How Trump’s Golden Fleet fantasy, Hegseth’s profiling doctrine, and a hollowed-out chain of command are dragging the U.S. backward, strategically, morally, and globally
Yesterday, after reading about the latest golden battleships insanity proposed by Trump, I asked why doesn’t someone STOP him? Why is the entire world in chaos and moving towards outcomes that will cause irreparable damage because of Trump and his regime? Why is all of it allowed to proceed? Mary, your post today helps answer my questions. It’s also comforting that others see the same things I’m losing sleep over. Thank you!
I want to thank you for your sharp, on point, often witty, succinct posts. You have become a daily read. Enjoy the season on the coast with the doggie.
The Golden Fleet has a “maybe we can inject disinfectant” vibe - a stupidly conjured “solution” from an intellectually bereft know-nothing (I know, redundant) who fancies himself the Einstein of all matters, including those vexing and virtually-unconquerable-by-mere-mortals cognitive tests!
I opened your email first thing this Christmas morning (NZT), quickly scrolled through the article to see how long it was (very!) and thought “Yay! Best start to the day.” Merry Christmas Mary, and Marz. 🎄🎅🎄
..”because no one in this administration knows how, or feels empowered enough, or cares enough to stop it.”
It’s like everyone is either faking at being leaders or else making the impulses of the President feel comfy. Inventing numbers so these performers can sleep at night.
My God, my God what have we done? Our country has elected this guy twice. Geddry is a political oncologist peeling back tissue to expose the depth of cancer and allow for a “margin” of healthy sound tissue. The rot of cancer is too deep. It is clear that any margin left may be simple decent everyday people- but are there enough for a margin?
Any visitor to Stockholm, Sweden, would be well advised to visit The Vasa Museum.
Not only is it one of the most magnificent museums in the world but at its core, it contains a valuable lesson for the newly warship obsessed American president.
Constructed in 1626-27 on the orders of King Gustavus Adolphus (1594–1632), the Vasa was envisaged as a state of the art flagship, for deployment in Sweden’s war with
Poland-Lithuania. Shipbuilders were brought in from Holland and no expense was spared in her construction.
However, against the advice of her master shipbuilders, Gustavus Adolophus insisted on adding decks and armaments and ornamentation, including an additional gun deck and seventy two 24 pound guns.
As a result, upon launching on her maiden voyage in 1628, a light gust of wind tipped her over and she promptly sank in the freezing waters off Stockholm, along with the loss of at least 30 of her crew. There she remained, more or less intact, until the 1960s, when she was raised, restored and preserved and a museum eventually constructed around her, placing on display all the finery and extravagance of her excessively weighty and unstable cargo.
The Vasa now stands as a memorial to vainglorious military folly and a powerful object lesson for the one individual least able or likely to take heed.
Excuse my language but.... they fucking watched those men clinging to the boat for almost an hour??? Why in the world is this information not on the headlines of every newspaper in the US?
Just to answer myself.... I forwarded this essay to the editors at the Wall Street Journal and asked why this was not on their front pages or being discussed in the opinion section. Want to place bets on whether I'll get a reply?
Mary- I can't thank you enough for columns and information like this. At the very least, Congress should be having officers in the Navy and probably Susie Wiles before investigatory committees. Maybe I'll forward this to some reps and Senators too.
There is something Hegseth may not know about: bags are often used to store---fishing nets. And how do you get to an offshore fishing area? A fast boat. My parents trolled for salmon, for sport. The best part of interminable fishing trips we were dragged to was the fast trip to where the fish were.
Yesterday, after reading about the latest golden battleships insanity proposed by Trump, I asked why doesn’t someone STOP him? Why is the entire world in chaos and moving towards outcomes that will cause irreparable damage because of Trump and his regime? Why is all of it allowed to proceed? Mary, your post today helps answer my questions. It’s also comforting that others see the same things I’m losing sleep over. Thank you!
Thank you! We are not alone even though it feels like it sometimes
Excellent. No, masterful.
This is a prototype. https://scontent.flhr10-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/602915209_2471106846625723_7269088397939626067_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s960x960_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=-JS37wMtD8QQ7kNvwFaO93J&_nc_oc=AdmTy3EypkkdmrmHnX6J_Zch8XmQG0lFtci43y2bdluuJhtFTG6nNPzikCBLIrRGZuCCy1sF2Igx0PAlsFIMMwK4&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr10-2.fna&_nc_gid=7YFcqgSoPMXtv_Ir8qLKNg&oh=00_AfnnrBFnBzElH4bAodUOMLbLR012aBk4cjrAHHqbYE_ygQ&oe=6951F5F5
Love it!
OMG! That's spit-out-my-coffee funny! 🤣
Damn, I want to spit out my coffee - but the link doesn’t work for me. ☹️
I want to thank you for your sharp, on point, often witty, succinct posts. You have become a daily read. Enjoy the season on the coast with the doggie.
Absolutely astounding reporting - thank you so much. Rest now to prepare to rage against the dying of the light in 2026.
The Golden Fleet has a “maybe we can inject disinfectant” vibe - a stupidly conjured “solution” from an intellectually bereft know-nothing (I know, redundant) who fancies himself the Einstein of all matters, including those vexing and virtually-unconquerable-by-mere-mortals cognitive tests!
I find the article difficulty reading as it showcases how the administration has become the scum of the earth.
I can’t decide if this administration is more evil than it is stupid, or more stupid than it is evil.
It's a floor wax AND a dessert topping!
Chevy Chase?
I opened your email first thing this Christmas morning (NZT), quickly scrolled through the article to see how long it was (very!) and thought “Yay! Best start to the day.” Merry Christmas Mary, and Marz. 🎄🎅🎄
..”because no one in this administration knows how, or feels empowered enough, or cares enough to stop it.”
It’s like everyone is either faking at being leaders or else making the impulses of the President feel comfy. Inventing numbers so these performers can sleep at night.
My God, my God what have we done? Our country has elected this guy twice. Geddry is a political oncologist peeling back tissue to expose the depth of cancer and allow for a “margin” of healthy sound tissue. The rot of cancer is too deep. It is clear that any margin left may be simple decent everyday people- but are there enough for a margin?
Shit. Brilliant expose. But shit! Merry Christmas whammy.
Any visitor to Stockholm, Sweden, would be well advised to visit The Vasa Museum.
Not only is it one of the most magnificent museums in the world but at its core, it contains a valuable lesson for the newly warship obsessed American president.
Constructed in 1626-27 on the orders of King Gustavus Adolphus (1594–1632), the Vasa was envisaged as a state of the art flagship, for deployment in Sweden’s war with
Poland-Lithuania. Shipbuilders were brought in from Holland and no expense was spared in her construction.
However, against the advice of her master shipbuilders, Gustavus Adolophus insisted on adding decks and armaments and ornamentation, including an additional gun deck and seventy two 24 pound guns.
As a result, upon launching on her maiden voyage in 1628, a light gust of wind tipped her over and she promptly sank in the freezing waters off Stockholm, along with the loss of at least 30 of her crew. There she remained, more or less intact, until the 1960s, when she was raised, restored and preserved and a museum eventually constructed around her, placing on display all the finery and extravagance of her excessively weighty and unstable cargo.
The Vasa now stands as a memorial to vainglorious military folly and a powerful object lesson for the one individual least able or likely to take heed.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
I read Timothy Snyder and Mary this morning. That might be it for xmas eve.
Excuse my language but.... they fucking watched those men clinging to the boat for almost an hour??? Why in the world is this information not on the headlines of every newspaper in the US?
Just to answer myself.... I forwarded this essay to the editors at the Wall Street Journal and asked why this was not on their front pages or being discussed in the opinion section. Want to place bets on whether I'll get a reply?
Mary- I can't thank you enough for columns and information like this. At the very least, Congress should be having officers in the Navy and probably Susie Wiles before investigatory committees. Maybe I'll forward this to some reps and Senators too.
There is something Hegseth may not know about: bags are often used to store---fishing nets. And how do you get to an offshore fishing area? A fast boat. My parents trolled for salmon, for sport. The best part of interminable fishing trips we were dragged to was the fast trip to where the fish were.