Re-Inflation, Voter ID & Homesteaded Properties – Top 3 Takeaways – March 19th, 2026
Takeaway #1: Not a great day
I believe that every day is a gift from God and an opportunity for something good and it is my hope that yesterday turned out to be a great day for you. With that said the news that ultimately impacts you wasn’t good yesterday. It started with the news that only one U.S. ally – France would commit to helping secure the Strait of Hormuz to aid the flow of energy from the Gulf...and even then, France would assist after the war ceases to persist. So yeah, it doesn’t appear that help is on the way in the Strait. Then came a report of how many tankers had made it through the Strait since the onset of the war. Then answer is a total of 21 tankers bound for China and India – when there are an average of 100 that pass through per day. That news, along with Iran and its proxies targeting the destruction of middle eastern energy facilities sent oil higher again – close to $100 per barrel (and refined gas futures too) effectively ensuring that $4 gas will soon be the norm. Then came the wholesale inflation report which showed wholesale inflation having already accelerated, rising 3.4% year-over-year in February preceding the Iran war. That news set the stage for the Federal Reserve, which most certainly wasn’t about to cut interest rates in the face of rising inflation risk – beyond just what you’re having to pay at the pump today. As for progress that has been made in the Iranian war here where we stand as of today... Operation Epic Fury had produced: 14,600 targets struck in Iran, including 700 that have hit Iran’s ballistic missile force, 500 that have hit their command-and-control centers, 300 launchers taken out, 250 military drones, 150 air defense systems, 120 radar systems, 100 air defense batteries, 100 naval vessels, 52 senior leaders, 30 fuel facilities, 16 fighter jets, 6 military airports, 3 nuclear facilities, 3 oil facilities and perhaps a partridge in a pear tree (but hopefully not). But as for Iran – they’ve attempted 3,839 strikes with only 62, or 1.7% of targets hit. That’s a rate that’s been on the decline. With no sign of life from the supreme leader, and three additional senior leaders eliminated over as many days, progress is being made – but on balance with affordability the top concern of most Americans – yesterday wasn’t a good day...and that appears to be the story until there’s oil that’s once again on the move in the Strait of Hormuz.
Takeaway #2: Can we all agree on voter ID?
In practical terms, the answer is clearly yes. As we’ve talked about at length, mandatory voter ID just might be the most politically unifying thing that could be passed by Congress. Even as Chuck Schumer has attempted to claim that voter ID is Jim Crow 2.0 (because apparently, he’s a racist who believes that Black people aren’t as capable as Asians or Caucasians), polls have continued to show that approximately 80% of Black people think we should have voter ID. In fact, ironically, white liberals are the political consistency who’re least likely to think that we should have mandatory voter ID – and still a majority of them agree. But nevertheless, the SAVE Act, which already passed in the House and would implement voter ID nationally, in addition to proof of citizenship and limits on the use of vote-by-mail ballots – is currently being debated futilely on the Senate floor. This effort is futile because not a single Democrat will support the bill, and one RINO, Lisa Murkowski, doesn’t either. That means the senate is eight votes short of breaking the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act, and we’re told the senate is also several votes shy of being able to change the senate filibuster rule. In other words, frustrating as it may be, the SAVE Act as currently written is clearly going nowhere. But enter into the conversation what Democrat John Fetterman has proposed that we do. The Pennsylvania Democrat has proposed what he calls “a clean voter ID bill”. His proposal wouldn’t mandate additional documentation for proof of citizenship, and it wouldn’t enact any changes with vote-by-mail ballots. If Republicans were to embrace the Fetterman’s legislation it would be almost impossible for all but the most radically left Democrats to hide. Right now, most of the arguments against the SAVE Act talk about the potential for disenfranchised voters who have trouble with citizenship docs, or disenfranchised service personal or disabled voters over potential changes to vote by mail ballots. Those arguments are B.S. but it’s a place for Democrats to hide on this issue. Fetterman’s legislation would present no place for anyone to hide who doesn’t believe that voter fraud should be a thing. If we can at least all agree on voter ID (and polling says more of us do than on any other thing), the Senate should pivot to “clean voter ID”.
Takeaway #3: A Super El Nino?
Time flies and as spring arrives, we’re not far from the start of hurricane season predictions. After forecasters significantly overstated what they thought we’d see during last year’s hurricane season, one that produced below average activity, and most importantly – no U.S. impacts – it'll be interesting to see what their predications say...especially with the news that a “Super El Nino” could be on the way. NOAA’s most recent Climate Prediction update shows a 62% chance of an El Nino weather pattern developing during hurricane season, including a 33% chance of what’s known as “Super El Nino”, or an especially strong effect, before the end of the season. The El Nino effect happens when sea temps rise in the Pacific, which eventually influences wind shear over the Atlantic, creating what’s generally a less favorable environment for hurricane activity. While it remains to be seen what will be with hurricane activity – it's a good bit of news that it appears that we’ll be heading into the season less with favorable conditions that usual developing – with the trend that figures to be our friend as hurricane season progresses.