Chris Vincent

So far, President Trump has achieved few of his desired results in Iran, and the geopolitical costs are mounting. Has any US military action ever racked up so many costs for so few gains? My take:

To everyone celebrating Easter, Michelle and I wish you a joyful holiday filled with reminders of the enduring power of faith and hope.

I’m a huge fan of @kajakallas .

BREAKING: The S&P 500 has now erased -$4.5 trillion in market cap since the Iran War began on February 28th.

Current situation: 1. US inflation expectations have surged to 5.2%, 3-year high 2. The Russell 2000 is officially in a technical correction 3. US gas prices have risen nearly +45% in four months 4. Interest rate futures are now pricing-in potential rate HIKES 5. Gold prices are down -$1,000/oz from their record high 6. Mortgage rates have risen 50+ bps to new 2026 highs We are witnessing colossal economic change on a daily basis.

U.S. allies haven’t forgotten about Trump’s tariffs, his threats against NATO, and his curtailing of aid to Ukraine—so he shouldn’t be surprised that they’re unwilling to help him in Iran, @anneapplebaum argues.

The US does not possess infinite political capital, bandwidth, military capacity or economic resilience. Every resource expended in Iran represents energy diverted from the true tectonic challenges defining the 21st century. My take:

% of people who say their fellow citizens are morally good (Pew Research, 2025) 1．Canada 🇨🇦 92% 2．Indonesia 🇮🇩 92% 3．India 🇮🇳 88% 4．Sweden 🇸🇪 88% 5．Australia 🇦🇺 85% 6．Japan 🇯🇵 83% 7．Mexico 🇲🇽 83% 8．United Kingdom 🇬🇧 82% 9．Netherlands 🇳🇱 80% 10．South Korea 🇰🇷 78% 11．Germany 🇩🇪 72% 12．Kenya 🇰🇪 72% 13．Nigeria 🇳🇬 71% 14．Spain 🇪🇸 71% 15．Argentina 🇦🇷 70% 16．Poland 🇵🇱 70% 17．Hungary 🇭🇺 68% 18．Israel 🇮🇱 68% 19．South Africa 🇿🇦 63% 20．Italy 🇮🇹 59% 21．France 🇫🇷 55% 22．Greece 🇬🇷 55% 23．Brazil 🇧🇷 51% 24．Turkey 🇹🇷 51% 25．United States 🇺🇸 47% Source: Pew Research Center

Former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull: "[PM Carney's visit] has put an energy into the Australian-Canadian relationship which it has lacked. I mean, when I was PM I couldn't get my counterpart Mr. Trudeau interested in Australia."

Bombing Iran Is Easy. What Comes Next Is Not. My latest in @BulwarkOnline open.substack.com/pub/thebulwark…

“Russia's bet that they can simply outlast the West simply hasn't proven true. Putin may keep making this bet, but it is increasingly not a smart bet because everything we've seen in 2025 begins to tell us that time is not really on Russia's side in this war." - @KofmanMichael

The world needs more of this energy.

Largest Protest in 🇨🇦 History - Feb 14, 2026 @CBCNews : 350,000 gathered north of Toronto in solidarity with Iranians. Message: • Solidarity with Iranians (30,000+ killed in Jan 2026) • Call for international intervention • Recognize Reza Pahlavi as leader of the transition Largest Single-Event Protests in Canadian History 1️⃣Toronto, Feb 14, 2026 Iran solidarity rally — ~300,000+ 1️⃣Montreal, Sep 27, 2019 2019 Global Climate Strike — ~300,000+ 2️⃣Montreal, May 22, 2012 2012 Quebec student protests— ~200,000+ 3️⃣ Montreal, Mar 15, 2003 2003 anti-Iraq War protests—~150,000+ 3️⃣Toronto, Feb 15, 2003 2003 anti-Iraq War protests—~150,000+ cbc.ca/news/canada/to… #IranMassacre #IranRevolution2026 #Feb14ForIran

Treasury Secretary Bessent clarified that the threatened 100% tariff on Canadian goods would only be implemented if Canada signed a free trade deal with China. As a reminder, the USMCA prohibits Canada from signing a free trade deal with China. In any event, the recent “deal” that Canada announced with China was the resolution of a trade dispute, in which Canada agreed to lower Chinese EV tariffs in exchange for the reduction of Chinese tariffs on Canola and other Canadian agricultural products. Note that Canada initially implemented 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs in solidarity with the U.S., only to get hit with retaliatory tariffs from both China and the U.S. So, despite initial confusion, it appears that the 100% tariff scenario is off the table for now. x.com/Acyn/status/20…

@emailcbp @sentdefender America was 1st in the Global order, they are giving up the title to China by becoming isolationist in a self inflicted bubble between Mexico and Canada. It might be a historical first for an Empire to decide to walk away from their responsibilities, without losing a war.

President Trump’s January 21, 2026, dismissal of Canada from his "Board of Peace" marks a definitive fracture in North American relations, following a week of escalating rhetorical warfare between the White House and Prime Minister Mark Carney. During his Davos address on Wednesday, the President singled out Carney by name, stating, "I watched your prime minister yesterday, he wasn't so grateful. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements." This public rebuke was the administration's response to Carney’s earlier speech, where the Prime Minister warned that "middle powers" must unite to avoid being "on the menu" of a coercive, U.S.-led order. The decision to rescind Canada's invitation to the Board of Peace—a 60-nation body intended to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and broader global security—follows a breakdown over the $1 billion "participation fee" and Canada’s refusal to support the President’s "Golden Dome" missile shield or his claims on Greenland. White House sources indicate that while 60 other leaders remain on the roster, Canada is now viewed as an "unreliable partner" that has prioritized "nostalgic globalism" over the President’s transactional security framework. The expulsion from the Board of Peace effectively places Ottawa in a diplomatic "no-man's land," as the administration signals that future American security guarantees will be strictly reserved for those who provide "total cooperation and gratitude." Is the removal of Canada from the Board of Peace a justified response to Carney’s "Values-Based Realism," or is it a strategic error that will accelerate the formation of the very "Middle Power Bloc" that Washington seeks to prevent?

President Donald J. Trump announces that Canada and Prime Minister Mark Carney are no longer invited to his “Board of Peace” following Carney’s dominating speech this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Canada thrives because we are Canadian.

@sentdefender Saves Canada 1 billion USD, and association with Putin. Win, Win.

My policy recommendation for releasing the frozen Russian assets. It’s clear that the Russians have personally threatened the PM of Belgium Bart De Wever. I was in the room this morning and he’s spooked. Instead of just accepting this, the EU should pay for 100 of the most elite special forces officers to protect his life and demand he should take the right decision. It would be a lot cheaper than ponying up another €90 billion of our own money because this guy is scared.

This is the best speech by a world leader that I have read in a very long time. More later, but for now, just read what @MarkJCarney has to say. Rhetorically, at least, he has met the geopolitical moment. paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney-d…