Orbán’s fate could be MAGA’s future: “Republicans in the U.S., facing flagging poll numbers and an unhappy electorate, could suffer the same fate in 2026 and 2028 by failing to keep right-wing populism popular.”

Another world is possible: "Spain's government has approved plans to give legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants, allowing them to be integrated formally into the workforce."

The dangers of the far right: Under the AfD's proposals, "Refugees would be deported or moved into group homes. … Public broadcasters would lose funding. Schools would ban gay pride flags. … [The AfD's] leaders have variously belittled the Holocaust, revived Nazi slogans and maligned foreigners."

Under Trump, the distinction between the capitalist class and the managerial class tasked with administering capitalism is beginning to collapse.

“‘I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do,’ the pope told reporters … and invited people of all nations ‘to look for ways of building bridges for peace and reconciliation.’”

"Vance" is a useful new verb in the English language, and one consistent with our Latinate heritage. Compare: ➡️ ADVANCE: To move something forward. ⬅️ VANCE: To cause a situation to decline or devolve. In a sentence: "Donald Trump's second term vanced the American economy."

Jesus was “weak on crime” too. It’s called mercy—something Donald Trump will need a lot of once he’s out of office.

Now begins the work of extricating Hungary’s public assets from the transnational far-right networks that the Orbán regime has built using them.

"'Enough of the idolatry of self and money!' Leo said. 'Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!'"

Special forces operations offer the tantalizing promise of “war without war,” a kind of decaffeinated war—and are therefore favored by body count-averse (on their side) leaders. But the operational autonomy these forces require also breeds lawlessness and impunity. Read this book.

I'm old enough to remember when this was called election interference.

This is a crucial report, shining a spotlight on the funding links between Russia, Hungary and the British mainstream right

“'I’ve never experienced anything like this in my entire life,' the congresswoman said, fighting back tears. "She described the way people were laying down inside as “like sardines.” “'It is frightening in there,' she said. 'It is disgusting'..." azmirror.com/2026/04/10/i...

Trump sent Vance to Hungary this week. Can you imagine the unhinged reactions from Trumpworld if European politicians were to travel to the U.S. in 2028 and campaign on behalf of Democrats? Cries of foreign interference would abound. Yet we’re meant to accept Trump’s meddling in a European election.

Slobodian & Tarnoff "inspect the computational metaphors" used by Elon Musk, where "empathy is an 'exploit', society is 'corrupted code', and tolerance is a bug to be patched. Most disturbingly, ideas, government agencies and people are all figured as variables that can be 'deleted'." #Muskism

Against the spectacle of politics-as-cage-fight, we should reclaim the dignity of political discourse. This does not for a moment entail yielding ground to the other side—on the contrary, it makes the other side appear ridiculous, blustering, far removed from the dignity of everyday life.

Even Mark Rutte's fawning for Trump ("Daddy") couldn't save him from Trump's abuse: "'It went shit,' said the first European official. 'The conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.'"

Right-wing capture: "The funding cut came months after conservative organizations, including Hungary’s MCC Brussels, complained…While pro-EU groups have seen their cash cut, right-wing think tanks in Brussels have gained in prominence and funding, the latter often provided by backers in the U.S."

Profiteers: “Chevron Chief Executive Mike Wirth sold some $104 million worth of shares between January and March. ConocoPhillips’s Ryan Lance netted about $54.3 million in share sales in March alone. Lorenzo Simonelli, CEO of…Baker Hughes , sold about $33 million worth of stock that same month.”

Israel’s army says it carries out the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since its renewed war on the country.

Massacre upon massacre in Beirut in the last hour. AUBMC announced a “code disaster.” Over 100 airstrikes in 10 minutes across the country. One hit right behind my house. Sirens ambulances & the smell of sulphur. The city is in total chaos the people in complete panic

The first rule of madman theory is that the theorist not in fact be a madman.

Bombing a school and killing 100+ children is no hindrance to the NYT's Nicholas Kristof relaying the idea of an "operational success." Even though Kristof nods to their fate, their deaths are not ascribed to any particular cause, much less US bombers, but are dissolved into a generic "oppression."

The last 24 hours have shown what many have said for a long time. Britain's role as an accomplice to Trump's America must end. We must urgently decouple from a rogue US & seek security with allies closer to home. That starts with suspension of the US bombers on British soil.

More here: www.axios.com/2026/04/08/t...

More on the disturbing and dangerous Trump–Orbán–Putin axis of right-wing authoritarianism: "The two men [Orbán and Putin] spent much of the discussion sharing their appreciation for each other, and also for Donald Trump. Both had spoken to the US president the previous day."

so, he should still be removed from office as soon as humanly possible

I’m not a big fan of the “TACO” framing. The problem with Trump is not his weakness of will but his proven capacity to inflict significant damage on both U.S. society and the wider world. (The piece below is from June 2025, but is still relevant.)

The whiplash manipulation of affects and production of anxiety on a global scale are integral to the fascist Trumpian playbook. It is a form of psychic colonialism, an invasion of billions of minds by one increasingly deranged individual.

Regardless of whether it’s all talk, when the leader of our country expresses plainly genocidal intent, everyone has to do something. For citizens of all political stripes, it means rejecting this madness. For Congress, it means taking action to rein him in. Now.

Every European state should deny US armed forces the use of their airspace and territory for the pursuit of potentially genocidal military operations. Tonight.

Yet be well assur’d You put sharp weapons in a madman’s hands.

Pope Leo said threats against the population of Iran are 'unacceptable,' in an unusual appeal hours ‌after President Trump said 'a whole civilization will die tonight' in a social media post that shocked world leaders reut.rs/4ccoYGz

After Trump wrote, in reference to Iran, “A whole civilization will die tonight,” the entirety of the House Democratic leadership issued this joint statement:

Every European state should deny US armed forces the use of their airspace and territory for the pursuit of potentially genocidal military operations. Tonight.

It is not too late for soldiers and generals of conscience to refuse to commit war crimes against civilians on a mass scale.

100% Trump’s fault that “all roads now lead to higher prices and slower growth.”

Bannon was convicted for refusing to comply with a Congressional subpoena: Supreme Court Clears Way for Dismissal of Bannon Conviction www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04...

Dangerous times: “In the coming hours, thousands of lives – and the immediate future of the global economy – will depend on the erratic will of a US president guided only by his own self-aggrandising instincts and the sycophantic echo chamber of his advisers.”

The president doesn't know how to end his catastrophic war, so he's resorting to increasingly deranged threats to "obliterate" a country of 90 million people. My Republican colleagues need to come back to DC and vote for a War Powers Resolution to stop this madness.

100% avoidable, and Trump’s fault: “Europe is facing a supply shock that promises to cripple manufacturing, ground airlines, hike up the price of food, spike borrowing costs and send inflation spiraling back to crisis levels.”

War crimes: “Deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate those [international laws]. So does pillaging a country, which Mr. Trump has suggested he might do by taking Iran’s oil.”

Trump’s chaotic war on Iran has dragged into its sixth week because he is fighting an adversary he doesn’t understand | Nesrine Malik

Pope Leo: “Let those who have weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace. Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue. Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them.”

Somehow he always manages to find a lower and more deranged level.

“The last time there was such a huge opportunity was the Vietnam War, when lots of graduates were coming to #Canada,” Canada’s industry minister, said Mélanie Joly, describing the government’s plans to draw top #U.S. #scientists.” www.nytimes.com/2026/04/04/b...

NEW: Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff’s net worth increased 15%—to $2.3B—in the past year, largely due to World Liberty Financial. That’s the crypto venture his family co-owns with the Trumps and a firm backed by UAE’s national security adviser. @giacomotognini.bsky.social for Forbes

In case you're too confident this is all bluster. Reuters: "Israel is preparing to ​attack Iranian energy ‌facilities but is awaiting a green ​light from ​the United States, a ⁠senior Israeli ​defense official said." www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Stephen Miller urged Department of Homeland Security agents to “force confrontations” with protesters in Minneapolis.

By invoking God’s name in the promotion of violence and unlawful aggression, and in the midst of Christianity’s Holy Week, Trump has shown himself once again to be a serial blasphemer. There is nothing Christian about Trump’s pseudo-theology of war.