Happy Friday, everyone! I’m hoping for a calm weekend, but events may not provide that solace. So, let’s dive in…
Expecting Trouble This Weekend
All the signs point to another round of attacks by the US and Israel against Iran this weekend:
NOW: Despite a denial by State Department Spokesman Tommy Pigott, NBC News, Reuters, and AFP have ALL now reported that the United States is removing Americans from the Middle East as what is very obviously a preemptive measure ahead of a return to war between the United States,… pic.twitter.com/2Vb0ScTale
— Brett Erickson (@BrettErickson28) October 21, 2026
This week Hegseth went to Israel to meet with Bibi, presumably to discuss the resumption of major kinetic attacks against Iran. Rumors say the information shared was persuasive (just like last time?).
For his part, Bibi remains as defiant as ever. Presumably, this means that Israel would love the U.S. to join in another round of attacks, but will do so anyway even if the U.S. doesn’t oblige.
🚨 NETANYAHU: I WILL BRIEF TRUMP — BUT I WON’T ASK FOR PERMISSION TO STRIKE IRANPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:“I will brief President Trump on what we intend to do, but I will not ask him for a green light to strike Iran.” pic.twitter.com/UZWKzuRaYc
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) October 22, 2026
On Wednesday of this week, Bibi said that “Toppling the regime is the only way to end the threat.” He also said he spoke with Trump on Monday about that goal.
Iran has said that if it’s struck again it will enter a ‘more offensive mode’ focusing especially on Gulf energy infrastructure, undersea cables, data centers, AI facilities, and US-linked assets in the region. If this happens, especially the energy infrastructure, then a global economic depression is assured.
“Some US Planners” are completely bonkers, and almost assuredly neocons who believe in this nonsense:
"Some US planners are convinced that an intensive three-day campaign could cause enough economic damage to change the Iranian position."You would think they'd have stopped making these kinds of predictions eight months into what was supposed to be a four-or-five-week war…
— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) October 22, 2026
Iran has been hitting a lot of vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. While the US government hasn’t been making much noise about these attacks, they’ve been quite effective and sustained:
🚨🇮🇷 Iran says seven vessels have been STRUCK and threatens more to comeFour ships involved in oil transfers caught fire in the Arabian Gulf after being tracked by Iranian forces.Three additional vessels hit sea mines near the Strait of Hormuz.The IRGC is now warning the… pic.twitter.com/FaH8SYnqBt
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 22, 2026
October has been a very busy month, the busiest so far.
One VLCC damaged every two days in the Strait of Hormuz in October so far. pic.twitter.com/nwlq9fyXJ0
— Ayuso (@AyusoValue) October 21, 2026
Complete with
by sand_puppy 
