Back in 2013 a moderate candidate won Iran’s presidential election. That leader proceeded to work a deal that significantly limited Iran’s nuclear development. The United Nations supported that agreement and six major countries signed on, including the United States. The settlement was effective. Inspectors made several site visits and reported the Iranians honored terms of the agreement.

If negotiations in later years produced more improvements, perhaps we would not be dealing today with an aggressive Iran and a war new war in the Middle East,

How was that remarkable breakthrough achieved, and what caused its demise?

President Trump often loses focus and goes off on a tangent. A notable example occurred on March 2, 2026. Trump briefly and vaguely mentioned his decision to order attacks on Iran and then commented in detail about construction of a new ballroom and his selection of drapes for the White House. Numerous mental health professionals have expressed concern about the President’s bizarre speech patterns.

Questions arose about the mental or physical fitness of other U.S. presidents, including Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Joe Biden.

Is there anything American society can do to promote healthier national leaders?

The United States’ economy has grown enormously in recent decades, yet many Americans are not cheerful and confident. Polls in early 2026 reported consumer confidence in the United States was at the lowest point in a dozen years. Furthermore, the 2025 World Happiness Report showed the American people’s contentment dropped to 24th in the world. That was the lowest level ever recorded for the USA in that international happiness survey.

Consistently near the top in the global happiness rankings is Norway, a country somewhat like the United States. Norway, too, is a wealthy nation, and it, too, benefited from a huge expansion of energy production.

Why do many Norwegians report satisfaction about their economic and social condition, while many Americans indicate much less satisfaction?