On April 8, 2026 at 2:57 pm, Steve from Manhattan wrote:
Mark, I am thankful that you feel well enough to travel to Hungary and Ukraine—please continue to take care of yourself!
I have read plenty of speculation today about the cease fire in Iran—with the idea that China put intense pressure on the mullahs as one of the most interesting angles. After all the mighty journalists at the NY Times today had a headline that read "China Pressed Iran Toward Cease-fire, Iranian Officials Say."
But I have also read speculation that the Easter Bunny who appeared on the White House balcony with the President and the First Lady made all the difference. Could the third-tier mullahs and the other surviving middle managers have looked at the Easter Bunny's eyes and thought, like the character Quint in "Jaws" about "lifeless eyes...like a doll's eyes"—and decided to make a deal?
On April 8, 2026 at 2:57 pm, Gayn of Funkshun wrote:
Is there anyone left alive in Iran who actually has the ability to effectively negotiate and enforce peace terms?
On April 8, 2026 at 2:59 pm, Eric Dale wrote:
How long do you think any American troop commitment can last in an age where kamikazi drones with a camera attached to them can record themselves chasing American troops down and blowing themselves up?
So many of the Steyn Club members just think the problem we have in the middle east is our refusal to escalate. Do you think any ground troop commitment is possible when the IED's fly now and their operators can post your demise on the internet?
On April 8, 2026 at 2:59 pm, Fred Jones wrote:
Mark
Putting all the rhetoric aside and just looking at the facts on the ground: Trump and Bibi's forces removed nearly all the Iranian leadership (clerical, political, military and intelligence), sunk their "navy", took out their air defenses, scrapped their manned air ships, dramatically reduced their missile/drone infrastructure, leveled their nuke facilities (again), and sent a clear message to the Persian people that now was their time to seize their destiny.
During this Middle East "excursion" Europe learned the Mullahs had the ability to reach out and touch them with no way to defend themselves, while America learned that their NATO "allies" were too paralyzed (or "par-Islamized") to help ... essentially ending the fiction known as NATO, thereby allowing the USA to pivot back to their own hemisphere and the Pacific.
Trump has set the stage for realignments in the Middle East (Gulf states/Israel and another Iranian revolution) and Europe (USA setting them adrift).
If Hormuz can be safely reopened (a big "IF"), then perhaps the hundreds of billions of American treasure and relatively little blood was worth this limited Middle East incursion, no? Market investors seem to think so.
On April 8, 2026 at 3:04 pm, Queen of the Jungle wrote:
Greetings and Shanti Mark from the People's Republic of Nueva York!
There's another aspect of this war that you haven't been talking about- namely the effect it has had on all the Net Zero /climate maniacs who have shut down oil and gas production in Europe, specifically the UK.
All it took was for Hormuz to be shut down for these fools to realize that all the sun and wind in the world will never replace dependable Oil, Gas and Coal when it comes to providing heat and electricity.
Meanwhile, there is enough gas off of the UK to power Britain for decades.
The gas is there, as is the technology to extract it, but the disgusting pols like that creep Ed Miliband, will not allow it to be extracted. According to Offshore Energies UK, there are 51 known fields in British waters that could feed gas into UK pipes. Their progress has been halted not by geology but by politics and taxes.
Is there any hope that at least in this one area the war could have a positive effect and force the issue of allowing these gas fields to be opened up ? Your thoughts are always appreciated!
On April 8, 2026 at 3:07 pm, Chris Davies wrote:
Mark,
I hope you are well.
Starmer's imploring simping to Trump about free speech in the UK looks ever more hollow with each passing day.
Banning Eva Vlaardingerbroek from entering the UK without the right to appeal as she was not considered "conducive to society" was always going to open the floodgates.
Now the government has "done an Eva" on Kanye West.
I'm ambivalent towards West as an "artist" and find some of his past comments egregious.
Does that mean he should be banned from entering the United Kingdom? Absolutely not.
Those on the woke right who have called for his right to entry to be revoked should hang their heads in shame.
The UK is now on a very slippery slope towards authoritarianism and censorship colliding to ensure approved speech is compelled speech.
Is there any way back?
Keep well Mark, not least in *checks notes* Ukraine.
On April 8, 2026 at 3:09 pm, Aliette Bottin wrote:
Dear Mark--
I read recently that the Air Canada CEO, Michel Rousseau, resigned following how he handled condolences to the pilots who died in the recent crash at LaGuardia Airport. Apparently he delivered his remarks in English only and not in French, which sent the Quebecois to the fainting couches.
Would Mr. Rousseau still be CEO if he had delivered a land acknowledgement in Arabic with Kristi Noem's husband by his side?
P.S. Until you enlightened me, I never knew that I needed to hear Johnny Mathis sing Handel's Messiah. Thank you for making me a better person.
On April 8, 2026 at 3:11 pm, Nicola Timmerman wrote:
Another floor crossing in favour of the Liberals. Do you think these M.P.s should have do undergo a by election? What can citizens do when a majority is obtained by these undemocratic means?
On April 8, 2026 at 3:14 pm, Jackie F wrote:
Hi Mark. Hope you are holding your own and improving. We need your input to keep us on an even keel. I believe that America needed to seize the opportunity in Iran and I pray that we will continue until the Iranian people are free from the tyrannical mullahs. Possible? Not sure but I remember the missed opportunity of the spring uprising in Egypt..
While the war certainly provides doubts, I cannot pull myself away from the sheer destruction of this country with the free access DJT has given for data centers and now Elizabeth Warren's housing plan that confiscates farmland, triples energy costs and utilizes water supply to our detriment. Of course, the local councils are all too willing to take the payout and vote against the outrage of the citizenry.
What is the advantage to these centers and/or housing, if any, can you see?
On April 8, 2026 at 3:18 pm, John Baker wrote:
Hi there Mark, I have been a big fan of yours since before you started subbing for Rush. Please follow the doctor's orders and take good care of yourself. Your voice must not be silenced in this time before the collapse of western civilization. I've been somewhat surprised at your take on the Iran mess although, I'm still with you. (I bought "America Alone" 18 " sodbollocking" years ago. Love it.)
Do you think if these devils had a nuclear weapon they would not use it? I guess, to make this an easy question, are you ok with them having nukes? If not, how would you stop them?
Continue to recover from your physical issues. We need you!
On April 8, 2026 at 3:21 pm, Paul Nachman wrote:
In all the Steyn Club's charivari about the current Iran "project," I don't recall seeing anything regarding what Mark himself favors doing about Iran (i.e. about the threat of a nuclear-bomb-armed Iran). If he favors doing anything.
For me, anyway, there's the same lacuna in Mark's own writings, although they are voluminous enough that I might have missed it.
So I hope Mark will answer that basic question ... or perhaps reiterate his answer.
On April 8, 2026 at 3:25 pm, Wes Whitten wrote:
Mark, how long can those that support this war in Iran continue to do so? The metric is the Strait of Hormuz, and if we were "winning" it would be open. I fear that octogenarian bloodlust rooted in the 1980's has significantly harmed the future of my children and grandchildren. Why do you think that so many among us are blind, or worse, indifferent to the consequences? I now believe nothing from the US government, regardless of which reprobates are in charge. It's all very exhausting. Cheers Mark!
On April 8, 2026 at 3:30 pm, Paul Courtney wrote:
Dear Mark Steyn: Still askin' for the club, eh? You may be convalescing, but recent back injury leaves me less than 100%, and I'm not lifting a club against you when we're both in diminished health. I'd prefer to sit and listen more on your health woes, because folks who have been hit like you have might like to sit and talk about it. But not in Ukraine!
Anyway, here's a question- How can I agree with virtually all you say about this war, and still favor it in the hope that it will be a turning point in saving the West from muslims? Saving the West from ourselves is still out there, but it'll be a start to show muslims in the West that they backed a weak horse.
On April 8, 2026 at 3:34 pm, Suzanne Reny wrote:
The Iranians who are absolutely fed up with the regime tried uprising against the mullahs a few months ago and ended up being slaughtered because the IRGC hold all the weapons and the demonstrators aren't armed. This is the main reason there isn't a popular uprising while the regime is being bombed.
I get the military industrial complex is a money making machine but the Iranians were counting on the US and Israel to finally release them from the despicable yoke of Islamic death spiral they've been subjected to for decades. The ceasefire isn't going to lead to anything but more of the same unless the Americans are willing to make hard decisions that aren't popular. This only gives Iran more time to rearm and continue their shenanigans worldwide. Take them down. Now. Not later.
It wasn't a popular decision to nuke Japan either but it led to the end of the war and far fewer deaths than if that hard decision hadn't been made. Don't get me wrong, I still respect Mark's position about this.
On April 8, 2026 at 3:40 pm, Robert Fox wrote:
You asked for good news and here it is! Bank of America released an analysis with the conclusion that the United States and Europe can decouple economically from China over a 5 year period at a total cost of one trillion dollars over that period. The bad news is the analysis was released 5 years ago.
If we had taken up that project 5 years ago, Iran would probably have collapsed on their own, October 7th would never have happened, the Ukraine war may not have commenced and China and BRICS would likely be on shaky ground. In addition, our trade deficit may have converted into a trade surplus along with a rollicking stock market. All for the bargain price of one trillion dollars.
On April 8, 2026 at 3:48 pm, Gareth Roberts wrote:
I'm told Ukrainian refugees head back to Ukraine if they need a doctor; it's better than asking the NHS for help. Whatever Mark does on his travels, avoid Britain.
On April 8, 2026 at 3:53 pm, Toby Pilling wrote:
Could we stop calling our rulers in Britain an 'elite'?
Paratroopers and Marines are elite organisations. Starmer, Lammy and the rest are not an elite ruling class. I prefer your term - a self-selecting Brahmin caste.
On April 8, 2026 at 3:58 pm, Lenny Cooperman wrote:
Hi mark,
I wonder if you could share your thoughts on the future of Alberta, and its independence referendum in particular, and on the future of Canada in general. Stay well.
On April 8, 2026 at 4:02 pm, Eric Dale wrote:
If it's not too late to squeeze this in: what are your thoughts on Israel bombing Lebanon after the ceasefire? Iran considers ot a violation of the agreement. Is it? How long can Israel count on unconditional American support after Trump is gone?
