Another one of these articles where I really don’t want to write it, I don’t want to spend the time on it, and I don’t want to get worked up over it…coz I will, inevitably, get worked up and wish I hadn’t written it. But, I am a glutton for punishment.

There is a singular point to this article, and it will come at the end under the “Summary” section. And this will not be a regular SitRep of mine; no multi-hour read, no long sections of details underlying my points, no boring list of facts and evidence (okay, maybe just a little). Mostly just condemnation, disdain, and warning…and a bit of pleading.

The start of this article was back in January, not when I started writing it, but, when I was asked the first time this year, “Will we crash in 2026?”

A little more motivation to write this SitRep came a few days ago I heard about Trump talking about himself being the “GOAT”.

But yesterday, Friday, was the definitive point in time that I knew this SitRep had to happen. When I was in town on Tuesday (picking up another load of pine needles for the orchard) I thought about filling up the truck’s gas tank…but gas was up from $3.09 to $3.29. So, I decided to hold off. Yesterday (picking up another load of pine needles) I had to fill up…at $3.65 per gallon. Yea, gas up more than 18% in just 4 days…that is called “hyper-inflation”. Yeah, spending $6.50 more on a tank of gas. Thank you Donnie and your Iranian War !!

So folks, here it is…

Economy –

As the facts, numbers, stats show (for the last 12 – 15 months)…the economy is doing horribly. This is especially true if you compare the economy’s actual performance vs Trump’s expectations that he himself set. Actual inflation numbers are not much better now than when Trump took office. But, “affordability” is worse when you pay the bill at the grocery store. Just try buying hamburger.

Corporate bankruptcies, store/restaurant closings, firings, and layoffs are running at a record pace in 2026. Personal bankruptcies and foreclosures are near record levels of the Great Recession.

Employment –

Employment is a wreck. Just last month it was expected that the economy would add 60,000 jobs, we lost over 90,000 jobs…a 150,000 swing to the worse. However, January employment numbers were amazing! Problem, BLS numbers for January appear to be hugely skewed and in the coming months will be revised downward significantly. And remember, the 2025 job numbers were off by 1million…to the negative.

Unemployment –

First time unemployment claims are running high, over 200k initial weekly claims. But the real tell is continuing unemployment claims…high, running above average and above expectations. And finding a job is not easier now than a year ago. And actually, unemployment is worse now than 15 months ago. Yup, unemployment is worse the first year of Trump than the last year of Biden. Yup, Trump has seen unemployment worsening since taking office!

Consumer Confidence –

So let’s just check-in with consumers…Consumer Confidence Index just prior to the 2024 Presidential election in October 2024 was 108, as of February 2026 it is now 91. Yeah, down noticeably under Trump.

And a little side note…using credit cards and short-term loans account for a major portion of consumer spending…and that is a very bad thing.

Stock Market –

A notable exception to the terrible economy is the stock market…up 10% since November 2024 when Trump was elected. But, that is up 10% over a 16 month period. The previous 16 month period, under Biden, the market was up over 30%. So even the markets are performing poorly under Trump when looked at in realistic and relative terms…especially compared to Biden.

A good bellwether indicator for the stock market “outlook” is the VIX index measuring expected volatility. The lower the number the more confidence traders have in the stock market performance with low volatility. When Trump was elected it was right at “12”, it is now at “30”…150% swing under Trump. Meaning…a very, very poor outlook on stock market volatility under Trump.

Cryptocurrency –

Using Bitcoin as an example…since Trump was elected Bitcoin is down 6%. And for comparison…since the Trump family cryptocurrency (World Liberty Financial) was started (Sept 2024) it is down 40% (as of Dec 2025). However, Trump family has made at least a billion dollars off of their family’s cryptocurrency so far. Humm…

DOD vs DOW –

I think we can pretty clearly see now why the Department of Defense was renamed the Department of War. Actually, if we go back to the Constitution…there is neither. The Department of Defense was created in 1947. The name change to the Department of War came in November 2025…about 6 weeks before we bombed, invaded, and over-threw the sovereign government of Venezuela. Interesting timing.

And remember it was Trump who called himself the “Peace President” and labeled himself the “anti-war” President. And didn’t he say, “No new wars!” But…Department of War. Hummm……

Oh wait…it was Trump that threatened to take Greenland by force (i.e. war) if needed. Greenland…a peaceful country that is an ally.

So after our bombing and invasion of Venezuela we go to war with Iran…which has now spread to at least 12 countries in total. The war has quickly spread from the US and Israel attacking Iran to a regional war that now has global impact.

So why do you think the current administration, Trump, has gone against everything the Founding Fathers voiced concerns over? The Founders didn’t want us involved in foreign wars or entangling alliances. The Constitution doesn’t even give the President the power to conduct war like he is in Iran…or Venezuela for that matter. But here we are.

The War with Iran –

Let’s clear this up right off the bat…Iran is not and never has been a direct threat to the shores of the US. But we are now spending billions and billions of dollars to fight a war…some say only for Israel. A war that has killed or injured thousands of civilians in Iran, including over 100 dead school children. There are an unknown number of additional deaths in other countries as a result of this war started by the US and Israel.

Back to the money…billions of dollars that we don’t have added to the 2026 federal government budget deficit. Since we don’t have the money, we borrow it and it is added to the national debt that we can never pay off. To what end?

Here is the most damning aspect…our own military personnel deaths. So far at least 6 dead US personnel and an untold number injured. For what???? Needless deaths…absolutely no justifiable reason whatsoever!!

Mid-Term Elections –

At this point, unless something drastic happens, the Republicans are going to be slaughtered at the ballot box come the mid-term elections. And I hope they are!!! I am praying that Republicans lose at least the House of Representatives…hopefully the Senate too. Why? If the Repubs lose one or both houses…then the current administration and this insanity will grind to a halt. Don’t misunderstand me…I think the Democrat Party is pure scum and horrible for the country…except for the grid-lock they would be bring to our current situation. And for the record…the Republican Party is little better than the Democrat Party…very little.

Summary –

The United States is a confused, chaotic, and turbulent mess…a complete mess…borderline wreck…and getting worse by the day. You have to see it!!! US citizens do…

• • • Trump’s approval rating is down by over 20% since January 2025 alone.
    • 60% disapproved of Trump’s Venezuela mess.
    • At this point barely half of the country approve of his war in Iran.
    • Half of the country “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s job performance…double his strongly approve number.
    • Trump’s approval rating on his handling of the economy is in the toilet.

But by God we are going war! Bomb the hell out of em! Overthrow their governments! Kill their civilians, destroy their homes! Bomb ‘em some more! Let’s kill and destroy!!      U…S…A……U…S…A!!!

Sounds like “America First” to me!

But, you have to be the judge for yourself. Trump has a base of radical support that will not give ground on reality…they just won’t. They are so heavily invested in his personality and rhetoric that they just can’t see what is happening. And what is happening to this country is catastrophic and despicable.

Gotta ask…WOAT or GOAT ?

So where do we end up?

Some say all the war and violence is just to draw attention away from the Epstein Scandal. Maybe, but I am not in that camp. But a person is right to wonder why the Trump Administration won’t pursue and prosecute known criminal activity and criminals clearly identified in the Epstein Files…especially the files that the DOJ has kept, and is keeping, hidden.

But here is what I am thinking. Back in January the question was brought to me if I thought 2026 was the year it all collapsed. Back then I gave it a 30% chance that the US, at least the economy, would collapse in 2026. As of this morning, I upped that as high as a 60% chance if the war with Iran drags on or spreads even more.

I am also hearing rumblings that Trump starting the war with Iran is the start of World War 3. Ah, no. However, 14 months ago I said we were already in the beginning stages of WW3. The War with Iran is actually just the largest military battle…so far. The Trump Tariffs is part of that war, an economic battle if you will. The Venezuela bombing and invasion was another battle in WW3. The threat against Greenland was a battle in WW3. And, lest we forget, the name change from Department of Defense to Department of War was a harbinger of glaring note. You have to remember this…wars are now asymmetrical…not the standard of all bombs and bullets.

The truly sad part…the chaos is going to get worse…mostly due to ego, dementia, and a God Complex that is difficult to understand. How bad will it get? I really don’t know. But, as I said, I am giving it a 60% chance that the US collapses in 2026…at least the economy. But, if we collapse…so does the world. And we can be assured of WW3 escalating at that point.

Can this be turned around? Only with direct divine intervention.

Why did I write this SitRep?

There will be some folks who dismiss all of this as purely anti-Trump BS, or TDS, or whatever else they have to use to justify their own radical pro-Trump beliefs and their worship of him.

I know there will be some folks who challenge this article appearing on an “emergency preparedness” website. Think about it…Situational Awareness. But, more than anything…I want to share my opinion on all of this to encourage you to do everything possible to prepare yourself and your family for what might be coming our way.

Most of all…I want to encourage you to pray for divine intervention to stop a deeper descent into the chaotic hell that we are in. Pray that we can turn our hearts to mercy, love, brotherly kindness, respect, and above all…charity. As we witness what is happening around us and as we face decisions in our own lives ask this…What would Jesus do?

Or, maybe a better option to ask…What would Jesus have us do?

 

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Q & A Time…Ask me a question or send me a message…

 

 

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