Monthly Archives: June 2025

A call for vigilance

The dust has barely settled from Operation Midnight Hammer, the audacious U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and already the airwaves are thick with speculation and spin. Anti-Trump pundits and a cadre of biased reporters have seized on a leaked, low-confidence DIA analysis claiming the strikes merely delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions by a few months. This narrative, gleefully amplified by those eager to undermine the operation’s success, misses the forest for the trees. The combined American-Israeli assaults likely obliterated key components of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—burying fissile material and crippling advanced equipment. Yet, the real questions linger: Did Iran spirit away critical materials in the days before the strike, as reports of trucks fleeing Fordow suggest? And does the regime maintain secret facilities, hidden from the world’s prying eyes? For two decades, Iran’s playbook has been one of deception—obfuscating, denying, and only admitting the truth when cornered. We cannot afford to assume the threat is neutralized.

Even if we entertain the best-case scenario—that Operation Midnight Hammer dismantled every immediate nuclear threat—the reprieve is temporary. The Islamist regime in Tehran, driven by fanatical ideologues, is not swayed by the rational incentives that guide civilized nations. The mullahs’ obsession with a apocalyptic vision of Shiite domination overrides any concern for their own people’s suffering or the catastrophic consequences of their actions. When President Trump speaks of peace and economic prosperity in the region, his words fall on deaf ears in Tehran. These are not leaders who negotiate in good faith; they are zealots who justify oppression, terror, and reckless brinkmanship to achieve their twisted goals. A fanatic who wants you dead cannot be reasoned with, no matter the carrots or sticks you wave.

This grim reality demands a singular response: unrelenting vigilance. U.S. and Israeli intelligence must operate with razor-sharp precision, monitoring every move Iran and its proxies—Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias—make. International oversight, often hampered by bureaucracy and political cowardice, cannot be trusted to keep Iran’s ambitions in check. Every step toward rebuilding their nuclear or ballistic missile programs must be met with swift, decisive countermeasures. “Maximum pressure” isn’t just a catchphrase; it’s a necessity—economically, diplomatically, and, when required, militarily. The Ayatollah and his proxies must face immediate consequences for any attack, threatened or actual, on American or Israeli interests. Whether it’s a rocket from Gaza, a drone from Yemen, or a cyberattack from Tehran, the response must be overwhelming and unambiguous.

The stakes could not be higher. Iran’s regime has made no secret of its hatred for the West, particularly the United States and Israel. Jews, Israelis, and the symbols of their communities—synagogues, cultural centers, even civilians—are prime targets for a regime that thrives on scapegoating and destruction. The proxies Iran funds and arms are not merely regional nuisances; they are extensions of Tehran’s malevolent reach, designed to destabilize and terrorize. Hezbollah’s arsenal in Lebanon, Hamas’s tunnels in Gaza, and Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes are all threads in the same web, spun by a regime that sees chaos as a path to power.

As dire as the situation is, one can envision a path to lasting security. The ultimate solution—dismantling Iran’s brutal Islamist regime—cannot be imposed from the outside. The ghosts of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya haunt us, reminding us that regime change orchestrated by foreign powers often breeds more instability than it resolves. The Iranian people, however, crushed under the weight of their oppressors, can and must find their own way to overthrow the mullahs and restore a government that values human dignity over ideological fanaticism. Only then can the West lower its guard and realize a future where Iran is a partner, not a pariah.

Until that day, we have no choice but to remain resolute. The risk of attack from Iran and its proxies is not a hypothetical—it is a clear and present danger to Western interests, to innocent civilians, and to the very ideals of freedom and coexistence. We must act with clarity, strength, and an unwavering commitment to defending our people and our values. The mullahs may dream of domination, but we will not let their nightmares become our reality.

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Time to tackle the fires burning now

Our free society stands at a crossroads, besieged by real and present dangers that demand decisive action, not hand-wringing over hypotheticals or endless debates about future risks. Yesterday’s U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities under President Donald Trump’s leadership is a prime example of confronting a clear and immediate threat head-on, rather than dithering over speculative consequences. Yet, predictably, the usual chorus of naysayers—Democrats, establishment elites, and globalist apologists—are clutching their pearls, fretting about oil markets, constitutional nuances, or Iran’s potential retaliation. This obsession with theoretical problems while ignoring fires burning now is a pattern we’ve seen before, and it’s time to call it out.

Let’s start with a familiar case: the environmental disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. When a train derailment unleashed toxic chemicals into a small American community, liberals were quick to pivot to their favorite talking point—climate change. They’d rather pontificate about carbon emissions in 2050 than address the immediate harm to real people breathing poisoned air today. Meanwhile, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance didn’t hesitate. They visited East Palestine, met with affected residents, and pushed for accountability, cleanup, and now attention to lingering health issues. That’s leadership—focusing on the tangible suffering of Americans now, not some abstract model of future doom.

The same misguided focus plagues economic discussions. Conventional thinkers hyperventilate about Trump’s tariffs-first strategy in trade negotiations with China, warning of inflation or market disruptions. They’re so busy crunching numbers on hypothetical economic models that they miss the real threat: China’s stranglehold on critical supply chains. From pharmaceuticals to rare earth minerals, Beijing holds leverage that could cripple our economy and security overnight. Trump’s approach—using tariffs to force China to the table and to stimulate domestic resilience —addresses this immediate vulnerability. It’s about protecting America’s sovereignty today, not fretting over what Wall Street’s spreadsheets predict for tomorrow.

Then there’s the border crisis. Democrats wring their hands over the fate of millions of illegal immigrants who flooded across our borders during the Biden administration’s lax enforcement. They cry about “humanitarian concerns” while ignoring the chaos unfolding in our cities. Rioters clog our streets, gang members infiltrate our communities, and unvetted terror suspects—potential sleeper cells—slip through unchecked. These are not hypotheticals; they’re happening now. Contrast this with Trump’s no-nonsense policies: a sealed border, ICE detentions of criminal aliens, and the “remain in Mexico” policy that help keep asylum seekers from overwhelming our system. These measures tackle the immediate dangers to our safety and sovereignty, not some utopian vision of open borders that ignores the consequences.

Now, we see the same pattern with the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Yesterday Trump announced that B-2 stealth bombers and Navy submarines delivered a “spectacular military success,” obliterating key sites in Iran’s nuclear program. This wasn’t a reckless act but a calculated response to a clear and present danger. For over four decades, Iran has been at war with us—sponsoring terrorism, killing American servicemen, and maiming civilians with roadside bombs. Their nuclear program, despite Tehran’s claims of peaceful intent, has long been a ticking time bomb, with facilities like Fordow buried deep to evade attack and enriched uranium nearing weapons-grade levels.

Yet, what do Democrats do? They fret about oil prices spiking if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, or they nitpick over whether Trump sought enough congressional approval. They worry about Iran’s “right to self-defense” or the “everlasting consequences” of escalation, as if Iran hasn’t been escalating against us since 1979. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries cry foul, claiming Trump misled the country or violated the War Powers Act. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vows retaliation, conveniently ignoring that his regime has been attacking us through proxies for years. This hand-wringing over hypothetical fallout—oil shocks, diplomatic slights, or Iran’s next move—misses the point: Iran’s nuclear capability was a fire burning now, and Trump put it out.

The critics’ obsession with future risks ignores the reality of Iran’s actions. Over 450 missiles have been fired at Israel since the conflict intensified, and Iran’s proxies, like Hezbollah and the Houthis, have targeted U.S. interests repeatedly. Trump’s strikes, using 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators and over 30 Tomahawk missiles, targeted the heart of Iran’s nuclear ambitions—facilities designed to produce weapons that could hold the world hostage. Satellite imagery shows craters and debris at Fordow and Natanz, confirming severe damage. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the strikes as historic, and even Israeli opposition leaders agreed they were necessary for global security.

The bottom line is this: leadership means tackling the fires burning now, not debating fire codes for a blaze that might never come. Iran’s nuclear program was a clear and present danger, not a hypothetical. Trump’s decision, backed by Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, prioritized America’s safety and that of our allies. As Vance said, the strikes were a “narrow and limited approach” to set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by years, not a prelude to endless war.

The naysayers will keep wringing their hands, warning of oil shocks or Iranian reprisals. But what’s the alternative? Letting Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, inch closer to a nuclear bomb? That’s not leadership; it’s cowardice. Just as Trump and Vance addressed the East Palestine disaster, confronted China’s supply chain dominance, and secured our borders, they’ve now taken bold action against Iran’s nuclear threat. Our leaders must focus on the dangers staring us in the face—rioters, gang members, terror suspects, and rogue regimes—before they consume us. The time for action is now, not when the flames are at our doorstep.

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Why I’m glad I left California

The recent passing of Brian Wilson caused me to look back wistfully on my former infatuation with California.  To a 1980’s teenager in Georgia, California was the place of palm trees, sports cars, bikini-clad girls, and limitless possibilities.  In my mind, it was the California of a Beach Boys fantasy.

In 1999 I wound my way to the Golden State to chase the Internet boom and the promise of riches so many of my peers had fulfilled — some seemingly overnight.  For over 13 years in San Francisco and another 6 in Los Angeles, I hustled from one start-up company to the next.  I didn’t hit any jackpots, but I started a family and made a reasonably good living.

Another opportunity brought us to Arizona in 2017.  Here we made our home and launched a thriving new business.  For so many reasons, the California we left behind is no longer the one that inspires hopes and dreams.

Cost of Living

For one, consider the dysfunctional governance that has pushed a comfortable middle-class life out of reach for most people in California.  From housing, to gasoline, to utilities, to taxes, to childcare, to healthcare, to insurance – everything is more expensive for the average family in California than in the nation as a whole.  More than any other factor, this neglect of middle class cost-of-living concerns has caused people to follow my example and decamp for more affordable lives, especially in Arizona and Texas.

We’ve certainly been happy to pocket the savings that come with lower taxes, lower prices at the pump and grocery, and an affordable house with a yard.  But we were more than willing to pay a premium to live in California when it felt like it granted us a premium lifestyle.  Today not so much.

Quality of Life

Recent years have shown Californians are getting a lot less for their top-dollar cost of living.  Most visibly, homelessness is hitting record highs.  24% of the nation’s homeless now live in California, despite the state having only 12% of US population.  More than 2/3 of these people are unsheltered, overtaking public spaces and creating public health and safety hazards, which local governments refuse to reel in.  People using parks and sidewalks as bathrooms and drug bazaars have made neighborhoods intolerable for everyday residents.  No one wants to push a baby stroller past an addict shooting up or a mentally disturbed person shouting obscenities.

While you don’t want to fight for space with these people on BART or Los Angeles Metro, is it any better behind the closed doors of your private vehicle?  If you can dodge the encampments under freeway overpasses, good luck keeping your alignment in check.  California lays claim to some of the worst road quality in the nation, driving up costs and creating more painful commutes.  Not that these challenges are keeping drivers off the road.  Despite exorbitant public expenditures on maintenance and repair, roads in Southern California and the Bay Area remain gridlocked and performance of the state’s highways ranks 49th in the nation.  I certainly don’t miss the hours I spent idling my car’s engine on the 405.

All that said, people will put up with a lot to access great schools for their children.  Unfortunately, there’s not much of that to go around in California either.  California spends more than $18,000 per pupil each year, but has next to no progress to show for its investment.  While my kids at publicly funded schools in Arizona were back in class and mask-optional in the fall of 2020, California students remained in Zoom school and fell further behind.

Business Opportunity

Ok, but with such a big economy, isn’t California still a land of opportunity?   To be sure it boasts a large market, abundant natural resources, and great public and private universities that churn out a superior pool of talent. Yet California seems to be doing everything it can to shed its Golden State moniker.  The costs that weigh on consumers – real estate, taxes, utilities, insurance, etc. – likewise weigh heavily on businesses, especially smaller or early-stage companies.  Add to this overhead high labor costs due to an $18/hour minimum wage and mandatory sick and family leave benefits.  Even when these costs can be factored into a sustainable business model, the state kneecaps entrepreneurs with the most cumbersome regulatory burden in the nation, including over 420,000 regulatory restrictions.

This framework has become a playground for plaintiffs’ lawyers, who feed off the complexity and drive up defensive legal and compliance costs, draining resources and hamstringing productive investment.  The California addendum to our company’s employee handbook has more pages than the rest of the handbook combined.  Who in their right mind wants to build a business with that sword of Damocles hanging over the company?

Diversity and Tolerance

Many of my California friends would scoff at these critiques.  For them, the kitchen table challenges do not outweigh the core virtues of California as the beacon of progressive thinking and policy.  Only California brings together extraordinary geography with extraordinary demography.  In any California community, they say you can encounter a rainbow of cultures and ethnicities and a spirit of inclusion.

Perhaps on the surface this tolerance for differences rings true, but it comes with a huge caveat.  California tolerance only extends as far as your compliance with the prevailing leftist doctrine.  Question the urgency of global warming or the virtue of green mandates that are driving up the cost of living?  You are a climate denier.  Have your doubts about “gender-affirming” body-altering treatments for minors?  You are a transphobe.  Second guess the sanctuary city polies that undermine the rule of law and put officers at risk?  You are a xenophobe.  Support Israel’s self-defense against bloodthirsty jihadists?  You are a warmonger and an apologist for genocide.  For most of my 19 years in California, I kept my political opinions on the down low.  It just wasn’t worth the stress of speaking freely.

Life in State 48

Here in Arizona, I’m no longer a conservative outlier, but I’m also among friends and neighbors who see things differently.  Last fall my street sprouted as many Kamala signs as Trump banners, and that’s okay by me.  I’m more comfortable having an open conversation with Arizonans because we can all give and get respect for different points of view.  Of course, it helps when fewer of us are stressed out from a brutal commute or wondering how we’re going to secure affordable insurance.  It helps when we can choose to enroll our children in any public school, within or beyond our home districts.  It helps when we can count on the police and district attorneys to enforce the laws of our communities.  It helps when the Arizona Commerce Authority supports entrepreneurs with innovation grants, educational programs, and operational guidance.

Life in Arizona is more affordable, more flexible, more welcoming, and just plain easier.  We may be far from the ocean waves of a Beach Boys fantasy, but making our home in the desert has given us a second chance at the American dream.

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