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.
5D chess
By a guy who doesn’t even know how to play chess.
As uncle Jeff once said in a famous meme, “They’ll blow up the entire world before showing you the list of my friends”…
At some point things will turn to cuba mode: peoples having to pay a lot of solar panels to be able to afford commuting to work.
Things seem to be going as expected. Trump only knows how to threaten and escalate to get his way. And Iran will never bow to his threats or escalations. So the escalation in this war continues.
So the flow of oil, refined products and everything else out of the strait of Hormuz is being heavily restricted again.
Then add in the new Houthi restrictions on the Red Sea routes. And the Ukrainian attacks on over 100 vessels (mostly tankers) in the Black Sea. The shut down of the Kazakhstan pipeline route. And the damage to many Russian Refineries.
Oil is reacting. Brent to $100, WTI to $90. And both could go significantly higher if these interruptions don’t end soon. Or they each could drop $40 again if all these things get resolved soon, or if traders “think” they will be resolved soon.
Personally I am taking advantage of this. Selling oil stocks into the rally and raising cash for the next big correction.
The moderates in Iran negotiated the MoU with Trump. The hardliners opposed it, saying that Trump cannot be trusted. There are reports saying Khameini didn’t want to do the MoU, but gave the go ahead to the moderates (chiefly Ghalibaf) who recommended it as the best way forward.
Turns out the hardliners were right, Trump’s signature meant nothing at all. Now the hardliners are in charge of the negotiations for Iran. Trump will never get another deal as good as the MoU again. Now not only is the Strait of Hormuz closed, so is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Trump has no way out, so he will keep escalating. I think this war will end like Vietnam or Afghanistan.
Hang onto those oil stocks a little longer!
I agree with most of what you say. Though I don’t think the Iranian moderates ever believed Trump would keep his word. He has already proven to them that he never will.
I have a core position of oil stocks (and some others stocks), and I day trade a portion of my portfolio. My cash position increased from 40% to 43% today as I took some profits. I don’t think I will every be 100% cash or 100% stocks.
You’re a wise man!
I am concerned a bit about manipulation in the markets, but I see evidence big players are convinced oil is going up.
Thanks for your insights. If this is too personal, please forgive me and ignore, but when trading oil stocks, what do you focus on to know when it’s time to stop selling and start buying? Something like a 200 day moving average or is it more complicated than that? Thanks for any help, I’m just trying to learn how to do this.
That’s stupid. Logic says to blame the people actually attacking ships and restricting traffic through the SoH.
Which begs the question, why doesn’t Iran send their military to park off the east coast and attack US soil in kind?
Because they can’t. They have no capability to do so. So they block a choke point to deliberately impoverish the world, so chumps like Mish gripe and complain and apply pressure to the administration. (And then when that pressure appears to work, they cry “TACO”.)
Blocking the SoH is a bitch move. And a bitch move deserves a bitch slap.
Blocking the SoH is the only defense they have against the war Trump started.
And everyone knew that long before the war started.
Only a complete imbecile would not have seen it coming.
Don’t forget that the Iranian folk are at home, but for some reason morons decided to go and bother them now you don’t like the results well life is a tough….
Takes a bitch to know a bitch.
So if you get attacked in your house you’re going to bend over an take it. ….I guess you are as that the maga way.
Stop blaming the SOLUTION, which is the US! Instead, try blaming the PROBLEM, which Is the Iranian Regime.
They could mind their own business, stop funding terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. They could let traffic freely flow through the Strait of Hormuz. They could mine their oil and use the revenues to improve their economy and the lot of their people.
They don’t need nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles. If they stick to their knitting, no one is going to bother attacking them.
But if they feel they have some right imparted on them by their version of the muslim god to meddle in other countries interests and business, then they are going to pay a price for that.
They didn’t do anything to us and they weren’t threatening us. We had no good reason to attack them. This is 100% on Trump – a total traitor against what he ran on. And it’s probably going to get a lot worse because he’s a dip shit, and he can’t find any way to end it and claim any sort of “win”. Everyone he listens to is a sycophant or an idiot or both.
It’s 100% on the Zionist handlers fighting a religious war with their greater Israel hallucination. And damaging Christianity as much as possible as a second target. Accelerating the demise of the US by leading it into a war which is impossible to win against a nation fighting for survival. Determined not share the fate of Libya, Iraq and other states destroyed by the US. They have had decades to work out a plan and alliances are in place.
Vietnam 2 only much worse as someone said.
Going to get a lot worse certainly true for reasons already repeated 100 times in previous posts.
Sez you and you are wrong armchair commentor.
The US could mind it’s own business, stop funding terrorist countries like Israel. They could mine their oil and use the revenues to improve their economy and the lot of their people, for example by having universal health care insted of having forever wars in other peoples countries. No one is attacking them.
But if they feel they have some right imparted on them by their version of the Christian god to meddle in other countries interests and business, then they are going to pay a price for that.
Hezballah and the Houthis are not terrorist organizations. Hamas certainly is. Iran doesn’t provide significant funding to any of them.
Evidence? I think you can’t provide any and as usual, are just jacking off.
Terrorism is the act of attacking civilian targets to cause terror in the general population to create the impression that their government isn’t capable of protecting them. Terrorist acts were amply demonstrated by Al-Qaeda on 9/11, and Hamas’ attacks against the young folks in Israel. Both of these actions have plenty of easily findable evidence on the Internet. What you won’t ever, ever find is any evidence of terror attacks by the Houthis, Hezb’allah or Iran. Now, it is possible that one or all of them have committed some terrorist attack in the past of which the US is well aware, but wants to keep a secret from everyone. But it is highly unlikely.
The deep state knows that they don’t have to provide evidence to a very gullible public.
You can’t win against me. Why do you insist on continually trying? You write unsupported, stream of consciousness replies while I produce actual URL’s and articles to backup anything I post. You should learn from me junior, instead of challenging me.
Its so obvious that the Iranians have been planning all of this all along. For people with any ability to objectivey think, Its like watching a horror movie as the girl walks towards the waiting killer
The IRGC must be amazed that Trump keeps doing exactly what they expect him to do
But he and his team are buffoons that don’t listen to anyone knowledgeable, so its not surprising
-The Houthis have acted very professionally-
The Deranged man is confusing “The Art of the Deal” with “The Art of War” …. again.
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.
That’s such a hilarious image, and totally believable too!
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.
A ridiculous number.
Refineries are often very large, covering acres and acres.
Do you think a fire from a toy plane carrying a bag of kerosene sets a storage tank alight takes out acres and acres of plant? Refineries process flammable substances with heat. You don’t think they have contingency plans and equipment as a routine part of life? Do you think rush hour has disappeared, streets empty?
Get a grip.
Please read carefully. I wrote “taken offline”, not ” destroyed”. There is a difference. And while the actual % value reduction in Russian refining capacity may be uncertain, numerous analyses Including that by the IEA all concur that Russian refining capacity has been substantially reduced by Ukranian attacks.
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!
Attacking Iran will get you burned was known long ago. I don’t think the US can deal with many more mistakes.
I agree that Trump is in an escalation loop he can’t get out of. His threats are getting more shrill every day.
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.
Yeah. And stuffing those shirts into the dangerous laundry centrifuges aboard the Navy’s destroyers..
Gender affirming care makes America strong!
It makes 5’2” trans men and 6’2” trans women. I don’t think either is particularly strong – unless you count strongly repulsive.
The lady doth protest too much…
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.
Or Congress and the President could massively cut spending and raise taxes to balance the budget.
LOL!
Did you forget your sarc tag? 🙃
You ever wonder if fixing inflation is always up to the Fed because Congress wants to hide its responsibility?
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.
What looks like stupidity in government is invariably the result of some benefit to the decision makers. The political system is primarily a system of “legal plunder;” any good it does is merely a front.
I threw the towel in after Biden. Look what I got. Screw all of them.
The democrats always find just enough votes to pass awful legislation, so yea, the uni-party strikes again. The police department laughs all the way to the bank when we support the good cop.
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.
🤣🤣🤣
Huh? So what are people who don’t get medical insurance through their jobs supposed to do to address any health/medical problems?
Get a full time job.
Companies should be prohibited form providing health insurance. That would quickly bring down rates for insurance and for services.
My son’s best friend is a Harvard-trained radiologist specializing in cancer. He ends his residency next year but already got a contract, for $675,000/year + 1 month of vacation, at age 31.
The AMA represents doctors. They take contributions from doctors to bribe state and federal elected officials to keep a cap on the number of doctors coming out of medical school, as well as removing any transparency in pricing. This maintains a functional monopoly on services, allowing doctors to charge whatever they want without effective, capitalist competition.
There is nothing, nothing, anyone is going to do to change that, because that one paragraph is too complex for the average voter to understand and act on.
Wrong! AI will replace radiologists and most MD’s shortly. Robots are being used in surgery now under control of doctors. It is only a short step to remove the middle man (the doctor). Here is a recent story from England but robots are being used worldwide. They are said to give better results in hip and shoulder operations.
Isn’t treason still a capital offense in the books?
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
Did you take a large position? Oil could easily reach $140 if this escalates.
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.
Please hold your breath!
The people in this regime need to be tried for treason and war crimes.