The fate of the venue underlined deep worries about pandemic-era gentrification of the high desert, as big-money real estate and entertainment firms jockeyed for control of desirable properties and development opportunities.

By any measure, the immediate future of Syria will be an unstable and potentially violent melange of competing groups, intense jockeying for power and settling of scores.

One insider compared the atmosphere around the president-elect to "Game of Thrones," with various factions jockeying for power via their recommendations.

Information was treated like a “currency” and people would jockey to share it to “curry favour” with the boss, he says.

As these storylines collide and various factions jockey for advantage in the wreckage, there will be murders and attempted murders and more murders.