The little-Englanders in the Reform UK movement are holding their party conference this weekend in Birmingham. It is supposed to be a demonstration that Reform are prepared to take the reins of government, that they are serious people doing serious things in preparation for serious political accomplishments. Unfortunately, they are unserious grifters who have got…

Andy Burnham became British Prime Minister on July 20, 2026. Parliament had risen for the summer recess, and so he only had his first Prime Minister’s Question Time yesterday.  To the political virgins, PMQs look a lot like gladiatorial combat among the members of the Oxford Union. It is one of the few blood sports…

The US war with Iran entered a new stage yesterday with the attack on two Iranian tankers by US military forces. This was the first implementation of a new approach (sort of) to the war. The “tanker-for-tanker” policy is simple deterrence theory applied to oil tankers. If the Iranians are going to attack tankers leaving…

Dan Driscoll served as Secretary of the Army after 18 months. The top civilian in the army quit yesterday without an official reason being given. There are, however, countless rumors of conflicts with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (known less-than-affectionately here as Whiskey Pete Kegsbreath). Whenever someone resigns in government, the reason is a variation…

For the past few weeks, the US has fought the Iranian war on the economic front more than on the military one. The president announced an “Economic D-Day,” tightening sanctions on Iran even more. While the image of the 2nd Certified Public Accountants Division landing on the beaches of Iran is amusing, it underscores just…