"IMPERIAL DELUSIONS: A WET DREAM OR A REVENGE TOUR?"

Trump sees beachfront property, and his real estate instincts kick in.

Just when you thought President Trump’s statements couldn’t get any more dangerous, well, he somehow outdoes himself. This time, it’s not just a dictator’s wet dream of absolute power or a petty revenge tour against his enemies—no, this time, he’s talking about full-blown military occupation, U.S. imperial expansion, and a level of foreign policy insanity that would make even the most hawkish neocon break into a cold sweat.

In one of his latest press conferences, Trump floated the idea that the U.S. should take control of, no... own, Gaza, rebuild it, and send the military to secure the Strip. Yes, he is now proposing a U.S. military occupation of one of the most volatile regions on the planet. And why? Because in Trump’s mind, Gaza could be the “Riviera of the Middle East.” That’s right, forget the ongoing war, the humanitarian catastrophe, the centuries-old geopolitical tensions, Trump sees beachfront property, and his real estate instincts kick in.

But let’s be crystal clear—this is not just some empty Trumpian bluster. This is a man who, so far, has managed to accomplish what he said he would do during his campaign now talking about deploying U.S. troops into Gaza, a region already inflamed by war. A move like this would obliterate any remaining diplomatic credibility we have, alienate our allies, and throw fuel on the fire of an already raging conflict. And let’s not even get started on what this means for the hostage negotiations, Trump is effectively telling Hamas and every other hostile actor, “Don’t worry, guys, we’ll take it from here.” You think that’s going to make them more likely to negotiate? Or more likely to dig in, escalate the violence, and use his reckless words as propaganda to recruit more fighters?

And yet, this isn’t even the full scope of Trump’s imperial delusions. Gaza is just the latest addition to his list of territories he wants to claim for the United States. First, it was Greenland because, you know, why not? Then, he’s talking about retaking the Panama Canal as if we’re still living in 1904. Now, he’s openly fantasizing about annexing Canada and Mexico. And it’s all part of this twisted nationalist fantasy where Trump sees himself as a 21st-century emperor, redrawing borders, crushing enemies, and expanding American territory like some failed Risk player who just keeps rolling the dice.

And while he’s daydreaming about military occupations and land grabs, the real damage is happening right here at home. The CIA is quietly offering buyouts to its workforce, a move that under normal circumstances might be written off as simple restructuring. But under Trump? You better believe this is the first step in purging the intelligence community of anyone who doesn’t swear absolute loyalty to him. The very same agencies he’s been attacking for years—the ones that uncovered his Russian connections, exposed his criminality, and warned us about January 6—are now being hollowed out. And that should scare the hell out of every single American.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is pulling out of critical international aid programs, including USAID and the UNRWA, the agency that provides vital support to millions of Palestinian refugees. What does this mean? It means less humanitarian aid, less diplomatic leverage, and guess what?…a giant opening for China to swoop in and expand its influence even further in the region. Because while Trump is busy ranting about military occupations, China is playing the long game; brokering peace deals, investing in infrastructure, and filling every single gap that America leaves behind. And if you think this doesn’t matter, think again because the world doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Every reckless, chaotic decision Trump makes weakens us while strengthening our adversaries.

And let’s talk about the economic toll of all this madness. Trump keeps promising to “end all wars,” yet here he is, openly fantasizing about new military occupations, new conflicts, new global entanglements that would cost American taxpayers trillions. Wall Street doesn’t bet on instability and let me tell you—nothing says “economic catastrophe” quite like a president threatening to annex sovereign nations and send U.S. troops into an active war zone. Markets will plummet, investors will flee, and working-class Americans who are already struggling will be left holding the bag while Trump and his cronies cash in on the chaos.

So, here’s the big question—how do we stop this? How do we make sure Trump never gets the chance to put these insane ideas into action? Because let me tell you something—this is not some hypothetical, far-off scenario. This is happening right now, in real-time. The people around Trump are already laying the groundwork for his return to power, and if we don’t take this threat seriously, we’re going to wake up in 2025 to a world that is unrecognizable.

To help break down just how catastrophic Trump’s foreign policy delusions are—and what they could mean for the future of our democracy—I’m bringing in someone who knows firsthand how dangerous unchecked power can be. My guest today is the brilliant and fearless @JillWineBanks445647, one of the legendary Watergate prosecutors, a legal powerhouse, and someone who understands exactly what’s at stake when a corrupt leader tries to hijack American institutions for his own gain. We’re going to get into all of it—Trump’s deranged military fantasies, the intelligence purge, the global power shifts, and what all of this means for 2024. Because, folks, if you’re not alarmed yet—you damn well should be.

So, let’s go now to that conversation:

And now for today's Mea Culpa:

Isolationism has long been a seductive but dangerous ideology in American politics. The idea that the United States can withdraw from global affairs and focus solely on domestic issues is not only unrealistic but also catastrophic for both national security and global stability. History has shown time and time again that when America retreats from the world stage, chaos fills the void. Authoritarian regimes rise, global markets destabilize, and conflicts escalate unchecked. Simply put, America’s role as a democratic leader is not just about moral responsibility; it is a strategic necessity to prevent global disorder.

Take the 20th century as a case study. After World War I, the United States embraced isolationism, refusing to join the League of Nations. The result? The world descended into economic depression, fascist regimes took hold in Germany, Italy, and Japan, and within two decades, the world was at war again. In contrast, after World War II, America took the opposite approach leading the creation of NATO, the United Nations, and the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe. The result? The longest period of global stability and economic prosperity in modern history.

Fast forward to today, and we are once again facing the same dangerous impulses. Donald Trump and his allies are pushing for an America that withdraws from international obligations, cuts off military alliances, and abandons democratic allies in favor of nationalist, transactional politics. We’ve already seen the damage this approach can do. Trump’s abandonment of the Kurds in Syria in 2019 allowed Turkey and Russian-backed forces to move in, leading to chaos, civilian deaths, and a strengthened ISIS. His disdain for NATO encouraged Vladimir Putin to push further into Ukraine, betting that America’s commitment to European security was wavering.

If America embraces isolationism again, the consequences will be even more severe. A retreat from global leadership would embolden China’s authoritarian expansion in the Pacific, where it is aggressively claiming territory in the South China Sea and undermining democratic Taiwan. It would allow Russia to further dismantle Ukrainian democracy and threaten Eastern Europe. It would leave Middle Eastern power vacuums that extremist groups would exploit, just as ISIS did after the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

Beyond security concerns, America’s economic well-being is also tied to its global leadership. Isolationism means abandoning trade alliances that benefit American workers and businesses. The post-World War II order, led by the U.S., has created the economic framework that allows free trade, protects intellectual property, and ensures stable supply chains. If America steps back, China and Russia will shape global markets in ways that favor their autocratic models, undermining democratic nations in the process.

Democracy is under assault worldwide, and the U.S. remains its strongest defender. We cannot afford to turn inward while autocrats expand their influence. America must continue to be the beacon of democracy; not just because it is right, but because it is essential for global stability and our own national security.

And as always, thanks for listening.