71 Comments
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Joanne C. Wasserman's avatar

Wonderfully stated. And in perfect pitch to "the donald's" way of reasoning reality. Thank you for providing Mr. Safa's post.

Mimi Alberu's avatar

Substack keeps asking for a verification code every time before it lets me comment here. The email with the magic code is always from Mark Wauck's substack email. Somehow I don't think he's censoring me. Anyway, I just wanted to recommend this really well-written piece: https://futurearly.substack.com/p/the-taarof-and-the-threat-the-tactlessness

Joanne C. Wasserman's avatar

Mimi, I think what you described is what happens to me whenever I begin to type a comment or just click a heart "like". So, I go to the top of the comment page, click the blue link "read" and on that page (Mark's article) there is the "Sign In" link at top right side of page. Click that and sign in (without having to backtrack to e.mail).

Mimi Alberu's avatar

Thanks Joanne, I know you can do that, but my basic question is why are we being asked to sign in to write a comment? In my case it doesn't happen every time, so I'm trying to figure out the cause.

Joanne C. Wasserman's avatar

My thought is that Substack requires "sign in" once, for use throughout the platform at any given time that a person's browser is open in the day. But when I close out of the internet/www, and then, go to some websites, if I go to a substack site and want to make remarks, I need to sign in, again, once; then I can go to any substack writer's site, and not sign in to make remarks.

Mark Wauck's avatar

I can't answer this--it's a Substack problem. I did find this page:

https://on.substack.com/p/new-on-substack-comments-for-everyone

where I read:

"Only people on your mailing list can comment on your posts. If someone who isn’t already on your mailing list tries to comment on your post, they will first be asked to sign up."

However, my settings are that "everyone" can comment.

It's Just Me's avatar

I've occasionally had problems like that.

Mark Wauck's avatar

You're right. Never heard of a verification code.

Mimi Alberu's avatar

The email looks like this:

339158 is your Substack verification code

MH

Mark Wauck from Meaning In History

<meaninginhistory@substack.com>

8:54 PM

To malberu@comcast.net

Here's your verification code to sign in to Substack:

339158

This code will only be valid for the next 10 minutes. If the code does not work, you can use this login verification link:

Verify email

Do not share this code with anyone. Do not forward this email. Substack employees will never ask for this code.

© 2026 Mark Wauck

548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104

914

I'll try to get a screenshot the next time the first message comes up.

Brother Ass's avatar

This sounds like you need to confirm or verify your email address with Substack (is your account relatively new?). It doesn’t have anything to do with Mark’s substack.

Mimi Alberu's avatar

It's not new. I have a couple of theories. I read substack posts on my Windows11 laptop from my Comcast email, not in the mobile app. I think substack prefers users to read posts using the app, it's always promoting "Get the app" so the desktop version may be more buggy. I think it may happen whenever my computer restarts or there's a Windows update, i'll have to pay more attention to that. Then there's the tinfoil hat theory, that it does have a censoring algorithm. Who knows. It has happened sometimes when commenting on Meryl Nass's substack. She has also had weird things happen like not being allowed to crosspost.

V. Dominique's avatar

There's one way that Trump might be able to save his presidency. Tell Miliekowsky (aka Netanyahu) he's on his own and blame him for everything. Will he do it? Have you looked at who is in his administration? Besides, there would be a good chance that Mossad would assassinate him.

Jeff Martineau's avatar

Trump truly believes in creating chaos/misdirection/talking sh*t as a strategy in and of itself: Television Paradigm - nothing is real, it is all perception.

Think gambling. His “hold card” is Economic/Military.

Question: why does he get away with it?

Answer: soft psychological targets (the US over age 30 and Markets are his audience) - no one cries for China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Panama, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Greenland, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and so on. Candace, Tucker, Megan, Fuentes? The Dems/GOP? Was the Pope the wall he hit (which does the NYT hate more, Trump or the Catholic Church?).

I read the Saturday edition of the NYT: they “hide” things on Saturdays.

Cosmo T Kat's avatar

The Catholic Church by far.

History Lass's avatar

Drop site news with the American version and the Iranian version of the Tanker drama unfolding

https://x.com/i/status/2045959446715675049

Clyde Griffith's avatar

It's True!

Hormuz is closed except for ships that go through.

note to Cosmo T Kat: Jesus punched back

https://x.com/IRANinTJ/status/2044138040650805495?s=20

https://x.com/ZerroristsOut/status/2045963021697110227?s=20

Stephen McIntyre's avatar

Well, the latest news is that an Iranian tanker tried to go through the blockade, and it was attacked and boarded.

This is exactly what Iran wanted, they had to test the thing to see how far the United States might go and they got their answer.

Another report I saw just a little bit ago was that B-52 bombers had left their base in England? No one knew exactly where they were going, but I think we can guess.

I believe that the war starts today sometime . The negotiations are not happening Iran will not participate. Who does Trump send to negotiate once again Witkoff and Kushner, the very people Iran would not negotiate with under any circumstances.

Trump is not serious about the negotiations. He never has been. I guess I will have to concur that he is in the pocket of Netanyahu and the Israeli Zionist organization.

I think we have all known that Trump was going to triple down and bomb Iran again using up every possible munitions resources that we have until we run out. Iran is already over 40 days of bombing and having endured there is no reason to think they will not endure and survive this also.

Then what is the next move? we’re coming up on May 2. What will congress do? The only thing left in the Arsenal hasn’t been used is tactical nuclear weapons. What an absolute irony do use tactical nuclear weapons against people that you claim you want to help. There is absolutely no logic in common sense in any of this.

History is replete with examples of bad wars starting for the most idiotic reasons and they all turn out pretty badly. This will be just another bad example after all is said and done.

You no it is absolutely fascinating from a political science point of view, watching a guy like Trump worked so hard to become president not once but twice, and in a little over a year completely destroy himself and his presidency and whatever legacy he hoped to leave. He has no legacy, he has no credibility, he will go down in American history as the worst ego driven, narcissistic, megalomania, hypocrite and mendastic ever to occupy the White House.

As I sit here and dictate this, it’s 4 PM central standard time in about two hours, the markets are going to open and we’re going to see what things are going to look like.

Mark Wauck's avatar

Sounds about right, Steve. What I've been reading is that the IRGC was strongly opposed to the original Islamabad meeting but went along because of China's wishes. Vance walking out after spending most of his time on the phone with Trump/Netanyahu discredited those in favor of negotiating--the government people, Araghchi and the Speaker and presumably Pezeshkian. IRGC is now calling the shots and favor finishing the war.

Manul's avatar

Ceasefire is over. Trump strikes Iranian commercial vessel.

https://x.com/chrismartenson/status/2045953526216446043?s=20

History Lass's avatar

Earlier in the day, Iran reported it had forced back an American ship.🤔

Just as well Iran had refused to return to Islamabad. I suspect they anticipated treachery.

So now we wait for Iran response?

Manul's avatar

These aren’t the kind of things to do if you want a ceasefire to hold.

Jeff Martineau's avatar

Note the election result in NJ-11 house district: Dem Mejia wins with $/support from United Dem Proj (AIPAC) and JStreetPAC. Both liberal Jewish and pro abortion.

V. Dominique's avatar

People need to stop voting for the Uniparty. Either vote for a third party or boycott elections.

Jeff Martineau's avatar

We have been conned into thinking voting matters…do we really believe that?

dissonant1's avatar

Interesting details about the Iranian perspective on Trump, their desires, and their outlook on negotiations at this point:

https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/trump-erratic-behavior-iran-israel-war

For example: “Our assessment is that Trump effectively lacks both a coherent plan and the capacity to secure even a temporary agreement,” the official said. “His decision-making appears to be grounded in Israeli political and security assessments, conveyed to him on a daily basis.”

aDoozy's avatar

"Who is he [Trump] to deprive a nation of its rights?”.....President Masoud Pezeshkian

The Iranians know the whimsical liar they face in the US president. They, in stark contrast, are serious, direct, and have planned and prepared. They will not be surprised again, and they will not give up their sovereignty to the US or Israel. They will defend Iran and Lebanon from the two war-criminal aggressors.

It's Just Me's avatar

Thanks, Diss.

Trump's an amateur. He's in way over his head.

He's destroyed his presidency and should do the honorable thing and resign, which is the last thing he'll do.

His ego and Israel's evil should not be dragging this country down.

Bonnie Camo MD's avatar

How does the definition of insanity run? Doing the thing that failed and expecting it to work? Trump is obviously insane and should be removed from office and replaced by Veep Vance, according to the 25th ammendment. People may not like Vance, but if he ends the war, we will all be grateful!

V. Dominique's avatar

You could say the same thing about citizens who keep voting for the Uniparty. The Democrats won't clean up this mess and neither will the Republicans.

Jeff Martineau's avatar

“What is the weird hold?”

As a kid, like just about every other American of the 50s and 60s, he bought into the narratives about Israel and the Jews.

He is the child of immigrants.

By the 1980s he is trying to get rich in Manhattan (his father warned him?). He was not a “blue chip.” Where do you go? He did not get into the big finance or real estate firms. That left the various “mafia” and others that were not “blue chip.”

He got involved with these types and the projects (gambling, high end/risk investments) they wanted to be part of and fund. He hung out with them and he took the $. Call it formation, or grooming. He has been taking the money for nearly 50 years. He has been hanging out with them for 50 years. He has become related to them. They are all around him.

They are a kind of alternative/parallel “deep-state” or “establishment.” Jews work for the power structure (remnants of Protestant/Secularism/Television/Mysticism/Occult) of the era. They then become more “pro” than others.

He said in 2016: I will be the Jews best friend. Duh. He has never hidden any of this. He just does not realize what the outcomes are. Note Candace Owens saying that Charlie Kirk to her that Trump told him that Trump would “f-over” Adelson and others…of course he lied to Kirk saying this and they still give him the $.

Trump likely believed he could undercut Netanyahu (Israel needs the US more than the other way around) rather than Netanyahu run him…but as Dershowitz said recently, the American Jews will “take care of Trump.”

Larger context: the paradigm that gave birth to Israel and sustained it over the decades (Television: globalism/live out your fantasies) is dead. Some in Israel sense this and they had to react to new paradigm/context that threatens their existence if they continue with the Television era script. So they do what most people do: they try to hold on at any cost.

That is maga: hold onto a part of Modernity we think we liked and were powerful in (say before things went sideways in the later 60s).

None of this will “succeed” but they get $ in the process, some devout followers and to kill “crazy bastards” (think “deplorables”) and their egos get soothed by blaming the rest of the world for not seeing their “greatness.”

This ultimately leads to the young Digital elites being looked to as the next generation of leaders, not just funders…

Interesting times…

Mark Wauck's avatar

Chas Freeman was saying similar things about the "weird hold" today.

Dimitri Devyatkin's avatar

Netanyahu has damning photos. Not just 14-year-old girls, boys too.

aDoozy's avatar

Is there a leaker or whistleblower that has seen photos?

Recall that Pizzagate involved the trafficking of young girls, and boys. I have wondered if PG was connected to Epstein.

Yacheng's avatar

Interesting, no matter how we vote, we always get John McCain.

Mark Wauck's avatar

https://youtu.be/gJABhERNyDo

On the Verge of Resuming War w/Iran Lt Col Daniel Davis

Austin Stanley Mark Sikora's avatar

On Dementia and Nuclear Codes

The President of the United States thinks Fanta is fresh-squeezed

https://austinsikora.substack.com/p/on-dementia-and-nuclear-codes?r=32cg97&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=TrueFutureTV

#PresidentialHealth #CognitiveHealth #DonaldTrump #USPolitics #whitehouse #AmericanPolitics #25thAmendmentNow