Yes!!! This!!! Watching it in real time - played out by a lunatic on Social Media - makes it both terrifying and surreal. And you don't need to worry, Ian. I will take this to my grave. It will never fade from my memory.
But let's not forget Netanyahu. An equally deranged psychopath, but not suffering from cognitive decline. If anything, he is much worse.
Re: "No sending out the king for a ceremonial visit. No jetting over to Washington to try to save a defensive alliance. No holding your tongue for fear of precipitating a crisis. Every single political action must be based on providing obstacles to his behaviour, limiting his room to maneuver and thwarting his ambitions."
I agree, but... Starmer? Does he have the courage to stand up to the bully? He could start with an "appetizer"... stop supporting the genocidal regime in Israel. Stop ALL shipments of arms. Introduce economic sanctions.
And... can someone please explain Cuba to me. What's it about? Why the fuck is the US remotely interested in what happens there? They pose no threat. Go about their day without causing any sort of harm to anyone. I don't get it!
I am NOT an expert, but it seems to be part hangover from the US's Red Scare days - we can't have a bunch of Commies that close - combined with vehement lobbying and money-raising from Cuban exiles in Florida. If one doesn't placate them, one loses one of the biggest states, so all US politicians dance to their tune. At the moment, Marco Rubio has Trump's ear (ugh) so he's pushing that agenda too.
I have gleaned most of this from West Wing, All the President's Men & other movies, with a bit of Pod Save America thrown in, so make of it what you will.
Putin is not a commie, He’s a fascist. He was a commie before, but they’re pretty much Interchangeable in some ways because above all he’s a populist promising a simple solutions to complex issues
Also, Rubio is the child of Cuban exiles so it has been his lifelong mission to “liberate” Cuba.
Oh that’s a Cold War memory back when he was compos mentis. He probably doesn’t realise Fidel is dead. Plus, Rubio hates the Cuban regime, for understandable reasons in his case
Mark Rutte needs to stop licking Trump's arse as well as all the politicians falling over to ingratiate themselves with the malignant narcissist. Sick of all of them.
I have changed my mind. I did think the King should go to the US, much as you might reluctantly agree to attend the very significant birthday of a cantankerous close relative to keep the family peace. But Trump’s behaviour has become too morally depraved for our monarch to be in the same room with him.
Indeed , there are obvious limits to tolerance of such behaviour as that of Trump and his regime . A line between tolerance and complicity is crossed .
You'd think I'd learn - every time I thought the GOP would finally realise that he was too disgusting an individual to support, starting with the Access Hollywood tapes and culminating with threats of genocide, I've been wrong. I just can't get my head round people who I know can see what he is but back him to protect their jobs and their chance to earn huge amounts of money from his corrupt regime
He systematically trashes everyone who ever supported him & yet still they cling on
And no one in the media generally is even talking much about Lebanon & how Netanyahu is proving to be a genocidal maniac, enabled by another genocidal maniac
His base and the GOP seem happy to back him even though he trusts Putin over his own security services, even when Putin is actively helping Iran to kill American soldiers and target American bases and those of allies
They back him even though the "no more wars" guy lurches from one atrocity to another
Netanyahu is arguably the greater villain of the peace, literally continuing to get away with murder. His opportunism/cynicism is continuing to attack Lebanon is of the highest order.
It is indeed something we must all remember ... forever. I'm keeping a copy somewhere safe.
I have the fortune / misfortune to have many friends in the target area of DJT's current brainstorms. I have my fingers crossed for them, as well as for Hungary
Ian. Such a fine piece. I want to hold a printed copy in my hands, to pass it to my grandchildren. Thank you. I wish I had the power to stop this terrible man. I have no power - except perhaps an ability to shout from the hilltop.
Thanks for staring into the abyss on our behalf. I really felt that sigh towards the end. The interruptions at the end had Partridge Oasthouse levels of comedy so I’m glad I didn’t bail out in despair.
All I see, is a Batman Movie villain, threatening to destroy the world piece by piece, unless he is lavished with a shit ton of land and money. None of this will ever satisfy him.
He will he ever share any with his US citizens, or even his henchmen, who have all been played whilst the US reputation, which is in tatters, will probably take hundreds of years to recover, if ever.
One of the worst things this moment must be, to be a thinking, honest US citizen. Who once again finds this ugly, Orange Ogre foisted upon her/him by powers that cannot be distinguished unless you stare at a cellphone or a computer screen with open eyes. To think through what you encounter at those windows of sleaze, untruth and anger. It indeed is most disheartening.
The worst of it is, no Republican and few Democrats are prepared to call Trump out, let alone take any effective action against him. They most surely recognise the real harm he is causing to US interests and the world economy
I think many US citizens would like to call him out but feel powerless, just like many people elsewhere in the world. Also, what risk are you taking with developments like ICE; like dictators from history to today will rely on secret police and unwanted people who disappear.
If the King does go to the US. I would love him & as many of his entourage as legally could to wear their military uniforms at all times. No bone spurs in our leadership.
Yes!!! This!!! Watching it in real time - played out by a lunatic on Social Media - makes it both terrifying and surreal. And you don't need to worry, Ian. I will take this to my grave. It will never fade from my memory.
But let's not forget Netanyahu. An equally deranged psychopath, but not suffering from cognitive decline. If anything, he is much worse.
Re: "No sending out the king for a ceremonial visit. No jetting over to Washington to try to save a defensive alliance. No holding your tongue for fear of precipitating a crisis. Every single political action must be based on providing obstacles to his behaviour, limiting his room to maneuver and thwarting his ambitions."
I agree, but... Starmer? Does he have the courage to stand up to the bully? He could start with an "appetizer"... stop supporting the genocidal regime in Israel. Stop ALL shipments of arms. Introduce economic sanctions.
And... can someone please explain Cuba to me. What's it about? Why the fuck is the US remotely interested in what happens there? They pose no threat. Go about their day without causing any sort of harm to anyone. I don't get it!
I am NOT an expert, but it seems to be part hangover from the US's Red Scare days - we can't have a bunch of Commies that close - combined with vehement lobbying and money-raising from Cuban exiles in Florida. If one doesn't placate them, one loses one of the biggest states, so all US politicians dance to their tune. At the moment, Marco Rubio has Trump's ear (ugh) so he's pushing that agenda too.
I have gleaned most of this from West Wing, All the President's Men & other movies, with a bit of Pod Save America thrown in, so make of it what you will.
I suspect you're right about the Cuban exiles in Florida - and Rubio.
If commies was the problem... Putin?
Putin is not a commie, He’s a fascist. He was a commie before, but they’re pretty much Interchangeable in some ways because above all he’s a populist promising a simple solutions to complex issues
Also, Rubio is the child of Cuban exiles so it has been his lifelong mission to “liberate” Cuba.
Oh that’s a Cold War memory back when he was compos mentis. He probably doesn’t realise Fidel is dead. Plus, Rubio hates the Cuban regime, for understandable reasons in his case
Correct 👍🏻The same applies to Australia’s Prime Minister .
Well said . I agree 💯about Netanyahu.
Mark Rutte needs to stop licking Trump's arse as well as all the politicians falling over to ingratiate themselves with the malignant narcissist. Sick of all of them.
I have changed my mind. I did think the King should go to the US, much as you might reluctantly agree to attend the very significant birthday of a cantankerous close relative to keep the family peace. But Trump’s behaviour has become too morally depraved for our monarch to be in the same room with him.
But Pedo Don could fill the real King in on the escapades of his brother with teen girls.
Indeed , there are obvious limits to tolerance of such behaviour as that of Trump and his regime . A line between tolerance and complicity is crossed .
You'd think I'd learn - every time I thought the GOP would finally realise that he was too disgusting an individual to support, starting with the Access Hollywood tapes and culminating with threats of genocide, I've been wrong. I just can't get my head round people who I know can see what he is but back him to protect their jobs and their chance to earn huge amounts of money from his corrupt regime
He systematically trashes everyone who ever supported him & yet still they cling on
And no one in the media generally is even talking much about Lebanon & how Netanyahu is proving to be a genocidal maniac, enabled by another genocidal maniac
His base and the GOP seem happy to back him even though he trusts Putin over his own security services, even when Putin is actively helping Iran to kill American soldiers and target American bases and those of allies
They back him even though the "no more wars" guy lurches from one atrocity to another
Just in utter despair
Netanyahu is arguably the greater villain of the peace, literally continuing to get away with murder. His opportunism/cynicism is continuing to attack Lebanon is of the highest order.
Thank you, Ian. No one writes as cathartically as you do. I needed that.
Thank you just for writing this. It is a comfort.
Thank you Ian.
It is indeed something we must all remember ... forever. I'm keeping a copy somewhere safe.
I have the fortune / misfortune to have many friends in the target area of DJT's current brainstorms. I have my fingers crossed for them, as well as for Hungary
Ian. Such a fine piece. I want to hold a printed copy in my hands, to pass it to my grandchildren. Thank you. I wish I had the power to stop this terrible man. I have no power - except perhaps an ability to shout from the hilltop.
Same here ! I have sent copies to my grandchildren . In their teens and 20s , they lack the context of history , and how
it rhymes over time . Ian is expert at setting this out .
Thanks for staring into the abyss on our behalf. I really felt that sigh towards the end. The interruptions at the end had Partridge Oasthouse levels of comedy so I’m glad I didn’t bail out in despair.
This week we have all looked into the abyss. Ian is right, he must be stopped, somehow!
Thank you for this
I have found Trump truly terrifying, we need people who can stand up to him
I can't forget all the horrific things this narcissist sociopath has put on social media
I’ve lived through 12 US Presidents.
I don't see any 'US President' here in 2026.
Not even a bad president.
All I see, is a Batman Movie villain, threatening to destroy the world piece by piece, unless he is lavished with a shit ton of land and money. None of this will ever satisfy him.
He will he ever share any with his US citizens, or even his henchmen, who have all been played whilst the US reputation, which is in tatters, will probably take hundreds of years to recover, if ever.
One of the worst things this moment must be, to be a thinking, honest US citizen. Who once again finds this ugly, Orange Ogre foisted upon her/him by powers that cannot be distinguished unless you stare at a cellphone or a computer screen with open eyes. To think through what you encounter at those windows of sleaze, untruth and anger. It indeed is most disheartening.
The worst of it is, no Republican and few Democrats are prepared to call Trump out, let alone take any effective action against him. They most surely recognise the real harm he is causing to US interests and the world economy
I think many US citizens would like to call him out but feel powerless, just like many people elsewhere in the world. Also, what risk are you taking with developments like ICE; like dictators from history to today will rely on secret police and unwanted people who disappear.
So. How is he to be held to account? What is *supposed* to happen when a War Crime is committed??
Because I'm seeing a whole lot of nothing.
If the King does go to the US. I would love him & as many of his entourage as legally could to wear their military uniforms at all times. No bone spurs in our leadership.