American Downfall – Past empires. Present America. Same warning signs.

Split-screen image: US Capitol under storm clouds and the Battle of Tondibi, 1591

The Empire That Ate Itself: How an Ancient African Power’s Political Gridlock Foretold America’s Own Paralysis

A special report from Shamus Gerry III The Rot Within In the halls of power, a creeping paralysis has taken hold. The gears of the American government, once a symbol of decisive action, now grind to a halt, choked by the rust of partisan fury. Bills that would once have been debated...

The Gilded Cage: How the Collapse of a 1,000-Year-Old ‘Hydraulic City’ Exposes the Terrifying Fragility of Our Own Government

A special report from Shamus Gerry III The Machine Seizes Up Washington D.C. is a ghost town. The Department of Homeland Security, the sprawling agency created to prevent another 9/11, has been shuttered. Not by a foreign adversary or a catastrophic attack, but by the petty squabbles of a political class that...

The Great Law of Peace: How Five Warring Nations Built the World’s Oldest Democracy While Washington Can’t Keep the Lights On

A special report from Shamus Gerry III The Hook: A Government at War With Itself Washington is paralyzed. As of midnight, the Department of Homeland Security — the very agency tasked with protecting the nation — is grinding to a halt. The reason? A bitter, intractable feud between political factions that has...

Split-screen: Inca Civil War battle scene vs modern US Capitol shutdown - Then and Now

The War of Two Brothers: How an Ancient Inca Civil War Exposes the Terrifying Endgame of the DHS Shutdown

A special report from Shamus Gerry III The Hook: A Nation Shutting Down on Itself Washington is broken. As of midnight on February 14, 2026, large swaths of the Department of Homeland Security will grind to a halt. Senate Democrats, citing a crisis of conscience over immigration enforcement tactics and the lack...

The Satrap Who Refused: How an Ancient Persian Power Grab Echoes in Today’s Federal Reserve Crisis

The Satrap Who Refused: How an Ancient Persian Power Grab Echoes in Today’s Federal Reserve Crisis In the marbled halls of power, where ambition and authority collide, history doesn’t just rhyme; it screams warnings. And this week, as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs a case that could shatter the bedrock of...

The Republic of Ruin: How America’s New Trade Wars Echo the Fatal Rivalry of Venice and Genoa

The Republic of Ruin: How America's New Trade Wars Echo the Fatal Rivalry of Venice and Genoa By Shamus Gerry III The Hook (Modern Problem) The year 2026 has begun with a new wave of economic nationalism, driven by the implementation of President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" and its associated tariffs. The stated...

When The King Abandons His People: A 2,300-Year-Old Warning

When The King Abandons His People: A 2,300-Year-Old Warning By Shamus Gerry III Lisa Frankenfeld, a 62-year-old office manager in New Jersey, can’t sleep at night. She and her husband run a small chiropractic practice, and for years, they’ve relied on the Affordable Care Act to make their health insurance manageable. But now,...

The Gold That Broke Cairo: A 700-Year-Old Warning About Government Promises

The Gold That Broke Cairo: A 700-Year-Old Warning About Government Promises Lisa Frankenfeld, a 62-year-old office manager for her husband’s chiropractic practice in New Jersey, lies awake at night. She’s not worried about a sudden illness or accident; she’s worried about what comes after. Starting in January, she and her husband,...

2025 12 26 Onin War Shutdown Parallel

The Succession Trap: How a 10-Year War Over Nothing Destroyed Medieval Japan The Succession Trap: How a 10-Year War Over Nothing Destroyed Medieval Japan The longest government shutdown in American history wasn't about healthcare. It was...

The Emperor’s New Bonus: A 2,000-Year-Old Warning About Trump’s “Warrior Dividend”

The Emperor’s New Bonus: A 2,000-Year-Old Warning About Trump’s “Warrior Dividend” In the grand theater of American politics, where spectacle often eclipses substance, a new act unfolded this week that felt both shockingly brazen and eerily familiar. On December 18th, President Donald Trump, with all the fanfare of a benevolent king,...