen!💙🍀✌🏽
DT is not man enough to end this. he has to stand up to Bibi and just exit the middle east and lick his wounds... it's painful, but it's better than driving the U.S. off the cliff or taking a submersible down to the Mariana Trench. it takes a monumental amount of courage to admit you were wrong about everything, and DT was wrong about everything. But he is not of that Courage. This is why Character matters in leadership. If DT had good character, he would never have attacked Iran, and without that character, he can't get out
Trump always acts without thinking. He doesn’t have intelligent people to speak with either. He relies on those surrounding him because of their blind obedience rather than any knowledge they might possess.