Politicon

Apparently, many people still believe that Iran has nuclear weapons. This is false. If you believe it, you believe it because the liars who make up these claims against Iran spend so much time and energy perpetuating these fictions. Iran has an enriched uranium program, true, but it does not have nuclear weapons. In fact, Iran has a fatwa against the creation or use of nuclear weapons; it might be the only country in the world that refuses to make nuclear weapons on religious and moral grounds. America and Israel, however, do have nuclear weapons, and America has actually used them; Israel is likely to do anything. This was a stupid war, and, as a lot of people realize, this is Israel’s war, entered by the United States for the sake of Israel. Possibly, this is also a distraction from the Epstein files. And what did we do on our first day of this treacherous, back-stabbing war? Think my words are too harsh? The fact is that Iran was at the negotiating table and about to agree to a deal that would have been catastrophic for it, and we, at that point, abandoned diplomacy, killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (who was not just the head of a nation state but a spiritual leader to communities of Twelver Shia Muslims around the world), along with at least one of his grandchildren, his daughter, his son-in-law, his daughter-in-law, and maybe another grandchild, and then proceeded to massacre a school full of mostly little girls? 168 children, mostly little girls, to be exact. 168 little children, plus some women teachers. And then we killed teenage girls playing volleyball at a sports hall. Such is America. Make no mistake. We have no morality. The nuclear threat is quite real. It will always be real so long as these weapons remain. But now the threat is imminent. Quite frankly, we (may I please call us the Axis of Evil?) are not doing well. More American servicemen and women have died than we have been told. Of this, we can be certain. How is it that U.S. bases are being blown up left and right and only four or six Americans die? Also, according to an anonymous independent reporter in West Asia (probably in Iran), the government was urgently hiring to go through the personal effects of U.S. soldiers. Clearly, you would not need to hire if only a handful of Americans (or two handfuls) had been killed. Radar systems worth millions of dollars have been destroyed, THAAD systems have been destroyed. These, from what I understand, are not easily replaceable. With THAAD systems and radar damaged so badly, Iran (and they have just begun to use their newer, more efficient weapons) will be able to hit its targets more effectively. With this being the state of affairs, is it ridiculous to worry about nuclear weapons? Our weapons — the Epstein Empire’s weapons — are running out (one of the Gulf states had to get missile receptors from South Korea). What we do have in our arsenal, though, which Iran doesn’t have, is nuclear weapons. Now Israel is crazy; it may do anything. And the clown in the White House is Donald J. Trump, a man who might actually back out at any moment (I don’t think he will) — with the likely explanation that Israel made him do it — or he might keep declaring victory and back out completely, or he might nuke them all (what does it matter if you nuke some Iranians?). The players on our side, the Axis of Evil or Epstein Empire, are unpredictable, malicious, and stupid. —By L.N.L.

Besides ALMOST being the Ides of March, the fourteenth has another important distinction: It is Pi Day, named for the mathematical symbol that goes on into infinity. Pi Day is not to be confused with National Pie Day, Jan. 23 annually, an unofficial U.S. holiday sponsored by the American Pie Council. There is an alternate celebration on December 1st, also dedicated to enjoying your favorite pie, but why not celebrate both? For myself, I recall with great fondness the steak and mushroom pies, with gravy, and blackberry-apple pies made by my mum. Of course these unofficial "holidays" serve up great opportunities for bakeries, pie enthusiasts, and restaurants to widely sell and enjoy a variety of sweet and savory pies. Plus, in the States, pizza companies in recent years have tried to cut into all the pie-centered hoopla. As for American National Pie Day, it was the brainchild of Colorado teacher Charlie Papazian, who, in 1975, decided to celebrate his birthday by creating the day. The date was later embraced and promoted by the American Pie Council starting in 1986. But there is only one math-centric day for pi, and it's in the third month on the 14th day. In mathematics, 3.14 is written as π and pronounced “pi,” and is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, always equaling 3.14, regardless of its size. Since most traditional pies are round, Pi Day — celebrated globally in schools, universities, and scientific institutions — makes for a great excuse to enjoy your favorite pie. In the U.K., we have “British Pie Week,” which happens the first week of March, when traditional and specialist pies are highlighted and enjoyed every year. In solidarity with our American friends, many of us also grab a fork and join in celebrating January 23, December 1, and tasty circles on Pi Day.

[caption id="attachment_30156" align="alignleft" width="218"] Larry's official royal portrait from 2016.[/caption]

Three cheers for Larry the Cat! The official Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, Larry, is 10 Downing Street’s most stable fixture, having served for 15 years since 2011. Larry, a stray cat born around January 2007, was adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2011. He arrived at No. 10 as a pet for Cameron’s children. Like all prime ministers, Cameron shirked responsibility, leaving Larry in the care of staff when he resigned.

He is the first cat officially given the title and considered a good “ratter” having seen off five prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and the incumbent, Sir Keir Starmer, whose days are now numbered, will surely make six.

His duties include rodent control, greeting guests, conducting security inspections, and ensuring the antique furniture remains comfy for sleeping.​

Calls are growing among the grateful British public for Larry the Cat to be awarded a knighthood. Several grassroots campaigns, including Change.org petitions, champion both Larry’s claws and cause. Indeed, “Sir Larry” has a noble ring to it, don’t you think?

Having lived in New York City for over forty years, I have never known the United States to be so divided as it is now. At times, when following news reports, this divide seems wide and vicious and it can be difficult to keep one’s spirits up. But in my daily life, spent mostly in Manhattan, I constantly encounter good people helping each other out. In just the past week I have attended a protest in cold weather (–8 degrees C) and also spent time as a poll worker at a small but significant (aren't they all?) local election, and at both these events I noticed a strong showing of young people. By that I mean people in their 20s and early 30s, who seemed absent from the protests I attended in the earlier days of the current presidency. This re-engagement of the young can, I believe, be attributed to Zohran Mamdani’s campaign to become New York City’s mayor, as well as his time in office so far. Mamdani really seems to have captured the political and social hearts of those whose futures are most at risk. There seems to be a genuine belief that all is not lost and that we can work together to improve conditions for all New Yorkers. It is of course in the early days for the mayor, his staff, and his followers, but this sense of hope seems real to me, and hope is contagious. I shall do what I can to help it grow! — by Kosmo Vinyl (https://kosmovinyl.com/)

Give it up for the ladies! When I was growing up in the 1970s and ’80s, sports were all about the guys. In fact, women's sports barely existed. We have come a long way since then, and I personally think it’s great. While the WNBA is on the rise and women’s tennis has grown leaps and bounds over the years, a sport like women’s hockey doesn’t get much hype. With the Olympics in full gear, it is time to acknowledge and give these ladies the shoutout they deserve. After their first four contests, the Women’s Olympic Hockey team had dominated their opponents, outscoring them 20-1 overall, and that streak continues. Prior to Feb. 13, they had won their last three games by the same score of 5-0. Holding an Olympic opponent to 0 goals in one game is incredible, but doing it three games in a row? That is unheard of! At this pace, the USA Women's Team should coast onto the Medal stand, especially now that they’ve bested the home team, notching a 6-0 win over host Italian team in Game 5. Gold medal or not, I hope their strong performance at the 2026 Olympic Games can help promote and draw more attention to the sport of women’s hockey, which, by the way, started its own league back in August 2023. That league is the PWHL (Pro Women’s Hockey League) in North America, and it consists of 8 teams: Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Toronto, Seattle, and Vancouver. Although the sport doesn’t draw as many fans as the aforementioned WNBA or ladies' tennis, it will over time. The talent is there; now all these athletes need is more publicity and TV coverage to get the word out.

Newspapers and media resound with rumors that Donald Trump could be impeached after the mid-term elections, if Democrats succeed in flipping Congress. Trump has already taken a series of knocks in several state elections and this could get under his skin, making him even more dangerous, to the point of refusing to accept an unfavorable result in the mid-term polls, not an unprecedented move. Some political analysts fear that Trump may send his ICE thugs to the polling stations with the clear intent to intimidate Democrat electors, which is what Mussolini’s paramilitary squads did in Italy in 1924. Now, to avoid further damage, would it not be more sensible for the GOP and NDP to join forces, at least heeding the instinct of survival, and impeach the jeopardous man in the White House before and not after? On the other hand, who am I to give advice to my American friends? In Italy, we had Berlusconi, in and out, for more than twenty years, so forget it!

Say what you want about the excesses that have accompanied President Trump’s immigration crackdown, the core policy of shutting down illegal border crossings and rooting out criminal elements from the nation’s prisons and jails has been remarkably effective in reversing the Biden administration’s toothless enforcement policies during his four feckless years in office. Biden allowed anywhere between 6 and 11 million new illegal immigrants to enter the United States during his tenure, a policy that constituted either incompetence or something more sinister: an attempt to placate pro-amnesty forces inside his party, in theory to woo back disaffected Hispanic voters. Either way, it was a miserable failure. Inflation was bad, but not bad enough to doom the Democrats in 2024. For the first time in generations, immigration was the “wedge” issue that swung a presidential election; even Hispanics defected to the GOP in truly record numbers. Trump has let immigration policy swing too far right, placating the MAGA movement’s desire for a mass deportation program. But make no mistake, the bipartisan consensus on deporting “bad hombres” will endure.

The monster devours all who oppose it. It chews up individuals with the intent to regurgitate a meal more efficient and tastier. Morsels fight back the best they can, often in futile attempts that end with the unsettling sound of silence.

Still, the monster and its powerful appetite trudges through a reality inhabited by a multitude of lamentable specks. Some of them have not so much as raised an arm against the beast, but rather are piggybacking it, waving their arms and encouraging, even praising, the monster.

They howl, “Pulverize the morsels! Onward, you hungry beast!” And Capitalism continues its rampage with a smile.

— by Randy Nelson (@GhostsofKnowing)

 

As an animal lover, I was so delighted with the good news reported from Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the rare birth of twin mountain gorillas is being celebrated. The birth was reported by community trackers on January 3, who reported observing twin male mountain gorillas being cared for by momma Mafuko. This made them the park’s first recorded births of 2026. At 22, Mafuko has delivered seven newborns, including twins in 2016, who died a week later. Gorilla twins are exceptional, so the initial sighting of twins prompted disbelief, quickly followed by excitement and concern for their survival. Normally, mothers have only one dependent infant at a time to care for. The offspring’s extended development, long breastfeeding period, and requirement for several years of exclusive maternal care hinder simultaneous care for multiple dependents, creating a substantial metabolic burden on the mother. Also, gorilla mothers constantly carry infants, making raising two while long-distance foraging physically demanding. Unlike some mammals, gorillas do not routinely share infant care, which could result in the loss of one or both twins, so I’m guardedly optimistic in telling you that extra support is being provided for gorilla mom Mafuko and her babies. With all the war and fighting unfolding around the world, the birth of these gorilla twins brings a welcome ray of hope into a gloomy start to 2026.

In 1991, Rodney King, who was Black, was beaten senseless by a gang of Los Angeles police officers. It was not a rare event, but what made it historic was the presence of a private citizen who filmed the beating from his apartment balcony. The incident exposed police brutality toward Blacks in urban metropolises in a graphic and horrific way, and shocked the conscience of all Americans. Footage of the incident was replayed endlessly, prompting calls for an investigation. Overnight, the era of the “viral video” — allowing ordinary citizens to hold police officials accountable for their unlawful behavior — was born. King survived his beating, suffering multiple bone fractures, and the officers in question were forced to stand trial. But when a jury acquitted them of all wrongdoing, LA erupted in riots not seen since the infamous Watts Rebellion of 1965. The grim aftermath laid bare the enduring power of state repression but also prompted a surge in Black community activism. “The Rodney King video in and of itself ignited a culture of wanting to get involved,” says community activist Ameshia Cross. “It also showcased that you didn’t really have a choice to not get involved.” The parallels between the King incident and last weekend’s shooting death of a White anti-ICE activist in Minneapolis are eerie — and disturbing. Once again, the authorities deny culpability, but multiple cell phone videos lay bare the truth that can’t be hidden by official lies. And yet, the prospect that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions is virtually nil. Americans, in fact, are still sharply divided over the Trump administration's harsh immigration policies; the most that can probably be hoped for in the short term is a temporary shift in tactics: a pullback from aggressive ICE raids in the cities and a renewed focus on deterring illegal immigration by other means. In all likelihood, the ICE officers responsible for this death — and those in the earlier killing of Renee Good — won't even be charged. Have we learned anything in 35 years? Rodney King’s plaintive public plea as the LA riots unfolded — “can’t we all get along?” — challenged the world to find redemption in his pain, and in the pain of other victims of systemic oppression. For an all-too brief moment, we did, in fact. But even irrefutable photographic evidence was not enough to bring about real justice in the end. Today, as street protests continue to escalate in Minneapolis and beyond, and more violent confrontations with ICE loom, we face the same challenge of translating awareness into action. Make this a "teachable" moment; otherwise, these senseless deaths will have been in vain, and they may not be the last.

It will be quite the sight if my mid-Atlantic coastal town wakes to the white stuff — or ice or both. We’re on the Maginot line of snow-ice, which I hope will hold up better than its namesake. My kids were little, chronologically and heightwise, the last time we experienced a heavy snow in this part of the States; fortunately, my youngest kid is now almost 6-foot and won’t sink up to chest-level (what a thought). I hope all stay safe from this storm, letting it be a calming indoor respite from the conflagrations up north, D.C. way, and in Minnesota. And then, in the days after this Freezapalooza I expect many of my fellow shell-shocked Americans collectively will return to urge ‘give us liberty or give us death,’ a hopeful “ask” that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will gleefully oblige from behind a gun.

𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡

The song remains the same in any profession. When you execute, things usually go well; when you don’t, things usually go south. That’s exactly what happened in both NFL playoff divisional round games on Sunday, Jan. 18. The first game featured the Houston Texans taking on the New England Patriots. The heavy snowfall took its toll on both squads, but in the end it was the Texans who froze under pressure. In the biggest game of his young career to date, Texans’ QB C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions while completing only 20 of 47 pass attempts as Houston fell by the final score of 28-16. On the other side of the ball, Patriots QB Drake Maye continues to impress.The Patriots will now return to the AFC Championship game for the 16th time in team history, facing the Denver Broncos with a Super Bowl berth on the line. The nightcap featured the LA Rams and the Chicago Bears. I have to admit, the final quarter of the game was exciting. The comeback Bears trailed 17-10 with less than 30 seconds left and had the ball at the Rams’ 14-yard line. On one of the craziest 4th-down touchdown passes you will ever see, QB Caleb Williams somehow threw a moonball to Cole Kmet for the game-tying score. Unfortunately for the Bears, Williams tossed his third interception of the game in overtime, and the Rams took full advantage of his mistake. Now, LA will face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC title game next weekend to determine this year's NFC champion.