Jake Tapper just played edited excerpts from Trump’s PA rally. They made him seem rambling and incoherent. Oh dear! Now wait for the $10 billion lawsuit. Meanwhile all seems to be quiet on the BBC front.

When I was a boy, we lost the first 1954-55 Ashes test heavily. We lads were down in the dumps. The result of the series: Australia 1, England 3. Len Hutton and his team returned home triumphant. That summer I was allowed to bowl to Hutton. What an honour! Like an American kid pitching to Ohtani.

Official spokesman for the Amsterdam police tells the Sunday Times that the allegations made by West Midlands police about Maccabi fans were mostly false. The WMP should be indepedently investigated and held to account for the false claims. The nation’s police forces should stop lying to us.

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again, but already it was impossible to know which was which.” George Orwell, Animal Farm

My take, for what it's worth, on yesterday in DC: By speaking out, the survivor women overcame the resistance of an cringeworthy crew from the executive and legislative branches, who appeared to have power in their hands but crumbled as soon as challenged. These women are heroines.

I remember the day when we learnt that Nixon had taped the Oval Office. It was the tip of the iceberg. Today the Epstein email revelations tell us that the Trump iceberg is melting fast.

The BBC reports that Trump plans to sue them for £1 billion for splicing together two parts of his J6 speech. Discovery could be interesting.

CNN reports on the arrest of the ‘alderperson’ in Chicago. I’m absolutely in favour of equality, but surely a woman can simply be an alderman: one word to express a civic position. Or must we now speak of personhandling in Personhattan?

Matthew Syed’s report on yesterday’s Palestine Action protest in London in today’s Sunday Times is a wake-up call. This is no longer about free speech. It is no longer about Gaza. It is about Jew hatred manifesting itself on London’s streets. Our government has to protect all its citizens.

Just had a lovely email from the widow of an old friend, hoping my wife and I were safe. It’s so encouraging to know there are caring people looking out for their Jewish friends.

Oh dear - Andrea1965 has blocked me for being a fascist! And I’ve spent my long life hating fascism in all its forms. So what did I say? That if you don’t give freedom of speech to those you hate, they may not let you keep your own. Apparently unacceptable.

Interesting fact (reported in The Times today): American students moving to UK for university studies up 14% to record high. You’re all welcome.

From Diaper Diplomacy.

At the Ryder Cup: Each scream of unsporting abuse from the Bethpage gallery seems to provoke a stunning shot from the Europeans players. Keep it up, US 'sports fans'!

The new justice system: 1 Declare guilty 2 Indict 3 Investigate 4 Go to trial 5 Verdict not guilty

Breaking: 2025 Nobel Prize citations Chemistry: research into acetamenopautism Physics: development of drilling for climate control Medicine: use of bleach in Covid therapy Economics: development of tariffs in price control Literature: The Art of the Feel Peace: ending the Cambodia-Armenia war

Before our unwelcome visitor arrives in the UK, may I respectfully point out that you in the US are your own worst enemies. You could have stuck with Farmer George, a decent family man, and been our 51st county. Roast beef, cricket and gun control could all have been yours. Instead you have Trump.

Tomorrow our King and Prime Minister welcome the US President for a state visit. Thousands will protest, understandably. Me? I will turn my back, pants figuratively down. He is undeserving of our attention. I hope the visit goes off like a very damp squib.

I should not be so inured to yet another senseless political killing in the US, but I'm afraid it passes over me like a damp squib. I know there will be more, and still more, because the hatred and violence has become endemic... and the guns! So I shrug my shoulders and thank God I live over here.

Next week's state visit, masterminded by one pal of Epstein for the gratification of another, should not become the object of vain protests. Publicity will only provide oxygen to this unwelcome visitor. Stay at home, go to the office, but at all costs ignore him.

JD Vance kindly take note: Loss of the UK’s right to free speech has its compensations. My wife can no longer tell me to do the washing up. My children can no longer tell me I’m old-fashioned. My grandchildren have to answer me with respect. I can scarcely imagine how tough it is in the US.

When I used to visit the USA regularly, mostly 1974 to 2000s, there was little endemic hatred. Since 2016, this has grown to the point that people who claim to love their flag hate each other. MAGA and social media both have a lot to answer for. Meanwhile we’re staying away, well out of it.

Congratulations Red Roses on a brilliant 69-7 victory over USA in the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Will the Donbas become the new Sudetenland? Remember: The Munich agreement of September 30, 1938 was followed on March 15, 1939 by the invasion of the remainder of Czechoslovakia by German troops. And on September 1, 1939 Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Will we never learn from history?

Zelenskyy had better bring his kneepads to thank Trump for his brilliant work in bringing peace so close last Friday. Or else…!

So heartening to see the enormous level of support for the Israeli strike and the demonstrations against their government. So much for the idea that Israelis are all genocidal baby-killers. Time for Netanyahu and his vicious henchmen to take note.

When you’re a guest in another country, you have to be a Charles de Gaulle to get away with insulting your hosts. “JD Vance, you are no Charles de Gaulle.” (Acknowlegement to Lloyd Bentsen)

The Times this morning reports that the Trump administration has accused the British government of “repeatedly” imposing “serious restrictions” on free speech. Can’t stop laughing over my pain au chocolat and coffee.

So… which city in Alaska is to play Munich?

Laugh of the day: Listening to the president of another country lecture our prime minister about our politics, our politicians, our taxes, our migration, our farmers, and best of all, our ‘windmills’. Not since Don Quixote has anyone tilted at windmills with so little result, and so much hot air.

Epstein’s ‘client files’: I doubt their existence. Professional firms have client files. Crooks have contact records, at best. “Get Trump on the line,” Epstein would order, and Trump would be found. So when Bondi says there are no client files, technically she is probably right.

Q. How many of the Russian banks on which sanctions have been lifted have provided funds to you-know-who? A. FOLLOW THE MONEY

The Assisted Dying Bill has been passed by the House of Commons. Terminally ill people can now breathe more easily. Hopefully the Lords will show the same humanity.

So why did Trump visit Saudi, Qatar and the Emirates while matters are getting trickier with Putin? It couldn’t be he owes a lot of money to the Russians and his new pals are the only guys wealthy enough to take up the slack if push comes to shove. What has Kushner been setting up? FOLLOW THE MONEY

Last-Minute Leeds United wins the English Champioship title with a goal in the 91st minute! As a loyal supporter for at least 70 years, I am a truly happy bunny.

Seems the well-meaning but naive Prince Harry can’t understand why his father won’t talk to him. If you were the King and knew that whatever you said to your son would immediately be repeated to the press, and not in a good way, what would you do? Work it out, Harry.

Another FT must-read by Gillian Tett points to the need of business to raise cash to fund tariffs squeezing liquidity and capital spending. Another unintended consequence for a self-described ‘successful businessman’. Short term pain for long term gain? More like, in the long run we’re all dead.

Today’s FT contains an article pointing towards an unintended (perhaps) consequence of the Trump tariff policy: a growth in organised crime smuggling. Oh, Donald, you really have made a mess this time. As you yourself say, Sad!

Today's thought: The vanity and presumption of governing beyond the grave is the most ridiculous and insolent of all tyrannies. Tom Paine, The Rights of Man

Today's thought: Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither is safe. Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France

“Liberty, like happiness, is most perfect when least remarked. As most misery is caused by the pursuit of an abstract happiness, distinct from the occupations that make men happy, so most tyranny springs from the struggle for an abstract liberty, distinct from the laws… that make men free.”

Ninety years ago Sinclair Lewis gave Americans a warning about their democracy in his novel It Can’t Happen Here. Thirty years ago Philip Roth repeated this warning in American Tragedy. But most Americans don’t read literature. Instead they pursue a different Dream. So it is happpening.

Probably the most exciting and heart-wrenching Masters of all time yesterday at the Augusta National. Yet on the BBC website there’s no comment about the runner-up, Justin Rose. So I will say it: what a competitor, athlete, what a sportsman, what a gentleman!

Reading Churchill’s Life of Marlborough: As I read how Harley & St John treated the great Duke, I can’t take my mind off Trump & Vance and Zelensky. Bullying, lying, cheating - as my first chairman once told me, there’s nothing new under the sun. But it was Marlborough who wound up the hero.

Just received a message: @realdonaldtrump blocked you. Strange, as I haven’t seen or replied to any of his posts, nor intend to. Maybe there’s a @fakedonaldtrump lurking around.

The Signal fiasco: in any serious democratic country this would have resulted in the firing or resignation of the main perpetrators. MAGAland is not serious. It is dangerous.

Sad to hear of the passing of Clint Hill at age 93. Hill was the agent who jumped on to the back of JFK’s car to shield Jacqui from the assassin and was assigned to her protection detail for many years thereafter.

The real Don Quixote had dreams in his heart, Trump's just a fool, tearing science apart. He boasts of his oil, says we're number one, But facts and figures? He's undone. suno.com/song/cc1e45b...