Those of us, I mean, I remember the first Gulf War and I remember how quickly markets typically shrug off, at least the stock market shrugs off what seemed like major geopolitical events to the point where we think that that's just a given. Is it going to happen again that way, do you think?
So, you know, you think about sort of take a step back into the context that we're operating in the deal market certainly at Moelis. You know, we came into the year with a lot of tailwind. I mean, constructive financing markets, strong equity markets, really looking and still look to an active deal market. And thus far, and I know we're still early days into this situation in Iran, but I do think people have become somewhat conditioned to the geopolitical noise out there and are trying to look past it to see where things can go both on the strategic end and the sponsor end. There's no question. So I agree with you that there has, I think, been a more forward-looking thought process and that's why you don't see this complete shattering of anything.
I don't think the street has ever been closed though in the past. Could it start with a disruption in oil and spread to stocks and bonds?
I'd say, and from America's standpoint, we have never been situated as good as we are now in terms of energy security, but it's a global market. So to your point, I think if we go another week and there isn't some indication of an end or an exit and how this will end, I think maybe you're going to see some shocks. But right now, well, things are going pretty good. I mean, set aside the noise and all the partisan attacks. Look at what our military has done. It's phenomenal.
I was going to talk about it. So, if we hadn't done Iraq and didn't have that experience fresh in our minds, do you think it would still be like this? In other words, you look at what Iran has done over the past 47 years. This should not be a major shock that we finally are saying. Now, I know Republicans got a Republican, Democrats got a Democrat. So, I understand what they're doing. But do they want this to work? Can they look you straight in the face and say, 'I'm hoping for success here.' Or do they hate Trump so much that they hope this fails?
They stipulate that suggestion. Yes, they hate, they are so deranged about Trump. They just can't get off.
They trade that feeling for hoping that we fail.
Joe, I think things went awry and divided under Obama. If you remember Wendy Sherman, consequences, Eric, right? But it all started then with Iran as well. He and his team went behind the backs of the Sunni Gulf allies of ours in the Arab world, went behind the backs of Israel and started discussions with Iran on that JCPOA. That's right. That's where things became partisan around Iran. And you're right, you end up now, it has just grown since then. And that was, you know, 12, 13 years ago. And that's where we are now. They have their side. They think diplomacy should work and we shouldn't have done this. And it's just unbelievable, unfathomable to me that they're not stepping up. Now, there's going to be a test in the House today. And I do think that there will be some Democrats that will step up and vote with Republicans against the War Powers Resolution.
We'll see. I mean, I'm not close enough to know.
It's almost, sometimes I think it's almost a mass hysteria. I do. I think that and they see each other talk and they go, 'Oh, he really just said that. I can say that too without...'
I think for whatever reason, he listens and he just said, 'I cannot... this is insanity. I cannot abide by this.' He says this is just insanity. We are for America. We want our troops to prevail and to be safe and we want America to continue to be that force in the world. And that's what he'll say.
I know Andrew wants to ask about Anthropic. Andrew, is Anthropic full of former Biden administration tech people and censorship? No. Is that... I just positing that Eric seems to...
Look, Andrew, you know, there is no way that this isn't just all about politics. This is about politics. I'm not sure where you've come out on this. I know you've taken a real look inside as to what's going on. But it just seems to me that the introduction of these values all of a sudden telling the Department of War how to conduct...
And Modi called him a what did he say? Dictator. What? What was that? Bend the knee. Bend the knee to the dictator. What he said was that others had bent the knee at this what they call, what he called dictator style, whatever.
