Tuesday Night Buzz

2.19.2026

US, Israel and Iran

As Trump Marches US Toward Iran War, Critics Ask: Where’s the ‘Pushback’ From Dems and Media?

Buried under a pile of AIPAC money.

American Corrupitalism

The grift economy is going mainstream

As I pound money into my retirement accounts!?

2.13.2026

Stuck on Mt. Stupid

The Incompetent Confidence Complex

In the US today, everyone thinks they are an expert in everything. We are stuck on Mt. Stupid.

In the beginning as you learn about any particular subject, you start to think you really know something. Until you peak Mt. Stupid, and then start to careen into the valley of despair. Over time, your wisdom actually does grow into an eventually sustainable level of competence to go along with some modicum of confidence.

But here’s the problem. The chart assumes that, what you’re in pursuit of, is competence. That you want to learn. But what happens when you can make quite a bit of money or garner a fair bit of power just by staying at the peak of Mt. Stupid and never coming down?

When the equation becomes focused on optimizing for confidence over competence, the whole system of pursuing progress breaks down.