But first, looks like the Federal government will be shut down just after midnight tonight.   How terrible is that? To begin, there have been 14 of these since 1980, including three during Trump's first term.   In 2018, for 34 days, from December 22 to January 25. This broke the 21-day record on one under President Bill Clinton. How will the stock market react?  Many times, goes up.   In anticipation  of what could happen tomorrow: The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) rose 0.2%. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) rose 0.4%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) gained 0.3%, coming off modest   closing gains   on Wall Street.  Both the Nasdaq and S&P 500 notched their best third quarter since 2020. Want more details on what to expect?   Read this. About that other matter of importance,  Time  magazine had some details:   Trump and Netanyahu Announce Major Gaza Deal, Threaten Dire Outcome if ...

You must know by now that  Iran finally responded on their revenge  for the assassination of Hamas leader  Ismail Haniyeh in Teheran on 31July2024, compounded by those pager/walkie talkie explosions and bombing death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. Sent 180 or ballistic missiles to Israel from Iran.  Almost 90% got intercepted, but that means at least 20 succeeded.  However, no fatalities. Remember that earlier revenge strike by Iran in April for Israel bombing their militia in Syria?  More than 300 missiles, of which 99% were intercepted? I think the drop in interceptions this time was that there were only two destroyers helping the  Iron Dome , which was funded by President Barack Obama.  In April, at least one aircraft carrier helped in the defense. The question is what's next? Was that all from Iran?  Early reports indicate that was it . Will Israel retaliate?  In April, they didn't because there were no civilian deat...