The war (or “incursion” as The Trump Administration calls it) in Iran has been a disaster for the U.S. There has not been an event so important since the relaunch of Political Absurdity. The war is a loss for America. Moreover it has been a major victory for our adversaries, most especially Putin according to a recent article in The Times. Russian oil is now selling at a 13-year high. Trump has lifted the embargo on Russian oil to boot.
Perhaps more importantly for Putin, US/NATO relations have been severely strained. If the US pulls out of NATO as Trump is threatening, that would be a huge win for Putin. Russia is also enjoying much improved relations with Iran, which should live on long past the war itself.
Iran has also benefited from the war. While it’s former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamieni is enjoying his entry into Paradise, Mojtaba Khamenei has stepped right in to take over. Khomeini for Khamenei. The Regime lives on.
Everyone wins but the US.
Iran Now Commands Strait of Hormuz
Iran Wins Control Of Hormuz. Another loss for U.S.
Perhaps more importantly for Iran, it now has claimed complete control over the Strait of Hormuz. It now collects a fee as high as $2,000,000 per ship transit (there was no fee before Trump “won the war on day one.”). Ship owners’ indicate that little or nothing has changed since the “Cease-Fire”.
Iran’s Nuclear Materials Remain Intact
Now of course, Iran’s Nuclear program was “obliterated” last summer according to Trump, despite the fact that he now cites the threat of nuclear attack as one of the principal reasons for the latest “Incursion”. Trump has claimed that Iran’s uranium supply is no longer a worry to him.
The “Incursion’s” Costs (So Far)
13 US service members killed and over 530 injuries
26 Israelis killed
3,363 Iranians killed and 26,000 reported injuries. (Remember, when we first went into Iran, one of Trump’s main reasons for doing so was to support the people and protesters in the country).
3.2 MM people displaced
$33 Billion in costs to US
Huge losses in US munitions and equipment
Oh, and Iran is already claiming that the U.S. has violated the cease-fire and the US deligation has left the negotiations. Now Trump threatens that we will block the Strait ourselves rather than allow the Iranians to claim that they have done it first! A very mature move, I’m sure.
And, all of this after Trump claimed, “No more foreign Middle East Wars” during the election.
Again, a disaster for the US.
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Could The Act Hurt the Very Voters It Claims to Protect?
Political slogans are easy.
Policy consequences are not.
The proposed SAVE America Act (H.R. 7296) has been promoted as a straightforward way to secure elections by requiring documentary proof of citizenship. Supporters describe it as common-sense reform. This seems reasonable at first glance. People need to show ID in all kinds of everyday situations. And then there are the non-citizens that the MAGA crowd claims are voting in huge numbers...
However, as with many pieces of legislation, the real story lies not in the headline—but in the details.
Sometimes, the consequences land closest to home.
What the SAVE America Act Actually Requires
At its core, the SAVE America Act requires Americans to provide documentary proof of citizenship—such as a passport or certified birth certificate—when registering to vote in federal elections.
Voters may be required to present these documents in person, even if they traditionally register or vote by mail.
Supporters argue that the Save Act would strengthen election integrity, protect American citizens, and serve to block out undocumented migrants. MAGA claims that millions of non-citizens illegally voted against Trump in the 2020 election.
Opponents argue that the act introduces unnecessary barriers and is unnecessary. Moreover that the real reason behind the legislation is to shut out black voters. Such voters most often vote in favor of Democrats, and in much larger numbers than non citizens.
Progressives Argue That The Claims Surrounding Voter Fraud Are Greatly Exaggerated
Both sides frame the issue politically.
Supporters of the SAVE America Act see the issue very differently.
One of the least discussed aspects of identification laws and the Save Act is access.
Not political access.
Practical access.
A recent University of Maryland study indicates that as many as 21 million eligible voters do not have easy access to documents proving citizenship. Many do not regularly maintain passports or enhanced identification documents. For those who travel internationally, passports are routine. For those who do not, particularly in rural areas, obtaining the documentation required can be time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes confusing.
Distance Matters
Many rural communities are located far from government offices capable of processing passports or certified records. A trip to obtain documentation may involve hours of travel, lost work time, and additional costs.
None of that sounds political.
But all of it affects participation.
The Travel Gap Nobody Mentions
International travel patterns in the United States are not evenly distributed.
Urban professionals and frequent travelers are more likely to maintain passports and updated identification.
Working-class Americans and rural residents—many of whom strongly support stricter election laws—often travel internationally less frequently.
That means fewer passports.
Fewer ready documents.
More hurdles.
Not ideological hurdles.
Practical ones.
The Irony Built Into the Policy
Here is where things become politically uncomfortable.
Advocates assume the burden will fall primarily on political opponents – Democrats.
But paperwork doesn’t care how someone votes.
Documentation requirements apply equally to everyone—regardless of political affiliation.
The MAGA voters who support stricter ID laws may be among those most likely to struggle with compliance.
Not because of politics.
Because of geography.
Bureaucracy Doesn’t Play Favorites
Because of access.
Because of logistics.
That irony deserves attention.
Paperwork Required Under The Save America Act
For many voters, the barrier set forth in the Save America Act isn’t ideology—it’s paperwork.
Government systems are rarely elegant.
They are procedural.
Rigid.
Slow.
Obtaining qualifying documentation may involve:
Replacing lost birth certificates
Paying processing fees
Waiting for mailed records
Traveling to issuing offices
Navigating mismatched names or outdated records
These steps add friction.
Each barrier reduces participation—not by intention, but by consequence.
When Policy Meets Real Life
The legislation looks simple on paper.
Moreover, if the SAVE America Act becomes law, its success will not depend on political speeches—but on which ordinary citizens can most easily meet its requirements. MAGA may not like the answer.
And that question remains largely unanswered.
Because the biggest challenge in American governance is not designing rules. It’s understanding how those rules play out in the real world.
This Is an Interactive Blog — And Your Voice Matters
As indicated in the post announcing our return, Political Absurdity has always been intended as a space for discussion—not just commentary.
We welcome:
✔ Agreement
✔ Disagreement
✔ Civil debate
In fact—we especially welcome disagreement.
If you believe the Act strengthens elections, say so. If you believe it creates barriers, explain why.
Either way:
Join the conversation below.👇
So Let’s See What Happens Next
Policy debates rarely unfold the way politicians expect.
Unintended consequences are not accidents—they are patterns.
And sometimes, the policies designed to protect a movement may quietly reshape it.
After a couple of years away, Political Absurdity is back with commentary on a chaotic landscape.
Not because we missed writing—but because the world has become far too absurd to ignore.
Who We Are And What We Are About
I’m Chris Foster — Editor of Political Absurdity — and it’s time to get back to calling things exactly as we see them.
If you’re new here, take a moment to read our original post. You will also want to browse some of the other posts in our Archive. Many are just as relevant today as when they were first published. We hope that you will agree.
Politics has become less about governing—and more about theater.
Political Absurdity Abounds and Is Calling Us Back
And of course, there is nothing quite as absurd as Donald Trump. It’s safe to assume we’ll be spending a fair amount of time discussing him. (Now, maybe you LOVE Trump. That’s ok. We want you to tell us why and how ignorant we are for thinking that he’s absurd!)
But make no mistake—there is plenty of absurdity to go around. No party, no institution, and no public figure will be immune from scrutiny.
You might also be interested to know that despite our disagreement with Donald Trump, we are actually quite conservative here at Political Absurdity. Take a look at some of our previous posts like: Do The Rich Pay Their Fair Share, or The Race Card. Those posts are enough to make blood boil on the left. Still, what-ever we talk about, we try to do it in a fair way. Moreover, readers can expect to see posts from others who have opposing opinions point-counter-point style.
There’s a lot to talk about. We intend to talk about all of it. From current events to upcoming elections and our ever-changing culture, we will be following it.
This isn’t just commentary—it’s conversation. This Is an Interactive Blog
Interaction Is What We Are About
Interaction Is Our Thing
Political Absurdity has always been designed as an interactive space.
We welcome discussion.
We welcome disagreement.
In fact—we especially welcome disagreement.
Debate is healthy. Silence is not.
Civil debate is part of what makes political discussion worthwhile, and we encourage readers to join in, challenge ideas, and bring their own perspectives to the table.
If you agree—or strongly disagree—we invite you to join the conversation. Please see the comment box below.👇
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Check us out on our Facebook page where we post and comment regularly. Join in there too!
Key Takeaways
Political Absurdity returns with commentary on the chaotic political landscape.
The blog emphasizes calling out absurdities in politics and society.
Readers can expect fair discussions, including opposing viewpoints, fosters engagement and debate.
New posts will appear every 1–2 weeks, covering current events and cultural issues.
Follow Political Absurdity on social media to join the conversation and share your perspectives there too.
So Let’s Get Going
The world isn’t getting any less absurd.
So we might as well get back to documenting it.
We are back.
Stay tuned—there’s plenty ahead.
And, if the world keeps getting stranger, we’ll be here to call it out.
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