Going It Alone

After being rebuffed by most of our traditional allies, Trump has suddenly reversed course, saying the U.S. can handle the crisis at the Strait of Hormuz alone.

As far as the larger war with Iran is concerned, Trump can still count on Israel, and lukewarm support elsewhere.

But Trump’s behavior on the global stage is an embarrassment. He threatens, he bullies, he postures, but in the end he’s a paper tiger.

A dangerous paper tiger willing to continue his aggressive actions regardless of the consequences.

We have to hope that cooler heads prevail. Then again, who are those cooler heads?

HEADLINES:

• America, Alone (NYT)

• What’s Behind Trump’s New World Disorder? (New Yorker)

• Trump Is Learning That His Bullying Has Consequences (Atlantic)

• How America’s War on Iran Backfired (Foreign Affairs)

• U.S. intelligence says Iran’s regime is consolidating power (WP)

• Israel says it killed Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani in overnight airstrike (Politico)

• “No imminent threat”: U.S. Counterterrorism Center head resigns over Iran war (Axios)

• ‘This Is Not Our War’: Europe and U.K. Push Back Against Trump’s Demands (NYT)

• UK security adviser attended US-Iran talks and judged deal was within reach (Guardian)

• Iran war pushes countries into energy triage as they conserve power and curb soaring prices (AP)

• Naval escorts will not guarantee safe passage through Strait of Hormuz, says IMO chief (FT)

• The TACO trade meets the fog of war (Silver Bulletin)

• Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has rejected proposals for reducing tensions or for a ceasefirewith ‌the US that were conveyed to Tehran by two intermediary countries, a senior Iranian official said. (Reuters)

• Trump Says He Will Have the ‘Honor’ of ‘Taking Cuba’ (NYT)

• Poll: Confidence in the Supreme Court drops to a record low (NBC)

• How Trump’s Homeland Security Pick, a Prolific Investor, Got a Lot Wealthier in Congress (NYT)

• J. D. Vance Learns What Mike Pence Already Knows (Atlantic)

• Pakistan air strike kills at least 100 at Kabul drug rehab centre (BBC)

• ‘Lobstergate’ shows just how far our media have sunk (The Hill)

• Malaysia Becomes First Country To Declare US Trade Deal ‘Null And Void’ After Supreme Court Tariff Ruling (Yahoo)

• Trump team applying pressure to media: Tell the war’s story the way we see it (AP)

• A journalist reported a missile strike. Then came the death threats. (WP)

• The unionized staff of CBS News' streaming site plan to stage a one-day walk out after negotiations with management over their new contract fell apart last week. [HuffPost]

• Cesar Chavez, a Civil Rights Icon, Is Accused of Abusing Girls for Years (NYT)

• Oldest known whale recording could unlock mysteries of the ocean (AP)

• Nvidia’s race to outpace physics (Axios)

• Nurturing agentic AI beyond the toddler stage (Technology Review)

• Meta could be winning the AI race, just not in the way you’d expect (BI)

• How Trump Drove a Wedge Between Florida Republicans Over A.I. (NYT)

• Unemployed Man Considers Going Back To School To Become AI (Onion)