It’s hard to overstate just how important and asset Orban was to Putin. Eyes and ears + veto power in EU and NATO.

Hungary's Orban concedes landmark defeat to centre-right opposition - www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Orban on track to lose www.politico.eu/article/hung...

I really need to leave some mailing lists

Iranian source says US has agreed to unfreeze Iranian funds, Washington denies it - www.reuters.com/business/fin...

Remind me again how Trump has won in Iran?

“In a region where it previously enjoyed little influence, Ukraine suddenly looks like everyone’s new best friend. Its Middle East partners are not just offering urgently needed cash … They have also handed Ukraine an upgrade of its international status” foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/09/u...

Ah I see Trump’s plan to completely crush the spirit of Iran has worked well

So far in his second term Trump has whacked tariffs on allies and weakened sanctions on Russia, allowing Putin to refill his war chest. And he accused Europe of letting down America… www.semafor.com/article/04/0...

You didn’t consult nato, let alone make any moves to invoke article 5

If you want to understand how mad things are: central to Trump claiming victory is regime change in Iran and that’s given US the upper hand. The structure of the Iranian regime is in place for now and therefore indefinitely. There will be a new US president in 3 years.

"Under this president, the United States has rewarded Russia, ignored China, punished Europe, and abandoned its Asian allies and partners to an economic crisis that it helped set in motion" www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

One for the South Park fans: does everyone remember the Canada on Strike episode, when Stephen Abbotman declares victory while the country lies in ruin?

There are people, specifically Brits, celebrating Trump’s genius/declaring victory over Iran. I don’t believe they are stupid enough to actually think that, which means they are presumably just baiting over the threatened obliteration of a civilisation… social media brain rot

As Trump prepares to falsely declare victory, worth noting that he leaves religious minorities – including Christians and Jews that he claims to care about – at the mercy of the Iranian regime. My story from last month on all this, @foreignpolicy.com foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/24/i...

Really not sure you can call this a Trump victory: Iranian regime still in place Russia filled war chest US diplomatically isolated Instability in region likely to continue Iran proved it can hold world to ransom Iran will continue violent internal crackdowns MAGA split

Really not sure you can call this a Trump victory: Iranian regime still in place Russia filled war chest US diplomatically isolated Instability in region likely to continue Iran proved it can hold world to ransom Iran will continue violent internal crackdowns MAGA split

❗️CNN: Pakistan advanced a two-week ceasefire proposal between the US and Iran, urging a deadline extension and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Sources say “good news” is expected soon, with talks intensifying and a potential deal being finalized. #Iran

Lots of incredible details in this story, including that Netanyahu played Trump a video montage to convince him on the Iran campaign. This bit on the Kurds, though, raises pretty serious concerns, given what Trump said publicly www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/u...

JD Vance, standing next to Orban, criticises the EU for interfering in elections. Irony is dead.

Surely this isn't the same Donald Trump who was marching around demanding to be given peace prizes but a few months ago?

Trump could indeed destroy an entire civilisation on his current trajectory. Just might not be the one he intends …

And the winner of the Understatement of the Century award is ...

Delingpole makes more sense if you accept him as some kind of crackpot Jesus. He spouts inane bullshit so the rest of us can live in relative sanity.

This is going to be critical if it does end up with more US deaths

Christ

Just filed my first invoice of the new tax year. Whoop whoop.

Because we live in the maddest time period: if I were to launch a print-only product that only used old-school typewriters and looked like this, how many people would buy it as a novelty? Would wrap the company up after say six editions.

“Some of Trump’s allies have criticized him for not making a public case for war, as the Bush administration did. But if he had accurately presented the intelligence, the facts would have argued against attacking Iran” www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

Trump has some very odd ideas about Kurds. Infuriating.

He cannot afford to give another prime time address where he says basically nothing. This is all becoming extremely weak

Russia gave Iran intelligence on Israel's energy infrastructure, Zelensky says. It's bizarre that Trump is ok with this. kyivindependent.com/russia-gave-...

As anyone who has been following Russia's invasion of Ukraine will know, it just wouldn't make any sense for Ukraine to do something like this, from a strategic or practical perspective. It would, however, make a lot of sense for the Kremlin to plant that seed www.reuters.com/world/hungar...

Really feels like this is snowballing - www.reuters.com/world/middle...

This is real, the President has just posted this

NEW: China is helping Iran reconstitute the Iranian missile program amid US-Israeli efforts to degrade it. Western media reported that China has sent multiple shipments of missile fuel precursor to Iran since the start of the war. (1/9)

US fighter jet shot down over Iran, search underway for crew, US official says - www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Really happy and very surprised to be nominated for Wincott Award. Well done to fellow nominees/deadly rivals wincott.co.uk/wincott-shor...

This is great

Caption contest

Iran's president has not changed

Reminder that Trump has, since returning to office, committed a grand total of zero new dollars in military aid to Ukraine (the tiny amount at the start of 2025 was agreed under the Biden administration). www.kielinstitut.de/topics/war-a...

“Trump clearly did not fully appreciate the impact of his intervention [in Iran]. In fact, it is becoming apparent that very little preparation was done,” Le Pen said in an interview www.politico.eu/article/fran...

On Iran, Trump has two options: Back down → humiliation Double down → prolonged economic pain + risk to US lives Either way, the damage is done—to Trump, and possibly to Maga itself. Read the full article here >> inews.co.uk/opinion/trum...

Now even loyalists are breaking ranks—Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes. Trump’s base isn’t just uneasy. It’s splitting. At the worst possible time for Republicans heading into midterms.

Maga was built on “America First”: • No foreign wars • No wasted lives • No draining resources But the Iran conflict flips that completely—raising prices, risking troops, and creating instability at home.

For a man obsessed with legacy, Donald Trump may be destroying his greatest achievement: MAGA 🧵 My latest for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/opinion/trum...

One month in, the Islamic Republic is winning merely by surviving. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/30/t...

Britain is sending Sky Sabre to Saudi Arabia www.reuters.com/business/aer...

Read @lukemcgee.bsky.social piece... Trump’s Iran war gamble backfires—splitting MAGA, tanking approval, and threatening the movement he built. Is this the beginning of the end for Trumpism? inews.co.uk/opinion/trum...