If you want my opinion on the fragile peace deal with Hamas, I speak rather bluntly on this Politics Guys podcast recorded early (so early) Saturday morning. If you’re interested in hearing my voice, enjoy, and my apologies beforehand. :)
Point one, I am a Hegseth fan. Not that I’ve published multiple books about the rot in the Pentagon bureaucracy, but it should be easy for anyone to support the reforms that the Secretary of War is advancing. Although I may be more of a hawk than President Trump, I respect his commitment to keeping American troops out of hot wars. And when it comes to “breaking up the institutional concrete” of personnel rules (to quote a Secretary of Defense a decade ago), America needs leaders with willpower.
Point two, regarding Hamas, let me be blunter still. Hamas is a death cult. They are still holding hostages, and in my worldview, there is no peace to be had when invaders hold hostages. The so-called Palestinian State could end the war tomorrow if its leaders freed the few hostages still alive — innocent men, women, and children who were taken in a brazen act of terrorism exactly two years ago this week. October 7th — what a dark anniversary of unprovoked rape and murder.
Point three, as for the U.S. federal government’s shutdown, count me in the club of Americans who are getting confused and numb about the endless and seemingly pointless shutdowns. This isn’t over principle, it’s because the politicians ran out of money while arguing over money. Public numbness is a huge economic risk to us all, and a political liability for the Democratic Party, which at this point seems to have mastered what soccer fans call “own goals.”
Before they distract us with emotional narratives, let’s do the math:
$6.2T = total federal spending (this FY)
$4.4T = total federal revenues
$1.8T = additional unfunded budget deficit.
The net of the federal government’s fiscal structure in our time is to spend three dollars for every two dollars raised in taxes, and create one dollar out of thin air. They will bend this bough until it breaks.
Democrats’ main argument: Spend more, or else.
Some literary history …
Rock a bye baby on the tree top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.
The rhyme is believed to have first appeared in print in Mother Goose‘s Melody (London c. 1765),[2] possibly published by John Newbery, and which was reprinted in Boston in 1785.[3] No copies of the first edition are extant, but a 1791 edition substitutes “Hush-a-by baby” at the start of the first line.[4] The rhyme is followed by a note: “This may serve as a warning to the proud and ambitious, who climb so high that they generally fall at last.”
So you are a fan of Secretary of War, Mr. Trump's title, Hegseth. Interesting statement.