Pretty simple. Bednar is NOT the answer. To anything.

Given the deeply unsatisfactory results from 38 days of bombing, it’s hard to imagine what more of it could accomplish. Iran still retains 70% of its missiles and 40% of its drones. If Iran retaliates, it could make the current economic catastrophe seem like child's play. wapo.st/3RMqzfv

A drone strike sparked a fire on the edge of the United Arab Emirates' sole nuclear power plant on Sunday in what authorities called an "unprovoked terrorist attack." n.pr/4wBFSI3

Holy crap Clay Holmes pitched another inning with a broken leg? Daaaammn

"I watched a freshman I knew sign the declaration that he’d done his homework without A.I. as ChatGPT was still open in the next window—while on the deck of a yacht party financed by venture capitalists," @tab_delete.bsky.social writes. College in the A.I. Era. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/o...

Trump's capitulation on Taiwan has been explicit and striking. Has any of the China hawks who've justified support for or acquiescence to Trump because "he'll be tough on China" reconsidered? Has any acknowledged they were wrong? Feel free to offer names of those who have or haven't in the replies.

Atlantic columnist and US Naval War College professor emeritus Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social delves into the tumultuous political situation in the United States and its impact on US foreign policy, and what that means for the prospects for new nuclear arms control agreements.

Journalists, filmmakers & content creators: Join us at the @OutriderFdn Nuclear Media Summit in Los Angeles on Oct. 22–23, 2026! This free, 2-day event focuses on how #nuclearweapons issues intersect with AI, community health, #climatechange & outer space. 🔗 APPLY NOW: buff.ly/Q71tvLR

The maker of jets that crashed and killed everyone onboard and the carmaker fined tens of millions for mishandled recalls have suddenly decided to sponsor their top regulator's reality show purely for the love of the open road www.wsj.com/business/boe...

What is the current status of the Russian nuclear arsenal? Read the latest Russian Nuclear Notebook from @nukestrat.bsky.social, @mattkorda.bsky.social, and @mknight.bsky.social of @scientistsorg.bsky.social.

David Sanger has decades of accurate and documented reporting. Trump is a compulsive liar and convicted felon.

www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/w... If true and actually implemented, this is a welcome development.

Guietlein admitted the CBO’s architecture is “not affordable at all, so we’re not going to go do that.” However, Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) conceded the true cost of Golden Dome could be like CBO’s estimate over $1 trillion and thinks that is a necessary level.

Railbird?

True for both leaders.

BURGUM: When the sun goes down, solar produces zero electricity HUFFMAN: I want to enter into the record this amazing new technology that apparently the secretary is unaware of -- it's a battery

Breaking News: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to bring a Colombian woman back to the U.S. after it had deported her to Congo.

I can imagine a US-PRC summit where China declares a deal to reopen Straits under Chinese management, but Iranian "supervision", and Trump jumping at the deal.

With reports that much of Iran's missile arsenal survived and that Pakistan hid some of Iran's air force and civilian planes it is good to remember that we cannot trust the Pentagon or Admin to tell the truth about the war and that an independent and professional press is critical in a democracy.

An interesting lesson here about the advance & limits of battlefield transparency. In 1991 the US failed to hit a single Iraqi Scud missile, despite huge air/ground efforts. This time it hit a lot—but still only a fraction of the total. Sensing *over large areas* remains hard. From NYT report:

From the NYT report Iran still fields about 70 percent of its mobile launchers across the country and has retained roughly 70 percent of its prewar missile stockpile, according to the assessments.

Trump said it would cost $175 billion Congressional Budget Office estimates that missile defense system consistent with those in the "The Iron Dome for America" executive order would cost about $1.2 trillion to develop, deploy, and operate for 20 years. Full Report: www.cbo.gov/publication/...

Given Trump action, a future President can empower national guard and DHS to seize all personal firearms and destroy them. By the time courts review and intercede, they will all be gone. Then add a 2000% tax on all guy and ammo sales and problem largely reduced. This is the model being provided.

America renews itself. In that I have faith. - Bruce Springsteen, 5/11/26

Literally everyone knew Iran would do this.

Far from demonstrating American prowess, as supporters of the war have repeatedly claimed, the conflict has revealed an America that is unreliable and incapable of finishing what it started. That is going to set off a chain reaction around the world as friends and foes adjust to America’s failure. 🔥

"By placing more than 300 fixed, short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles on permanent alert at several above-ground sites close to the Demilitarised Zone, South Korean Strategic Command has significantly departed from standard practice..." www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Many facing economic pressures and frustrations have begun shopping at budget grocery stores and warehouse clubs in lieu of traditional supermarkets, with priorities shifting in pursuit of good deals. n.pr/4tuPAJE

If you are at the NPT RevCon tomorrow / Monday let me know

What did I ever do to deserve this? #Arsenal

The Speaker of the Alabama House wants the courts to overrule the 14th Amendment. Listen to his exact words & understand this: We are seeing the MAGA-faction attack on our elections fully exposed this week. Now is the time to understand that & do something about it. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...

Why should Israel stop at occupying West Bank and Gaza? They have illegally seized and dominated territory for decades. This is a logical extension of their policies. Perhaps we should agree to enforce international law and enforce international borders everywhere?

Actual footage of Xi thinking of how he will manipulate Trump

Gas prices: record seasonal high Beef prices: record high Farmers: bankruptcies up 46%, can’t get fertilizer Foreclosure rates: 6 year high Epstein pedos: still being protected MAGA: at least we owns the libs.

Lawyers for Pete Hegseth argued that military retirees were subject to freedom of speech restrictions because of their connection to the military, and that if they didn’t like those restrictions, retirees could forfeit their pension and benefits. Let that sink in. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/o...

Your regular reminder that Trump has claimed he is not bound by international law and there are no laws requiring force be proportionate, discriminate or necessary. If President wants to launch a nuke, there is no one who can legally intervene.

Hard not to be discouraged.

Such statements are dangerous in the near term and long term. Also any use of nuclear weapons in Iran given current conditions would be illegal under international law. And if this Admin actually followed the Constitution would be a violation of US law. This dangerous gap needs to be address.

If Arsenal win this weekend, we are one step to the title. If we lose, Tor one step closer to relegation. Win-Win?

Playing a waiting game when you are the most impatient, impulsive president in American history seems like a bad idea but what do I know. open.substack.com/pub/danieldr...

Encouraging news that the Trump Admin may pivot to engage in greater in some deeper oversight of nee AI models. Hard to imagine the money behind Trump will support true and necessary regulation but more oversight badly needed to prevent the worst outcomes. Opening a dialogue with PRC also welcome.

A State Department crystal football?

BREAKING via Fox News The United States has conducted airstrikes on Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas in Iran. US officials tell Jen Griffin that from their perspective this is not a restarting of the war. There are also reports of air defense activity in Tehran.

Another welcome victory for the rule of law. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/07/b...

🚨 U.S. intelligence says Iran can outlast Trump’s blockade for months. My latest with Warren Strobel and Ellen Nakashima wapo.st/4u52grO

SCOOP: A confidential new CIA analysis delivered to policymakers this week concludes that Iran can survive the U.S. naval blockade for at least 3 to 4 months before facing more severe economic hardship, a finding that contradicts those hailing an imminent collapse 🧵

The ongoing campaign of killings at sea would be front page news every day if it weren’t for… all the other things. It still should be. And is ramping up. @becingber.bsky.social @bcfinucane.bsky.social @rachelgoldbrenner.bsky.social and I get you up to speed with our latest podcast installment 👇