Hi Global Recap readers,
Romans and Greeks often built monumental architecture that inspired awe and humility, reminding people they were part of something larger than themselves.
Today, Artemis II stirred a similar warm sense of humility and gratitude in me, and I hope it does the same for you.
🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Artemis II, Moon-Bound
Footage taken by a passenger on a plane above Florida.
Click for video
Artemis II finally left Florida with four astronauts aboard.
This is NASA's first crewed Moon mission since 1972.
The point of the mission is to send a crew around the Moon before any future landing attempt.
And, there's also this. 👇🏼
🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Back to the Stone Ages
Of course, it’s April 1 (April Fools’ Day), so many were understandably nervous about the address. Never say never with President Trump.
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Today, President Trump gave his first national address since the Iran war began.
He said the US forces are close to done in Iran, saying that the US will "hit [Iran] extremely hard over the next two to three weeks.”
He also added, "We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong."
He gave few new details on troops, talks, or any exit.
🇺🇸 UNITED STATES
Considering NATO Exit
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte (left) and US President Donald Trump (right) in the Oval Office on October 22, 2025. Rutte is often called the “Trump whisper” because he has proven himself to be capable of “charming” Trump, unlike most NATO leaders.
What must have been nerve-wrecking for traders is the fact that before the address, Trump's interview with the Telegraph was released.
In it, the President said he's strongly considering pulling the US out of NATO, saying that it's "beyond consideration."
He also called the alliance a "paper tiger" after allies distanced themselves out of Iran.
He ripped the UK:"They don't even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work.”
NATO chief Mark Rutte is due in Washington next week, and European leaders are already trying to calm this down.
📌 Context. Under current US law, the president cannot unilaterally withdraw the United States from NATO.
Withdrawal would require either a two-thirds vote in the Senate or an act of Congress.
However, since the Constitution is silent on treaty withdrawal, the executive branch has previously claimed the president has exclusive withdrawal authority. (See Goldwater vs. Carter)
However, even without a formal exit, Trump could still pull troops and step back from command structures.
📊 POLL
NATO: Stay or Leave?
President Trump pushes past Montenegro Prime Minister Duško Marković during a tour of NATO's new headquarters on May 25, 2017. Speaking about the event, Marković said that it “didn’t really register,” calling it a “harmless situation.” He also added that it’s “natural that the president of the United States [to be] in the front row.”
Stay (38%) | 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 |
Leave (29%) | ⬜ ⬜ ⬜ |
Negotiate (33%) | ⬜ ⬜ ⬜ ⬜ |
Huge turnout. Super close vote.
That said, your responses were pretty consistent within each camp. Honestly, if you had to pick based on the comments alone, it’d be tough since each side makes a solid case in isolation.
To answer your questions about my stance today: it’s complicated.
A huge part of me says, “fuck it, just leave.”
But another part of me still thinks NATO gives the US a ton of upside—intel, operational reach, market confidence, etc.—especially as long as Washington keeps its leverage over troop presence and much of NATO’s operations.
For one, the amount of weapons, equipment, and training we sell to NATO countries is not nothing.
And a lot of those countries are heavily reliant on US logistics and maintenance, which has a direct impact on whether they’re actually mission-ready.
One reader said it better than I could:
That said, I also don’t think endlessly nit-picking over “international law” or restricting access to airspace and bases is what a functional working relationship is supposed to look like either.
