Tuesday began with Boss Chaos threatening that "an entire civilization will die tonight." At last this evoked the kind of widespread moral condemnation his threats have deserved for days, though with a notable lack of the eloquence, from U.S. political leaders (even a Republican or two), international leaders and leaders of perhaps former allies, and even some media.
In his immediate response, Pope Leo said that the threat was "totally unacceptable." "There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more, it is a moral question concerning the good of the people as a whole, in its entirety.”
Over 85 Democratic members of Congress--both Senate and House-- called for Boss Chaos to be impeached or removed from office via the 25th Amendment.
Then a few hours later, both sides at war in Iran backed away from the brink. Eventually Iran confirmed that it had agreed to a two-week cease fire with the U.S. and Israel, and that it would permit safe passage through the straits, though they would remain under its control. They all agreed to negotiations for a formal end to the current warfare.
Both sides claimed victory. Oil prices dropped below $100 a barrel and the U.S. stock market rose. Iran has control of the straits, which it did not have before. It's expected they will charge fees for passage. Even in the best case scenarios the economic consequences of the warfare and loss of safe passage through the straits will continue for months, if not longer.
Yet even after the cease fire was announced, the chorus calling for the ouster of Boss Chaos continued. MA Senator Markey is among those, and he accused Chaos of advocating genocide. More public figures were calling Boss Chaos "unhinged" and dangerous. In an eloquent presentation, Lawrence O'Donnell pointed out that according to international treaty, the civilization-ending threats of Boss Chaos were themselves war crimes. "Hitler never said that," nor had any other head of state in history.
O'Donnell also highlighted recently ex-military officers speaking out on current military refusing to follow blatantly unlawful orders. The general he interviewed also called the threat itself illegal, and a threat of genocide. In a different venue former General McCaffrey agreed with those saying that the U.S. presidency itself is in crisis.
Meanwhile, Tuesday was also an election day. Politico concluded:
"Democrats just had one of their best election nights" since the 2024 elections. "Again. In Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election, the Democratic-backed candidate sailed to a nearly 20-point landslide victory Tuesday in a battleground [the Republican presidential candidate] carried less than two years ago. Meanwhile, a Georgia Democrat slashed [the Chaos] margin of victory by two thirds in the state’s reddest district despite losing the election — the most significant overperformance the party has seen across all seven House special elections so far this cycle.
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