COMMENT
— John le Carré’s The Tailor of Panama eerily foreshadows today’s geopolitical landscape, echoing Trumpian rhetoric. If ex-spy le Carré saw the future, could ex-KGB Putin possess a similar prescience?
Donald Trump
An American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and was re-elected on 5 November 2024 to serve as the 47th president of the United States from 2025 to 2029.
War in Ukraine
— As Ukraine’s war nears its third anniversary, Western support is crumbling. Donald Trump’s abrupt policy shift leaves Europe scrambling, while Russia gains the upper hand. With diplomacy stalled, bloodier battles loom.
European Security
— European leaders face a seismic shift as US support wanes. Trump’s unilateralism, Ukraine war talks excluding Europe, and efforts to divide the EU demand urgent European unity to safeguard security and sovereignty.
COMMENT
— Washington’s political chaos mirrors a high-stakes video game, with Donald Trump and Elon Musk as key players, Rashmee Roshan Lall writes. Reality blurs as theatrics, power moves, and dramatic proclamations dominate the scene.
OPINION
— Elon Musk’s bizarre Oval Office appearance last week saw him boast about cutting $1 trillion in government spending, axing agencies, and rehiring a racist employee — without evidence or oversight, all while Trump cheered him on.
OPINION
— Trump’s Gaza plan, a blatant violation of international law, proposes mass Palestinian displacement for profit. While global leaders react, Keir Starmer’s muted response highlights a troubling lack of moral courage, Wee Ginger Dug writes.
OPINION
— Trump’s second term is a whirlwind of theatrics — executive orders, tariffs, and controversial policies driven by spectacle rather than strategy. From Musk’s unchecked influence to dubious foreign deals, governance feels like performance art, B. Jay Cooper writes.
US Tariffs
— Donald Trump’s tariff policies spark uncertainty, with fluctuating trade taxes targeting Canada, Mexico, China, and the EU. The UK may escape, but global supply chains and economic stability remain at risk.
Trump 2.0
— Donald Trump’s administration faces renewed allegations of fascist signaling, fueled by Elon Musk’s controversial salute. Past far-right associations, pardons, and coded messages spark debate over Trump’s ties to extremism.
Dictatorship
— Donald Trump may face “lame duck syndrome” by 2026, echoing Vladimir Putin’s past constitutional manoeuvres. If Trump allies push to amend term limits, it could signal his bid for extended power.
Latin America
— Donald Trump’s deportation dispute with Latin American countries risks alienating the region, driving nations towards regional alliances, BRICS, and China — eventually undermining US influence.
Donald Trump
— Donald Trump’s use of Village People’s disco anthems at rallies highlights a paradox — gay liberation-era music fueling a conservative movement. Despite queer origins, nostalgia and spectacle override political subtext for MAGA audiences.
UK-US Relationship
— Keir Starmer and Donald Trump’s overlapping terms create diplomatic uncertainty. Historical tensions suggest a strained relationship, exacerbated by past criticisms. Starmer faces transactional Trump diplomacy, challenging UK-US ties amid major global policy disagreements.
COMMENT
— Donald Trump embraces a ‘world king’ persona, influencing global politics with imperial ambitions. His return energises Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, despite legal troubles, but can Trump’s influence truly reshape Brazil’s political future?
Middle East
— Donald Trump’s remarks on relocating Gaza’s Palestinians to neighbouring countries, seen as a potential “second Nakba,” face widespread regional condemnation, threatening ceasefire negotiations and complicating Middle East diplomacy.
OPINION
— Donald Trump’s rapid executive actions, disregard for constitutional guardrails, and erosion of democracy demand vigilance. Resist disinformation, stay informed, and engage politically, B. Jay Cooper writes. Democracy survives only if we act decisively.
