For the umpteenth time: cryptocurrencies are vehicles for criminal activity and naked speculation--nothing more or less. Private equity investments favor only those running the fund in question. For those who don't know, the typical PE fund manager gets 2% of the total fund size and 20% of annual profits. There is no way that a retail investor understands both the risk undertaken by the fund, or the fees taken by the fund manager.

The typical investor who seeks to build and grow a retirement account is counseled to diversify, invest only in what they understand, take on risk only to their personal tolerance level, and take a long, patient view. The administration's action puts many unwitting investors at risk. I have no problem with those who invest money outside their retirement funds in crypto or PE, so long as they understand the risk involved, but all others should stay away...

This is very good news for world oil markets...
--Vlad the wildcatter, counting the rubles being raked in

In a couple of days Taco Trump will walk away from the destruction he has wrought in the Gulf area, and will blame the whole situation on NATO and the Europeans.

Listening to the BBC this morning I realized that those folks across the pond have it all figured out--Der Dotard stepped into two piles of dog droppings and cannot get anyone to clean his shoes. He can try to cast blame all he wants and this is all on him, and even he knows it. Of course, the result will be that Trump will lash out in a dozen directions to try to get back at those who wouldn't get him out of this jam.

If nothing else, Drinky Pet's days are numbered at the Department of Bore...

As I predicted, and as most Americans knew in advance...

I find it sadly humorous that now Der Dotard is talking up the 'military' necessity for this demonstration of narcissistic destruction and tastelessness. A week or two from now, our president will be blaming 'the generals' for this slap in the face of every American. It will be 'Oh, they wanted it, I never did. They need it for national security. Otherwise I don't know anything about this...' Clip and save...

I find it amusing but very sad that many phony Christians are telling Pope Leo to 'stay in his lane', or try to argue theology with him, pointing to snippets from the Old Testament to justify their war mongering, cruelty to others and a general lack of living their supposed faith. Meanwhile, here on Holy Week they continue to act like they are God's chosen ones while worshiping a guy who hasn't been seen at church since a funeral he didn't want to attend because he wasn't the center of attention...

Maybe it's contagious. Have him breathe on every cabinet member, Pee Wee German and JV Pants ...

I attended. It was a complete scam. I expected y check from Mr. Soros and there were none handed out. One guy said he was waiting on a direct deposit and the funds didn't hit his account.

Query to DR readers: did any of you get a Soros check? Asking for a bunch of Antifa folks ...

Building an argument for a return to his career as a writer of fantasy novels, one public utterance at a time. Two years left in his job and completely irrelevant ...

American boots on the ground in Iran, being placed there by a dupe and shill for the Israelis and Saudis--swell. I'm sure that MBS and Bibi will show up for all the funerals, and they will help negotiate the release of American POWs, to a person tortured while in captivity. Not. Well, maybe the Saudis will send two goats to the families of the fallen, and those in Israel will send them dreidels for the kids to play with in the up-coming holiday season. And Der Dotard: well, those funerals will interfere with his golf game...

So Much Winning!

Meanwhile, RELEASE THE TRUMP-EPSTEIN FILES...

What's the prob, big guy? These two justices went along with the theory that you can do no wrong in your job. Of course, they can vote to change their minds, and help you into a sling...

The statute of limitations on insider trading is five or six years, for civil or criminal cases. No way that Der Dotard can successfully argue that his actions in this regard are part of the 'presidential duties' shield granted to him by SCOTUS. If brought up on charges, at least Trump will be forced to disgorge all profits and pay a fine. A jail term (being the wet dream of so many Americans) will not come to pass...

This ship is bound for Cuba and will make port there, and will then off-load its cargo, all the time unmolested by TACO Don and his clown car of stooges and fools. This will happen for two reasons: first, otherwise Vlad will release the Pee Tapes, and second, otherwise Vlad will call in all the loans various Trump entities have with Alfa Bank. Putin is a cold case, and Der Dotard's phony bluster and weak spine cannot withstand a man of will and ill intent.

Face it, the humiliation of the US on the world stage is underway, and will continue until Trump either drops dead or is shown the door on January 20, 2029...

Tune in tomorrow, March 27, for a hearing in Georgia about the FBI raid on the Fulton County elections board. The raid, which occurred two months ago, may or may not be discussed. One would think that with two months head start that someone in the administration would be able to come up with a smoking gun in this case, unless, well, you know, one does not exist and cannot be proven...

"Maximum lethality" could be the new operating slogan for the Iranian military. If American boots land on Iranian soil, every Iranian kook with a gun will be after our troops, seeking scalps which will be redeemable for food, shelter and open internet at home...

This is NOT what big oil wanted, mostly because the bombing has destroyed billions of infrastructure used by oil companies to move, process and refine crude oil. Of course, Der Dotard scarcely asked for or listened to input from oil executives (See also: Rex Tillerson), yet those folks are finding out what happens when they support a mentally ill criminal insurrectionist and golf cheat...

Private credit and private equity firms often feed off of each other, with the latter borrowing from the former to leverage purchases of operating businesses. In my career as a lender I've observed that these firms, collectively, provide no support for the actual operating businesses during tough times, walking away with as much dough as they can carry. What does this mean for investors? The 'smart guys' running private credit and private equity care little for the losses foisted upon investors, because the folks operating these funds have already been paid, and have little--if any--skin in the game. Who will get hurt in the end? Naive investors running insurance companies and pension funds, which causes ripples in the insurance contracts and retirement systems for millions of Americans. Hang on, it will get worse from here...

Knowing a bunch of clever quotes form some minor book of the Old Testament is a fun party trick. Living God's Word, as written in the Gospels, is quite another. I have no problem with any person, left, right or center, who lives The Word. Remember all: Jesus warned his followers off the hypocrites he and they encountered in their daily lives, and that warning still rings true today...

No sensible person can imagine Der Dotard standing in line at the local middle school or Methodist church to cast his ballot. Asking for ID or a passport would be a laughably futile exercise, because he would never show an official document with his true weight displayed...

In Okiehomnie the tribes take a very dim view of those who claim their native heritage, but are not enrolled members. I suspec taht in Bovino's case, claiming 'minority status' meant that he was shorter than the average dork...

I wonder how much that custom sybian saddle cost? Krusty looks like she doesn't want to dismount because she is getting off ...

Some general comments about this fiasco:
-why don't these ICE slobs have uniforms, other than those ill fitting vests, even after Krusty Gnome spent hundreds of millions on a plane and PR campaign. Most of them look like they were sent to the airport by a temp agency.
-these bozos prancing about with sidearms will end badly. I give it 48 hours before some traveler find a Glock in the men's room of concourse B.
-some clever so and so is already collecting photos of ICE folk and will post them and their personal information on a web site. So much for the theory that ICE goons need their masks to protect their identities.
-sticky fingers, anyone for those who put valuables in the bin with their other belongings? The goon squad will think everything is fair game.
-large busted women should beware the day when these mouth breathers are allowed to pat them down

This is a lousy idea from a guy who cannot think straight and employs no one who will tell him differently.

In a related story lines are much longer at airport Starbucks locations nationwide. And airport bars with sporting events on televisions are also doing very well ...

Just watch Der Dotard's clown trope on Sunday morning shows where tough questions are thrown at them. Secretary after secretary folds like cheap origami, reduced to babbling talking points in a word salad that shows their lack of understanding of the issues at hand, their inability to say anything without fear of having their boss scream at them afterward and their utter uselessness in serving the American people. The world is laughing at the US because of these morons...