May 12, 2026 - Ceasefire on "Life Support"

Today is the release date of Admiral Stavridis' new novel: “2084”. 

I have such admiration for the man and we're so fortunate to have him as a weekly radio guest shedding light on global affairs. He’s similarly brilliant on CNN. 

 
Admiral James Stavridis rose to the rank of 4-star admiral during his 37-year tenure in the U.S. Navy. Any one of several credentials he has earned would be a pinnacle for anyone else's career. He was the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, having already commanded U.S. Southern Command. He earned a Ph.D. at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts, where he also served as dean. He is a partner and vice chair of the Carlyle Group, and chair of the board of the Rockefeller Foundation. And the part I like best: he was fully vetted as a running mate for Secretary Clinton in the 2016 cycle and then courted by President-elect Donald Trump for a cabinet position in Trump 1.0. Apparently even Hillary and Donald agree on Admiral Stav! 

 
“2084” is the final book in a trilogy Admiral Stavridis has written with Elliot Ackerman - himself an accomplished veteran and skilled writer. First came “2034”, which featured war between the U.S. and China, then “2054”, in which civil conflict consumed the U.S. while China grappled with a demographic time bomb – an unnaturally high number of males. In the 2060s and 70s, massive storms brought on by climate change reshaped coastlines, with wildfires and droughts setting the stage for an epic battle: “2084”. Now, nations in an ever-widening band – think Indonesia, Kenya, mineral-rich Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador – have seen their viability as states collapse and can no longer sustain basic economic footing. What do they want? Reparations. And from whom? The Consortium – i.e., the U.S. and China. 

It's one of those books where, as I read, I found myself saying, "I can totally see this happening, the higher-ups should be paying attention." 

 
Here's hoping politicians and policy makers take “2084” to the beach this summer. 

 
##

As negotiations with Iran collapse and a fragile ceasefire teeters, President Trump is weighing renewed military action — including possible strikes and naval operations — to pressure Tehran into curbing its nuclear program before his high-stakes trip to China.

Axios

A new survey found that roughly one in four Americans believe the April shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner was staged, underscoring how online conspiracy theories have fueled deep partisan skepticism surrounding the incident, as well as the other attempts of assassination on President Trump.

The Washington Post

A landmark new report shared with CNN concludes that Hamas militants systematically used rape and sexual violence as a calculated weapon during and after the October 7 attack on Israel, drawing on extensive survivor testimony, forensic evidence, and years of investigation.

CNN

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht announced he is leaving the Democratic Party, arguing that rising antisemitism and what he called the party’s growing tolerance of “Jew-hatred” made it impossible for him to remain affiliated.

Jewish Insider

The BBC caught scam call center workers on hidden cameras as they laughed at the people they were tricking. One worker bragged about making $250k from victims. The disturbing truth? Scammers don’t pick phone numbers at random. They buy your data from brokers. Once your data is out there, it’s not just calls. It’s phishing, impersonation, and identity theft.

That’s why we recommend Incogni: They delete your info from the web, monitor and follow up automatically, and continue to erase data as new risks appear.

Try Incogni here and get 55% off your annual subscription with code SMERCONISH.

President Trump said he supports temporarily suspending the federal gas tax as fuel prices surge amid the Iran war, while also signaling possible renewed action in the Strait of Hormuz and rejecting Iran’s latest peace proposal as insufficient.

CBS News

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that two-thirds of Americans say President Donald Trump has failed to clearly justify potential U.S. military action against Iran, as rising gas prices tied to the conflict continue to strain consumers nationwide.

USA Today

Kevin Hart’s star-studded Netflix roast delivered relentless jokes about the comedian’s height, movies and family while also producing a surprising heartfelt moment as Hart and longtime rival Katt Williams publicly ended their yearslong feud onstage.

The Hollywood Reporter

A growing number of older Americans are turning to cannabis edibles for pain, sleep, and anxiety relief — often after exhausting traditional treatments and without guidance from their doctors.

StudyFinds

Richard Clarke argues that the wars in Ukraine and Iran expose how even superpowers can fail when they underestimate adaptive opponents, urging the U.S. to abandon outdated military assumptions and embrace faster, more innovative defense strategies for modern warfare.

Richard Clarke

Richard Simmons’ longtime house manager Teresa Reveles revealed the reclusive fitness icon wore disguises in public during his decade out of the spotlight as a new Diane Sawyer special explores the mystery surrounding his disappearance and accidental death.

ABC News