Pressure Systems edition
A Shrinking and Struggling US Empire
November 9, 2026
What this edition shows
The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed after Operation Epic Fury, and analysts are reading it through the Suez crisis: a waterway that once displayed British decline now displays American military and diplomatic limits. That external pressure is mirrored at home, where Trump's DOJ probes of Democrats after they won Congress and ICE's surveillance of left activists sit alongside reports of crumbling overseas bases and voters' pessimism about decline. The through-line is a state substituting coercion and corporate power for the public capacity that once made American primacy look durable, while climate-stressed homeownership turns the American Dream into a trap.
Reporting and analysis behind this edition 11 sources
-
It’s the End of America as We Know It!
“America is over,” Laura Loomer posted on X. She is right. The Blue Wave is upon us, and everything is happening exactly as they foretold. I just looked out the window and saw Santa Claus (xi/hir) being led away in chains. The War on Christmas has finally ended. Christmas lost. Nothing is red now, n…
-
Who holds the power today? Governments or corporations?
Who holds the power today? Governments or corporations?
-
Trump orders DOJ to investigate Democrats for ‘threatening’ people
Trump lashed out at Democrats on Truth Social days after the party won control of Congress.
-
No One Has a Plan for American Decline
Amid Washington’s fractious foreign-policy debate, there’s one possibility too grim to think about.
-
Forever Wars: Why can’t America stop?
Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan. Why does the US keep going to war, and can voters stop it?
-
The Bases of US Empire Are Crumbling
Imperialism is again at the forefront of world politics. Large-scale war has become a permanent feature of the present era, from Ukraine to Gaza. Donald Trump’s second term has added a tariff war, threats to annex Greenland, the abduction of Venezuela’s president, and, together with Israel, an unpro…
-
ICE Is Running One of the Largest Anti-Left Surveillance Operations in US History
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations is engaged in far-reaching spying against left-wing activists that rivals the FBI and CIA crackdowns on the Civil Rights and anti-war movements.
-
70 years ago the Suez crisis exposed British relative decline. Today, the Iran conflict could be doing the same for the US
Like the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal is a vital waterway for global trade. Viktor Hladchenko/Shutterstock Months after the US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. The UK chose not to get directly involved in the conflict. Nonetheless…
-
Why over two-thirds of Americans say their country is in decline
U.S. consumer prices rose more than expected in September 2026, driven by surging gasoline costs. Zhang Fengguo/Xinhua via Getty Images Inflation is causing real economic pain. Worries about healthcare costs have jumped sharply. And 7 in 10 Americans believe the country is in decline. That is the la…
-
The Incredible Shrinking Superpower
The failing war with Iran marks a dramatic retreat by the U.S. from the Middle East. The post The Incredible Shrinking Superpower appeared first on The Intercept.
-
The American Dream Wasn’t Built for Climate Change
Owning a home is billed as a way to build wealth, but amid climate-related disasters, for many, it's beginning to feel like a trap.