6 months (?)
A problem Trump can’t make go away
California nightmare😨: In a state of 40 million people, last night’s California gubernatorial debate made one thing clear — the bench for governor leaves little hope.
Winners🏅: The moderators who asked fair, tough, substantive questions and pointed out when candidates refused to answer.
Losers👎: The people of California, who have to pick from these six candidates.
Conclusion🤦: The biggest state in America and fourth largest economy in the world is going to be run by nitwits
Fair Point🤷: Who in their right mind wants to run for office these days?
Our elected representatives are supposed to represent us but instead they represent themselves.
Look back: Where is Ronald Reagan when you need him?
Editor’s note✏️: Welcome to a slightly abbreviated edition of War Notes — I walked off a red eye and into something for a new project — announcement soon, you will be the first to know.
Meantime🙏: Thanks to Amanda for organizing more than usual.
Did you hear👂: Border czar Tom Homan, who calls himself a lifelong Catholic, invited Pope Leo XIV for an ICE ride-along to talk about border security — something Homan says “they don’t understand.”
Reality🤦: It’s like me inviting Tiger Woods for a round of golf fun, for both Homan and I to think about but it’s not going to happen.
Iran Deja Vu 🌀
‼️If you don’t know who is winning, it’s not you — and America is not winning in Iran right now.
Don’t believe me: At the start of the war with Iran, it was very clear America was winning — now we keep having to ask.
Excuse🤷: The administration views Iranian dysfunction and infighting as a sign of success — it could be
☑️However facts on the ground show it’s not — the Islamic Revolutionary Guard is consolidating power.
Reports say the Iranian speaker of the Parliament was forced to resign.
Today😬: Trump’s news conference shows a president trying to regain the narrative — it’s not working
🤦He oscillates from saying there is no timeline to saying he could make a deal right now.
Empty threats🗣️: He ordered the military to “shoot to kill” any Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
1️⃣First, the Iranian leadership doesn’t care if the minelaying boats get blown up
2️⃣Second, why should they believe him?
Problem⚠️: The Iranians no longer believe Trump has the will to fight
Fix🤷: No amount of Oval Office news conferences fighting with the media will fix that.
Be fair⚖️: Trump faces many problems the new Iranians leadership doesn’t — but the world isn’t fair.
Look forward⏩: Unlike situations in the past where Trump could take things to the brink (Greenland, Minneapolis immigration, etc.) and then back off — the Iranians have no desire for an off ramp
We’ve told you‼️: The Iranians are fundamentally different people than Trump has ever dealt with.
Way out👀: If Trump wants out the Iranians will make him pay a high price.
Watch tonight 📺: Vice Admiral John W “Fozzie” Miller and Dr Kian Tajbakhsh
Sponsored message from Center for the Environment and Welfare
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🌿Hemp/marijuana farms
🍷100+ Wineries and vineyards
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‼️Action Item: Pass the Farm Bill. Bring down costs. Don’t let California impose higher food prices on everyone.
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America No Longer Feels Fair‼️
‼️Trump won in 2024 by capturing the anger of Americans over an economy that felt fundamentally unfair.
Look back🔙: In 2016, there were a lot of Bernie bros in the primary who flipped for Trump.
😬The fundamental feeling of unfairness in America’s economy is only getting worse because it’s becoming more and more unfair.
🤦Republicans have done absolutely nothing to fix it — in fact, it’s gotten worse.
Now it’s the Democrats turn
Reality👎: Republicans have done a great job enriching themselves and other rich folks.
💰From the tax code that continues to reward billionaires and tax the middle class
✈️To billionaires still being able to fly their private jets during the government shutdown
💸To keeping the carried interest and oil depletion allowances in the new tax bill.
Look back🔙: Trump said he was going to make it fair but Americans don’t feel that.
Today‼️: Democrats are tapping into the same anger that Donald Trump did in 2024 because Trump hasn’t solved it.
The unfairness is setting up a backlash of populism from the left
📰Just look at The New York Times and Hasan Piker’s “‘The Rich Don’t Play by the Rules. So Why Should I?’” writing: “Why petty theft might be the new political protest.”
🤷Yes, Piker is an antisemite and only a small percent of the population actually know him, but he is tapping into something very real.
The New York Times and Piker allude to it’s OK to steal stuff when we have billionaires steal because they cheat on tax codes or accountants to figure out the tax code —
It’s hard not to be angry when you put it like that.
📊Or look at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — his approval sits at 48% where Trump’s approval rating is 35%
Reality‼️: If Trump and Republicans don’t fix this, they’re screwed.
Reuters reports top White House officials and Republican strategists met in secrecy this week to “strategize how to protect the party in November as the Iran war and rising gas prices erode Trump’s brand”
Watch tonight📺: Former Democratic adviser Dan Turrentine and Republican strategist Tiffany Smiley.
Plus ➕: NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer from the White House.
Trying All the Options
3 days late‼️: Trump changed how the federal government looks at state licensed medical marijuana.
☘️For the most astute among you — three days late represents an homage to 4/20, today is April 23.
🤯It changes 60 years of drug policy in America and represents a mind blowing shift for Republicans.
✏️Acting attorney general Todd Blanche signed an order to reclassify state-license medical marijuana to a less dangerous drug.
‼️This won’t legalize marijuana but it changes the way it’s regulated.
Doing this will make it easier to study it
What I’m thinking💭: Is this the administration’s way to win back Joe Rogan and others who support legalizing marijuana?
📈64% of U.S. adults support making marijuana legal.
⬆️This is up from 36% in 2005
Look back🔙: In 1979, 51% of 12th graders had used marijuana
Now📅: 26% of 12th graders have used it within the past year.
What I am thinking💭: Can you imagine Nancy Reagan’s thoughts?
Yikes😬: Today’s marijuana is orders of magnitude more powerful than what our parents’ generation smoked.
Politics🤦: The economy hasn’t worked to win over young men in the Republican Party — so now they are trying pot.
🤾Republicans have now sold out everything they use to believe in:
Government control of the markets
Investing in corporations
Small governments of any type
And now they are taking a step at decriminalizing marijuana
🤦The traditional values Republicans are now for ‘shrooms and pot.
Watch tonight📺: Sage Steele, host of “The Sage Steele Show”