Innocent people have already died.

I think Israel had every right to attack Iran and think too many people on our side have been reflexively anti-Israel but that’s neither here nor there. This was predictable given Trump’s impulsivity (“within two weeks” turned into something like a day), Congress’ abdication of any responsibility in war and foreign affairs, and forked-tongue Netanyahu (who’s been in power for about half as long, total, as the longtime dictator in Tehran) playing the president like a fiddle.

Politically I think he just signed the Republicans’ death warrant in 2026 and 2028. It’s not just the anti-war MAGA base; it’s the young bros, former Bernie Bros, and people opposed to Genocide Joe (how’d that go?) who believed him when he said he’d keep us put of wars and solve Gaza in, if not a day, at least six months The youth may not be stupid, but they lack perspective and have no lived experience. As for the presidential election, there is no heir apparent to Trump. J.D. Vance is perhaps the most unlikeable person in public life. If the Republicans can be thrown out of power perhaps the damage can be limited, but Iran already didn’t trust us and are wise to the vicissitudes of American democracy in particular. Look at the 2015 nuclear deal. Of course Trump can do a lot of damage in the 18+ months until a new Congress. Of course this isn’t counting throwing a bunch of red-staters off of Medicaid and Obamacare and closing rural hospitals so you have to go 100 miles if your water breaks unexpectedly or have a heart attack. (Let’s not kid ourselves: the congressional GOP will fall into line on the reconciliation bill.)

Of course we’ve pissed off all our allies in the last five months, even fucking Canada, so it really is America and Israel alone. I also find it interesting that Trump has flip-flopped on illegal farm workers by my count four times and TACOs on tariffs but went all-in after about half a week of deliberation. Strongmen (Netanyahu) really are the Trump whisperers.

Just various thoughts, not particularly deep or productive. It’s all I can do.