The Powell House Press

The Powell House Press

Grumpy Old Men

Except in this story they have bombs.

Joshua Powell's avatar
Joshua Powell
Jun 18, 2025
∙ Paid
Share

Two aging autocrats, caught with their pants down in courts of law, have stumbled upon the oldest trick in the demagogue's playbook: when your poll numbers tank and the prosecutors circle, start a war. Benjamin Netanyahu has elevated this cynical calculus to an art form, and Donald Trump—never one to miss a masterclass in mayhem—has been frantically scribbling notes.

Bibi's genius lies in his ability to transform every personal legal crisis into a national security emergency. It's performance art of the most macabre variety. The man who allegedly pocketed cigars and champagne like party favors now wraps himself in the Israeli flag every time a court date looms. When prosecutors come calling, suddenly Hamas needs bombing. When corruption charges surface, Iran becomes an existential threat. It's political theater with body counts, and Netanyahu is both director and star of this blood-soaked spectacular.

Consider the convenient timing: March 18, 2025, Netanyahu was due in court to answer f…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Powell House Press to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Joshua Powell
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture