Maxime Marquette
MadMax is an independent bilingual news outlet based in Québec, publishing analysis on geopolitics, technology, democracy, and culture.
Our mission: rigorous, source-cited analysis carried out with full editorial independence — no sponsorship, no party line.
Our editorial standards: sources are cited inline, corrections are fixed and logged publicly, and any use of artificial intelligence is disclosed.
“Burn rather than rot. Write rather than stay silent.”
Fire first. Sentences after. No lukewarm takes.
Always answer the strongest version of the opposing point. No strawmen.
No commissioned pieces. No editorial masters. No compromise.
Columns by Maxime Marquette
4,540 columns published
DECODING: A Ukrainian strike in the Caspian Sea pulls Tehran into the war
Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, cited by Iran International on July 25, 2026, that Ukraine "also achieved very good results with long-range strikes in…
REPORT: A drone wave hits Iraqi Kurdistan, Erbil and Khor Mor targeted
An unidentified drone was heading toward the American consulate when the international coalition shot it down over Khalifan , in the night of July…
INVESTIGATION: War premiums quadruple, and insurers now decide who still sails
Insuring a single 270,000-tonne oil tanker now costs roughly 21 million dollars , according to an S&P Global report cited by Al Jazeera on…
ANALYSIS: Oil drops the moment the bombs go quiet, and no one believes it for long
On July 28, 2026 , Brent crude lost $4.61 , or 5.2% , falling to $83.75 at 12:01 p.m. Eastern time, according to figures…
DECODING: Hormuz traffic craters 77% in a week, and the world is counting ships
The figures published by Lloyd's List Intelligence on July 21, 2026 , describe a measurable collapse in maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,…
REPORT: Houthis claim a missile strike on the Saudi tanker NCC Ghazal
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed on July 28, 2026, that his forces "carried out a military operation targeting the Saudi oil tanker NCC…
COMMENTARY: Tehran swears negotiating isn't in its DNA, and says so on camera
Iranian diplomatic spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei declared at a press briefing on July 27, 2026, that negotiating with the United States is "not in our…
ANALYSIS: Oman pitches a Malacca-style fix for Hormuz, Iran won't say yes out loud
Oman presented Tehran with a joint regional management proposal for the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend of July 25-26, 2026, modeled directly on…
DECODING: Trump and Netanyahu meet as Iran's nuclear file resurfaces
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on July 28, 2026 , their eighth meeting since Trump returned to power and…