Russians can gaslight themselves and others as much as they want. In the end, every sane person knows that if the situation was reversed they'd not call any of this winning.

Does anyone other than Trump and his most delusional fans think they're winning in Iran? Sure, they caused Iran significant damage and might keep doing so. But what's the payoff? And at what cost? To name just one example, America is now in a significantly weaker position relative to its main adversary China.

Imagine in 2022 if Germany had invaded Poland with the preposterous goal of removing the Nazi regime there and capturing part of the former German empire. After failing to capture Warsaw and 1.5 million casualties, there are now daily videos of Polish drones hitting German infrastructure while crowds of migrants can be seen running from the explosions.

Nobody would consider "but we're still marching forward capturing small Polish ghost towns" as anything other than a bad case of sunk cost fallacy.

Nobody would think feeling smug about destroying the Polish economy at no benefit to Germany itself could be considered winning or honorable.

The best case scenario Germany could paint would be an eventual Pyrrhic victory where Germany would have to pump hundreds billions into securing ravaged lands full of people who hate them.

With the anniversary of Nietzsche's death approaching, Mark Gullick examines what Nietzsche's final book Ecce Homo says about his life and work.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/behold-the-man-nietzsches-ecce-homo/

📝 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 Hasan Piker said that Charlie Kirk’s legacy would have been better honored if the Trump administration had arrested leftists like himself, but that Candace Owens helped frustrate right-wing animosity toward the left by redirecting blame toward Israel.

📎 AF Post

The most interesting thing about videos of all the burning Russian infrastructure is that you often barely see any Russians. Whether it's burning Wildberries or refineries, it's always brown skinned people.

Guess the real Russians are all busy dying in Ukraine.

Lipton Matthews on the moral and practical case for genetic enhancement.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/the-moral-and-practical-case-for-genetic-enhancement/

Paul Bianco on how Greek life is rebelling against the joyless tyranny of the woke.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/helen-of-troy-has-returned-and-shes-a-smoke-show/

I am surprised at how sad I am to learn that Dolly Parton is dead. I was a fan. She was a paradox: so genuine despite all the trappings of fakery. She wrote some beautiful songs, "Down from Dover" being the best. Her variety show in the late 80s was also great.

Oh man. Genuinely sad about this.

RIP Dolly.

Steven Tucker on how the UK politician who ironically suggested that migrants need rural brothels might have a point.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/uk-politician-suggests-state-backed-rural-brothels-for-migrants/

Morris van de Camp reviews Anne Applebaum's book Iron Curtain on how the Soviets used secret police and lawfare rather than brute military force in subduing Eastern Europe.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/how-the-communists-subdued-central-and-eastern-europe/

Mark Gullick reviews Chris Jenning's book End of Days on how in hindsight Ruby Ridge seems to look like the start of something rather than its finale.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/remembering-ruby-ridge/

Morris van de Camp reviews Eugene Rogan's book The Damascus Events on a clash of civilizations in the Ottoman Empire.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/the-clash-of-civilizations-in-1860/

Trevor Lynch reviews Once Upon a Time in America.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/once-upon-a-time-in-america/

Elon is slowly tipping his hand that he wants X to be a containment zone for idle doom scrolling.

Clarissa Schnabel reviews the Soviet film Sibiriada and its surprising theme of tradition and identity versus progress.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/sibiriada/

Collin Cleary on the William H. Sheldon's theory of somatypes, Part 3, which also includes a personality test you can take at the end.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/somatotypes-and-civilization-part-3/

Spencer Quinn on how the lack of liberal solutions means we need illiberal solutions as soon as possible.

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/illiberal-solutions/

Greg Johnson introduces the idea of a "D-Vote Pass":

In America today, the ultimate taboo is uttering the so-called “N-word.” But you can get around that with an “N-Word Pass,” although only a genuine N can issue it. Basically, the pass takes the form, “Go ahead, bro. I won’t be offended.”

On the American Right, however, the ultimate taboo is voting for the Democrats. We need to destroy that taboo. Thus, as an American Rightist, I am issuing “D-Vote Passes” for the upcoming midterms. Go ahead. I won’t be offended

https://counter-currents.com/2026/08/the-d-vote-pass/

🇺🇸⚡- DHS on X has confirmed that Milo Yiannopoulos is in ICE custody.