“Yet despite Mr. Trump’s constant search for a good deal, the daunting price tags do not seem to matter much to him. Venezuela, Greenland, Gaza, maybe Canada: These are legacies that will, over time, pay for themselves, he believes.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/u...

Americans give President Donald Trump his worst approval ratings ever for his handling of the economy, as they also express concerns about the cost of living, healthcare prices, and personal finances, according to the latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll. https://to.pbs.org/49g3nwx

Solace

Winter walk in the Scottish Highlands

Best of the season and may 2026 bring some measure of peace to this troubled world

On the road in Iceland: Leaving Geysir and heading toward Reykholt

www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte... US policy over the years has not essentially changed, (Daniel Levy) argued. “It is policy primarily driven by people with a very shallow understanding of the region essentially taking their cues from Israel and a smattering of rulers in the region.”

The list of CEOs who donned black tie to attend President Trump’s White House dinner for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday night is in no way surprisi...

2/2: ✅ You can ask them to leave. If an officer enters a private space and does not have a court order or warrant signed by a judge, you can ask them to step outside. Head to the Attorney General’s Office website for “Know Your Rights” fliers in 19 languages: www.atg.wa.gov/immigrationg...

1/2: Know your rights when approached by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): ✅ You have the right to be silent. ✅ You can ask the officer if you are free to leave. If the officer answers “no,” you can say you’d like to talk with an attorney.

A powerful testimony for the survivors “Endless Gossipy Chatter About Epstein. One Glaring Omission….These women are not famous or well connected, but they matter. Their pain matters. Their names matter. We should not co-opt their suffering for our own agenda.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/o...

US to sell F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, Trump says ahead of crown prince's visit @arabdigest

An excellent and chilling exploration of the brave new white supremecist world Musk is espousing. Nazi ideology reborn: www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

And let's name names. #ElonMusk #MarcoRubio #RussellVought and #DonaldTrump (with help from #JohnRoberts). This is premeditated murder--of children. You can spin it anyway you like but you cannot escape this fact.

The administration’s decision to cancel thousands of flights shows that the GOP only knows how to create chaos and suffering.

A big thanks to you Nick for an excellent piece that sets the record straight. Very happy to put it outside the paywall

Historians sometimes say that when societies are descending into fascism, it can be hard for the people to notice it in real time. Well, historians of the future, I’m here to tell you: We are noticing. Millions of us are noticing. And we are horrified and enraged.

Thank you. We very much appreciate your comments

Thank you for listening 🙏

And Rita followed hard on the heels. I was there for BBC. The scenes of destruction, the sheer scale - in terms of the magnitude I saw nothing like it in Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan in my stint with the Beeb. Today it is Gaza and the genocide Israel is carrying out.

Hurricane Katrina was a $200 billion disaster, and no storm since has come even close.

Palm House Kew

Palm House Kew

Kew Gardens the Temperate House at dusk

Whether it’s freaking out about the new Cracker Barrel logo or some other bogeyman, remember this: The GOP’s nonsensical culture wars are meant to distract you from corporate corruption, worker oppression, and staggering wealth inequality.

Morning on the mighty St Lawrence

The Federal Reserve’s August summit in Wyoming is always a high-stakes moment. This year, chair Jay Powell faces fierce attacks from Donald Trump and a growing insurgency within his own institution. on.ft.com/4oGTttt

WH press secretary tells reporters they are considering suspending the release of monthly jobs reports "until they can get the data and methodology in order." Translation: We aren't going to be releasing numbers until we find someone who can cook the books.

@gavinnewsom.bsky.social: "This guy is trying to get a Nobel Peace Prize? When he's bringing war to the American people? He sent the United States Marines into the United States of America."

“After years watching Hungary suffocate under the weight of its democratic collapse, I came to understand that the real danger of a strongman isn’t his tactics; it’s how others, especially those with power, justify their acquiescence.” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...

A must read: “I’m a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It.” www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/o...

Medicaid pays for 60% of births in Mike Johnson’s home state of Louisiana — yet he voted to cut Medicaid. If you’re not voted into office to defend the health and wellbeing of your constituents, what the hell are you there for?

#ICE #MLS #Soccer

Hidden Beach at Arisaig on Good Friday

Straw in the wind when Big Mac starts to tank. Trump ignoring reality a little tougher for him to swallow when his fast food favourite takes a hit

American freedom was born in Boston. Defending it is tradition.

Hidden Beach at Arisaig on Good Friday

Harry Vance-Law 1990-2025 the best of friends, a wonderful brother and son, a bon vivant with a great sense of humour and a beautiful smile gone far too young playing Bach at Bondi Xmas Day 2022

Harry Vance-Law 1990-2025 the best of friends, a wonderful brother and son, a bon vivant with a great sense of humour and a beautiful smile gone far too young playing Bach at Bondi Xmas Day 2022

LIVE UPDATES: Hezbollah denies it's behind rocket launches into Israel, reaffirms commitment to cease-fire after IDF strikes dozens of Hezbollah targets

🆕The latest episode of the podcast dives into the complex relationship between conflict, climate change and the environment in Yemen and what recent cuts in foreign aid mean for projects and programming w/ @omeisy.bsky.social (@eurpeace.bsky.social) & @sineadbarry.bsky.social 🎙️ adelph.it/podcast47

For more on Syria give a listen to Malik Al Abdeh Syriaintransition.com arabdigest.com podcast podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...

Utterly shocking and utterly predictable. Trump day in day out gives succour to the enemies of democracy. What a gift to authoritarian regimes everywhere. And the way it was done was a classic Fascist /Nazi tactic

“The Trump administration is …a white supremacist regime & hopes to usher in a new segregationist era. In order to do so it must, by its own bigoted logic, deny & erase accomplishments of anyone who isn't white, who isn't male, who isn't Christian, who isn't straight & who isn't gender-conforming.”

Cup of Coffee Extra: The Department of Defense erases Jackie Robinson. Free article. No paywall. www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...

Up now and well worth 30 minutes of your time. Excellent analysis from @linakhatibuk.bsky.social on arabdigest.org podcast podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...