How did the United States stumble into a war that led to missile and drone strikes by Iran that produced enormous damage throughout the Middle East? Oil and gas prices spiraled, creating huge economic problems in America and the world. And, of course, the war produced a vast humanitarian crisis.

Why did President Trump launch that controversial war? Many Americans are frustrated because they have not received convincing explanations.

Comparing President Trump’s handling of problems with Iran to President John F. Kennedy’s handling of the Soviet Union in the Cuban Missile Crisis offers insights into why the United States is now in a mess. Trump did little to consider the possible consequences of armed intervention when he green-lighted large-scale military engagement. In contrast, John F. Kennedy approached a crisis in October 1962 with careful study of the risks and opportunities for a negotiated settlement.

Back in 2013 a moderate candidate won Iran’s presidential election. That leader proceeded to work a deal that significantly limited Iran’s nuclear development. The United Nations supported that agreement and six major countries signed on, including the United States. The settlement was effective. Inspectors made several site visits and reported the Iranians honored terms of the agreement.

If negotiations in later years produced more improvements, perhaps we would not be dealing today with an aggressive Iran and a war new war in the Middle East,

How was that remarkable breakthrough achieved, and what caused its demise?

President Trump often loses focus and goes off on a tangent. A notable example occurred on March 2, 2026. Trump briefly and vaguely mentioned his decision to order attacks on Iran and then commented in detail about construction of a new ballroom and his selection of drapes for the White House. Numerous mental health professionals have expressed concern about the President’s bizarre speech patterns.

Questions arose about the mental or physical fitness of other U.S. presidents, including Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Joe Biden.

Is there anything American society can do to promote healthier national leaders?

The United States’ economy has grown enormously in recent decades, yet many Americans are not cheerful and confident. Polls in early 2026 reported consumer confidence in the United States was at the lowest point in a dozen years. Furthermore, the 2025 World Happiness Report showed the American people’s contentment dropped to 24th in the world. That was the lowest level ever recorded for the USA in that international happiness survey.

Consistently near the top in the global happiness rankings is Norway, a country somewhat like the United States. Norway, too, is a wealthy nation, and it, too, benefited from a huge expansion of energy production.

Why do many Norwegians report satisfaction about their economic and social condition, while many Americans indicate much less satisfaction?

Critics worry that President Trump has threatened a federal takeover of voting activities throughout the USA. That is a significant danger, but another risk is getting much less attention. Americans stirred by false charges about voter fraud might try to take matters into their own hands and try to shape the outcome of an election.

That behavior was evident in a small but significant case of hijinks during the 2000 presidential election.

The story of that intervention by angry citizens and party officials has a name: The Brooks Brothers’ Riot. An examination of the event shows how aggressive action by ordinary citizens in tandem with political agents can undermine American democracy. The Brooks Brothers Riot could serve as a model for efforts to sway the 2026 and 2018 elections.

There have been many shocking news stories recently about aggression by uniformed, masked, and armed ICE agents, but none excited as much public outrage as the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis. That tragedy was sadly predictable. When armed paramilitary agents confront protesters complaining about injustices, there is potential for bloodshed.

One of the most notable examples of that combustible situation occurred 56 years ago when a governor sent armed national guardsmen to deal with protests on a university campus. Soldiers fired into a crowd, killing four students and injuring others. The history of that event contains lessons for our times.

Why has socialism, which failed to attract many voters throughout American history, gained popularity in recent years? How did a Democratic Socialist, Zohran Mamdani, manage to win a mayoral election in New York City, the hub of American capitalism?

This podcast identifies the sources of Mamdani’s popularity and examines the historical record of socialism in the USA. It also highlights the ideas of Louis Brandeis, an influential justice of the Supreme Court who defended local political experimentation. Brandeis gave those trial-and-error approaches a name: “Laboratories of Democracy.”

One of the current best-selling books is about excessive risk-taking that preceded the meltdown on Wall Street in 1929 and the Great Depression that followed in the 1930s. The author warns that similar practices are putting economies at risk today. He notes that financiers are encouraging the public to invest in private equity, crypto, and other chancy products. They are hawking dangerous investments that resemble the kind that crashed in 1929.

Could a financial catastrophe be on the horizon, one that turns the recent market boom into a bust? Obviously, there are no easy answers. Yet an examination of history illuminates how irrational exuberance and financial deregulation sometimes triggers an economic crisis.