Trump’s tit-for-tat war with Iran escalates. You pay the price.
Two Straits Closed
The strait of Hormuz is again closed after the ceasefire broke down (thank Trump). Now the Houthis have blocked the Red Sea route for oil in the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
10 Ships Turn Back
Second Naval Blockade
Houthi Statement
Trump Will Hold Iran Responsible for the Houthis
Truth Social: A year ago the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis, for their interference with commerce and trade, by shooting at ships. Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night. Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Jul 23, 2026, 6:16 AM
In other news, I am holding my neighbor responsible if anything happens to my cat.
My neighbor has been has been notified and he is on full alert.
Oil Prices Hit $100 a Barrel While Tech Selloff Deepens
The Wall Street Journal comments Stock Market Today: Oil Prices Hit $100 a Barrel While Tech Selloff Deepens
Oil prices are back above $100 a barrel, and investors are dumping tech stocks amid fresh worries that hyperscalers are overspending on AI.
U.S. stocks are deep in the red after earnings from Google and Tesla stoked fears about Big Tech’s AI spending. Alphabet fell 7% after raising its capital spending forecast for this year to as much as $205 billion, while Tesla tumbled 14% after its free cash flow turned negative in the second quarter. The moves helped pulled the Nasdaq 2.7% lower, while the Dow industrials have shed 600 points.
Money Quote
Trump is always more belligerently foolish as long as the stock market is behaving.
Well the stock market is not behaving. Neither is oil or the bond market.
The 10-year note now yields 4.700 percent. The 30-year long bond is on the verge of a major breakout at 5.171 percent having touched 5.189 percent.
So, will Trump TACO again?
The problem is it is increasingly difficult for him to do so, a problem of his own making.
Yet, the national average gasoline price is up another three cents to $4.09 per gallon. Diesel is $5.20.
If this escalation continues for another week or so gasoline and diesel prices are headed for record highs.
But don’t worry. Trump will blame Biden. Besides, as we have established, this is a small price for opening the strait that was open before Trump started this insane war.
Three Questions for MAGA
- Are you tired of winning yet
- Are wars and inflation what you voted for?
- How fast the TACO?
Answers please.
Strait Opening Re-Opening Events
July 21, 2026: Israel Gives Trump Marching Orders to Escalate the War. What’ll the Puppet Do?
It’s not orders per se. But it’s similar to the “intelligence” scam that started this mess.
July 21, 2026: Hegseth Blasted in Congress Over His Lies Iran’s Military Capability Destroyed
Hegseth seeks more money for illegal wars. Just say no.
July 23, 2026: Trump Threatens to Attack Bridges and Power Plans in Tehran
A very desperate Trump threatens to carry out war crimes on Iranian civilian targets.
Things must be serious… Trumpstien hasn’t declared victory for several days now.
Question: How many times per day does Trump ask his staff where the Dow is?
Every time he’s startled into wakefulness.
What is actually more important and should receive more focus than the price per barrel of oil is the crack spread price of diesel (about $85 today) and gasoline (about $55 today), both of which are near all time highs (unlike oil). These crack spread prices are so high because of a contraction in global refining capacity. Partly this is due to the Middle East, where a large amount of refining capacity is now shut down due to the war. But then there is Russia, where over 50% of refining capacity has been taken offline by Ukraine attacks. Chinese and other Aslian refineries have reduced their production runs due to a shortage of oil. And even in the US there has been a 1.2 million barrels per day reduction in refining capacity since 2019 due to regulatory and economic factors. One thing is certain though–refiners are raking in and will continue to rake in massive profits.
Trump so screwed-up with his bombing foray of Iran. He never expected the blowback retaliation by Iran. Personally, I don’t think he gave an ounce of thought into the potential ramifications of his decision, because he couldn’t see himself as being wrong.
Trump is now between a rock & a hard place due to his own making. He has no possible way of exiting this disaster without losing face. That being the fact, he will double down and keep doubling down like a bad gambler attempting to break even and leave the table.
Unfortunately for us…
I doubt Trump sees a need to plan or consider any consequences…
when his simple, standard strategy is just to lie his ass off.
Losing face? He has lost his whole head including his small mind!
Are there any former allies that he has not pissed off?
I hope the US never needs any friends. Oh ya, Israel might help, ha ha ha!
No problem. Once the testosterone injections in the US military have taken full effect the Iranians will have to surrender. Even AI agrees.
The testosterone pumped soldiers will be ripping their shirts off like Hulk Hogan.
Gender affirming care makes America strong!
If The Fed wants the 30-year Treasury yields to stay below 5.15%, they need to hike short term rates a quarter of a point next week. The two year Treasury yield is screaming at the top of its lungs that there needs to be a hike, now, to keep inflation under control. There is too much of a fiscal spending imbalance in this environment for The Fed to screw around with sitting on its hands. The end of the fiscal year is right around the corner.
He fires anyone that disagrees with him, so it makes sense this is only getting worse.
In the stock market those with high Egos get hammered, in Politics, we citizens hammered.
The House votes for massive expansion of Pentagon budget, deficits and national debt and to merge US and Israel intelligence and defense technologies.
Votes:
Republicans Democrats
Yea: 209 6
Nay: 7 205
Hardly a uniparty. After 35 years as a Republican, I’m throwing in the towel and switching. If we’re spending trillions, I’d rather it be on Medicare for All (gulp) than killing people in other countries. Wish I had better choices, but I don’t.
The stupid never stops.
I threw the towel in after Biden. Look what I got. Screw all of them.
Republicans don’t represent a society I care for. I think the idea of consent is key to society and Trump views consent as weakness.
Same for compassion and empathy.
Just wish he would hurry up and die, don’t care how.
I’m with you, Jon.
I’d rather not spend it on Medicare either since that’s also a losing game (people age and die, it’s the cycle of life).
Rather spend it on infrastructure, energy and things of that nature that improve productivity and livelihoods for all.
Nothing says the party of LIFE…like the conservatives\libertarians who say people get old and die. No need for healthcare…! Until someone they love dearly, doesn’t have it when they are seriously ill…then they care. Or their own selves in a hospital and uninsured with a heart attack. Nothing says cilivilzed like fuck off and die you miserable takers using MY money for YOUR healthcare.
People wouldn’t get so sick if life wasn’t so hard on most of them.
Has Trump finally built the mouse trap that will eclipse him?
Gas prices and interest rates up, stocks down. It will be a hot summer from here.
The current House-passed $1T defense bill includes closer military and technological ties to Israel, and a little thing called the SAVE Act. It checks all boxes on the Trump sycophancy plan.
Iran will sit back and watch Trump circle in this drain.
Can I flush it please?
There’s a lottery.
Orange Chungus was yapping the other day:
“when this started (like he had nothing to do with it…lolz) they expected oil to go to $320 and it only hit $120…”
At least the Mr Market now knows his MAX PAIN level…probably not something you want to telegraph
So your neighbor is Haitian?
Short USO DEC 90/140 call spread @ 31.98
just wait guise…
…trust the plan
And more STUPID A** **** like this pending too:
“Trump Prepares Yet Another Strategy to Resurrect Global TariffsThe administration’s 10 percent global tariffs are set to expire at midnight, but officials have been preparing replacements.”
So how well have Trump Tariffs been working? Manufacturing employment has dropped LOWER than covid times.
Trump is only good for LIES and Narcistic self-enrichment (Coligula 2.0 on that!), death, decay, and destruction.
It’s clear, turn off the electricity Trump’s Life Support is just wasting electricity. My dog has more functioning matter on top his brain stem than Trump.
You dog knows not to shit where he stands.
Perhaps it will reach a point where those who could do something to stop this madness led by a deranged clown will do so. However, I am not holding my breath.