"The damage is already done"

Canada's retaliatory tariffs are now in full effect on about twenty billion dollars of U.S. imports, raising prices for American consumers.

Trump's AI-generated image of himself beating the Canadian Prime Minister with a hockey stick is unhinged and toxic, eroding a historic alliance.

Canada stood by the U.S. after 9/11, sending troops to Afghanistan where 158 Canadian soldiers died, making Trump's current aggression particularly damaging.

He took his whole crew to Ground Zero after 9/11 and was carried away by two firemen who thought a building was collapsing.

The New York Times reported there is significant dispute over whether Trump actually went to Ground Zero after 9/11.

Trump's words cannot be trusted on any topic, and his actions make him appear foolish to the world. Prime Minister Carney is right to stand up to Trump, and more allied leaders should demonstrate similar resolve.

Canada's retaliatory tariffs target politically sensitive U.S. states like Michigan and Maine. Trump has operationalized Canada's political leverage against the U.S., something Canada would never have considered before.

Countries must figure out how to protect their interests against Trump's actions across multiple fronts.

Prime Minister Carney's pushback will reduce Trump's impact, and other nations should follow his example.

Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7 and will pivot to prosper despite the costs, as standing still is not an option.

U.S. consumers are already paying an extra $1,200 due to global tariffs and $1,000 more for energy, with costs mounting for consumers and small businesses.

Crude oil, natural gas, and critical materials are currently exempt from the tariff war but may face new tariffs soon.

U.S. business leaders privately think Trump's actions are bonkers but are mostly ducking public criticism out of fear or because the stock market is doing well. The U.S.-Canada trade deficit exists because the U.S. imports cheap Canadian oil and ships refined gas back to Canada at a profit.

Trump's threat to stop trading with deficit countries if the Fed doesn't lower rates is non sequitur blackmail that makes no sense.

Presidents historically did not threaten the Federal Reserve, making this a significant normalization break.

Trump has deep ignorance and incompetence in economic, political, and military affairs, playing blackjack on a multidimensional chessboard. Trump views everything through a prism of personal benefit, and Republicans will increasingly be blamed for allowing these policies.

Retaliatory strikes will hurt U.S. farmers who can't get fertilizer out of the Strait of Hormuz and will pay more for Canadian fertilizer. China never put U.S. liquor back on shelves after retaliating, hurting U.S. producers.

Fertilizer prices are already up 30-40% since the Iran war began, with higher costs for everyone and small businesses caught in the middle.

Paralysis from unpredictable economic policy will lead to higher inflation, eventually causing people to stop spending and blame companies and the government.

Republicans are untethered from small business qualms out of fear, as power and proximity to power have kept them in business.

Republicans may be afraid to get off the train even at 30% support, and voters must decide if the economy is truly their priority.

The New York Times reports Pete Hegseth spent over 16 months trying to oust four-star General Christopher Donahue, a generational talent with 20+ deployments.

Donahue epitomized what Hegseth claimed to want in the military, making his purge puzzling.

Hegseth's purge of General Donahue reflects personal grievances and insecurities about his own military service, including being forced out over extremist tattoos. Hegseth bears a significant grudge against the army he loved and feels it failed him.

Hegseth has fired, forced out, or blocked promotions of about 80 people, roughly 10% of the general officer corps.

This loss of talent and the message it sends risks politicizing the military and compromising its nonpartisan ethos.

General Donahue's operational tempo was unbelievable, with 20 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in Special Forces.

Donahue is a generational talent similar to General Stanley McChrystal, and Hegseth's actions drive fear and low morale throughout the Pentagon.

The Iran conflict is small potatoes, not a big thing, and is an intermittent military conflict rather than a war.

Trump's dismissal contrasts with the reality of an active, dangerous conflict endangering military personnel.

American forces struck multiple Iranian tankers tied to the IRGC in response to attempted missile attacks on a U.S. Navy warship.

Trump's "small potatoes" comment is patently absurd given 18 killed, 750 wounded, 15 bases damaged, over $200 billion spent, and $100 billion paid at the pump.

Iran has never been stronger, now controls the Strait of Hormuz, and gas prices will likely rise to $5 per gallon.

General Lahey's inability to secure Senate confirmation votes for Army Chief of Staff reflects increasing congressional scrutiny of Hegseth.

This is more a referendum on Hegseth's leadership than on Lahey, with senators expressing unhappiness with Pentagon management.

Firings without reason and mass polygraphs without explanation are eroding bonds of trust within the military.

These fissures are hard to see until they crack, at which point the military will face serious problems.

They are changing South Park's name to South America, inspired by Apple and Google's capitulation to Trump's renaming whims.