USA Freedom of Speech – another nail in the coffin

The USA’s much revered 1st amendment is in shock after Trump announced he is suing the New York Times for $15bn saying it had become a “mouthpiece for the Radical Left Democrat Party”. “It has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long, and that stops, NOW!” he posted on his social media platform.

  The wording of the First Amendment, ratified on 15 December 1791, states that “Congress shall make no law – – abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

 A spokesperson for the newspaper said the suit was “an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting”, adding it “has no merit. The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics.”   NYT founded 18 September 1851.

 Political discomfort is rising still further after late night host Jimmy Kimmel, one of the USA’s  best known television personalities, has been suspended indefinitely after he erroneously suggest that the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk was aligned with the Maga movement. Kimmel is the longest-serving late-night talk show host on the air and was paid an estimated $16 million a year.

  What he said is not defensible but in the context of US right wing media’s excesses since 2016 – Fox etc – and extremely lax USA libel laws, which have been bulwarked by the 1st Amendment, often to a ludicrous degree (in comparison with the UK), the whole situation is Monty Pythonesque (beyond bizarre).

  The USA Bill of Rights, 15 December 1791, with a Sagittarius Sun square Mars and a revolutionary Pluto opposition Uranus has a combative feel. The disruptive Uranus opposition Pluto has moved by Solar Arc to put pressure on the (fair minded, balanced) Libra North Node now and through 2026 so the challenges will continue.

 Trump’s relationship with the Bill of Rights was rattled by the recent Lunar Eclipse opposing the composite Venus for an emotional upset; and will continue to spasm through 2026/27 with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Saturn.

 The New York Times relationship chart with Trump has an aggravated, trapped, enraged tr Pluto opposition the composite Mars through 2026/27.

  Jimmy Kimmel, 13 November 1967, New York, a Sun Neptune in Scorpio has the upcoming Virgo Eclipse next week conjunct his Uranus as his life is turned upside down. His relationship with Trump will intensify over the coming three years with tr Uranus conjunct the composite Saturn and square Pluto, then Mercury and Sun. With serious aggravation mounting in 2027/28.

 Democracy dies in Darkness – reads the Washington Post banner – owner Jeff Bezos notwithstanding.

 See also: “Trump’s suit against the New York Times is nonsense. Yet it poses a grave threat.” Robert Reich

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/18/trumps-suit-against-the-new-york-times-is-nonsense-yet-it-poses-a-grave-threat

Charlie Sheen – the past is another country?

Actor Charlie Sheen has launched an image rebrand with a memoir and a Netflix documentary with all the exuberance he used to devote to drugs, drink and tumultuous relationships. He says it is not an apology tour though his father Martin Sheen evidently wishes he would own up to his mistakes and “grow up and get serious for once in his life.”

 His early career was award-strewn with numerous hits to his credit including Platoon (1986), Wall Street (1987), Young Guns (1988), Major League (1989), The Arrival (1996). In the 2000s, he replaced Michael J. Fox as the star of ABC’s Spin City and by 2010, was the highest-paid actor on television, earning US $1.8 million per episode of Two and a Half Men. But was eventually fired over drug issues.

  He has been married three times, had innumerable relationships and liaisons with hookers; has five children and one grandchild. He was diagnosed with HIV in 2011 and in his  autobiography The Book of Sheen he revealed he has had in the past sexual encounters with several men, as well.

 He was born 3 September 1965 10.48 pm New York, and is part of the rebellious, chaotic Uranus Pluto in Virgo generation with his Virgo Sun close by opposition Saturn in Pisces and square a Gemini North Node. His emphasised North Node in negative mode can be irresponsible, scattered, has a ’bull in a china shop’ approach and difficulty understanding why others don’t see his point of view. His fiery Sagittarius Moon opposes Jupiter pointing to an indulgent mother. His Venus in sociable Libra in his performing and party-loving 5th house is unaspected which would tend to make him obsessive, single minded and overly self-contained. Plus Mars Neptune conjunct in Scorpio in his 6th house which could point to drug (Neptune) and other health issues.

 His father Martin Sheen, 3 August 1940 8.03pm Dayton, Ohio, – Apocalypse Now, The West Wing, is a very different temperament having seven planets in Fixed signs as opposed to Charlie’s six in Mutable signs. Father is steady and stubborn where son is excitable, highly-strung and uber-restless.

 Martin Sheen has a flamboyant New Moon in Leo conjunct Mars with Pluto also in Leo though mainly in the 6th house which would calm the Leonine showiness a touch; and Jupiter Saturn and Uranus in Taurus.

 His relationship chart chart with Charlie has a controlling composite Sun, Venus, Pluto conjunction and an erratic, high-tension, anxiety-provoking composite Saturn opposition Neptune Moon square Uranus –  a tricky combination of closeness and rebellious acting out. The composite Mars is catching the approaching Virgo Solar Eclipse which hints at an argumentative mood between them for a few months ahead.

  Charlie’s chart does indicate a new cycle beginning with tr Uranus crossing his Ascendant as he steps out hoping to put a new slant on his image.  But he will have to look after his health with his Solar Arc Uranus Pluto opposition Saturn impacting on his 6th house Neptune over the next three or four years.

Venezuela – a narco-terrorism target

Venezuela is feeling the brunt of Trump’s unorthodox approach to unsanctioned military action as another boat from the deep south carrying drugs is sunk. There are murmurs that this is just the first target and Nicolas Maduro, the dictatorial president is the real prize. He is already hiding in one of his 63 underground bunkers lest he faced the same fate as Manuel Noriega in 1989. Maduro is in his third successive six-year term as president, after rigged elections, arrested and exiled opposition leaders. The USA now has a large naval task force in the Caribbean equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, with a US air force build up in Puerto Rico. And the US Department of Defense has rebranded itself the Department of War. A $50 million bounty has been put on Maduro for masterminding the drug networks endangering the US, twice that for Bin Laden.

One driving force on foreign policy inside the White House is Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants.  He said “The president of the United States is going to wage war on narco-terrorist organisations.”  The USA has already leaked the co-ordinates on social media of his deepest bunker five storeys below Simón Bolívar airport? Beijing, a Maduro ally, has already issued a statement warning the US against the “unilateral and excessive use of force”.

  Venezuela, 5 July 1811 3pm Caracas, does have signs of upheaval and internal unrest in 2026 with the Solar Arc Uranus square the 4th house Pluto – with the Pluto already feeling the effects of the recent Lunar Eclipse hinting at the need for a change of attitude.

  Maduro’s initial presidency chart, 19 April 2013 2.05pm does have tr Uranus conjunct the Midheaven now and into 2026 again pointing at a significant change of direction ahead. With the early 2026 Aquarius Solar Eclipse falling conjunct the Descendant and opposition the Leo Moon pointing to crisis relations with neighbours.

 Maduro’s personal chart 23 November 1962 9.03 pm Caracas,  has tr Uranus opposing his Sagittarius Sun Mercury now and through 2026 for a time of major disruption; plus a discouraging Solar Arc Sun conjunct his Saturn in 2026.

   Trump certainly dislikes Maduro with a composite Mars Pluto conjunction in their relationship chart. As does Rubio.

  Though there is nothing too specific pointing to a major escalation.

Pete Murray – rock n’ rolling to 100

Pete Murray, a fixture on BBC pop music shows through the 1950s/60s and on is amazingly still going strong with his 100th birthday this week. He hosted the rock and roll programme Six-Five Special, appeared as a regular panellist on Juke Box Jury and was a recurring presence in the BBC’s coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest. He returned to broadcasting for a Boom Radio special recently over 70 years after his career began.

 He was born born 19 September 1925 at 1.30pm London, and has a hard-working, high-vitality Sun conjunct Mars in late Virgo opposition a maverick Uranus in his communicative 3rd house. Mercury also in chatty Virgo is in a sensible sextile to Saturn in Scorpio and trine/sextile a super-confident Jupiter opposition Pluto. His Libra Moon is square the Jupiter opposition Pluto making him well-designed to interface with the public, having a knack for being in tune with the prevailing mood.   

 His 8th house Pluto in Cancer will have given him a subtle but powerful influence.

  What is intriguing is his Pluto is conjunct Sirius = honour, renown, Jupiter  = as was the case with Jimmy Carter who died recently aged 100. Ditto Bob Dole who died at 98. Queen Elizabeth 11 died at 96. George H Bush died at 94 and Hugh Hefner at 91. That may be coincidence since Marilyn Monroe also had Pluto conjunct Sirius – but it clearly has a tendency to longevity.  

Robert Redford – Leo + Virgo + Jupiter

Robert Redford, one of Hollywood’s pre-eminent leading men, renowned for his performances in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, The Sting and All the President’s Men has died. He was also acclaimed for launching the Sundance Film Festival, aimed at shining a light on new film-makers. It has been credited with launching the careers of directors including Quentin Tarantino and Darren Aronofsky. In 1980, he made his directorial debut with Ordinary People, which won four Academy Awards, including best picture and best director.

 He was born 18 August 1936 8.02pm Santa Monica, California, with an accountant father and a Texan mother. He credited his environmentalism and love of nature to his childhood visits to Texas. Keen on art and sport, he muddled through college before settling to acting. He married Lola Van Wagenen in 1958, with whom he had four children later divorcing and latterly marrying his long-term girlfriend Sibylle Szaggars in 2009. His eldest son, died when he was two months old and his other son a writer and producer, died of cancer at 58 five years ago.

  He retired from acting in 2018 although he later made a series of cameo appearances, including in White House Plumbers, a HBO television series about the team behind the Watergate break-ins that led to the collapse of Nixon’s presidency.

  He had a hard-working 6th house Leo Sun conjunct Alphard, which can give artistic and musical talents as well as attract fame. His Sun was unaspected making him an independent spirit. His 6th house also had a stellium in Virgo of Venus, Neptune, Mercury, Moon opposition Saturn in Pisces square Jupiter in Sagittarius in the 9th. Highly Mutable, highly strung, fidgety, a multi-tasker and a perfectionist, keen on creating a better society (Saturn Neptune) and saved from the worst excesses of Virgo/6th house by  his enthusiastic, expansive Jupiter in its own house the 9th. Handled well, such a Jupiter makes for a talented teacher and enlightened spokesman, tolerant, wholehearted and community-minded.

  He also had Mars in flamboyant Leo conjunct Pluto in his entertaining 5th house so he would pack quite a punch in his  performances; with his Mars square Uranus adding yet another dimension to his freedom loving and uncompromising approach.

 His Sun/Moon midpoint was conjunct his Venus for happy one-to-one partnerships in life.

  His late Pisces Ascendant square his final degree Sagittarius Midheaven were both being triggered by the approaching Virgo Solar Eclipse and his Venus, Neptune by the recent Lunar Eclipse.

 Another huge talent gone – Neptune’s swansong in Pisces.

Canada, Carney – can he walk his words?

Mark Carney took the benefit of the anti-Trump mood when he won the Canada election and over- promised about what he could deliver. As parliament in Ottawa resumes there is chatter about how much he can actually make stick.

  Donald Trump has imposed punishing tariffs on some sectors of the economy, like steel and autos, but has granted a majority of Canadian goods a broad tariff exemption under the current US-Mexico-Canada free trade deal. Recent opinion polling suggests that voters are feeling less panicked by Trump but increasingly worried about the economy. A recent  poll indicated that Canadians felt Carney was too focused on the US president at the expense of other pressing concerns.

Mark Carney, 116 March 1965 7.56am Fort Smith, NT, Canada,  was sworn in on 14 March this year at 11.28 am Ottawa, which has a financially-blocked Pluto in the 8th plus a tricky, swampy Saturn, Sun, North Node, Neptune and Scheat in the 10th opposition a 4th house Moon which suggests a less than robust approach and one at odds with the electorate’s wishes and security (Moon in 4th).  The late Virgo Moon will be in line with the approaching Virgo Eclipse as it also opposes the Neptune – with tr Neptune Saturn in hard aspect as well all winter which points to an electorate worrying about security.

 One of Carney’s problems is that he has an over-hopeful, high-finance Jupiter opposition Neptune which sits on top of the Canada tough-frontiersman Saturn in Scorpio opposition Pluto. So whatever momentary uplift he offered to the voters, once the dust settled they would start to worry about his ability to deliver. On the Carney/Canada relationship chart by 2026 tr Pluto will continue to conjunct the composite Neptune and square the composite Venus as the early hopes start to fade with financial realities biting.

 The Bank of Canada chart, 11 March 1935 is showing the strain over the next two years plus with the Solar Arc Pluto conjunct Mars in 2026 and SA Mars opposition Pluto in 2027.

 The Canada country chart, 1 July 1867 12 am Ottawa, if the start time is accurate, is changing its future outlook and direction as well as its friends with Pluto moves this year into the 11th house for years to come; and sensing a lessening of old ties and ambitions with an uncertain tr Saturn Neptune moving through the 12th. Tr Uranus through the 2nd will make for financial ups and downs for several years ahead, not necessarily disastrous but less steady than before. Tr Jupiter through the 4th this year will make the country keen to find security within their own borders and will bounce out with more exuberance from July 2026 for a year with tr Jupiter through their 5th.  

  Canada’s relationship with the USA, never amiable at the best of times is under strain exactly now with tr Pluto making the final square to the composite Saturn; with uncertainty in 2026 and a tussle for the upper hand in 2027.

Carney’s personal chart with its stellium in Virgo of Uranus, Moon, Pluto, Mars sitting across from his Pisces Sun, Venus and Saturn square a Gemini North Node is more impetuous and unpredictable than his image might suggest. Plus a Boris Johnson head-in-the-clouds Jupiter opposition Neptune. His Solar Arc Midheaven will oppose his Moon, Pluto, Mars over the coming year into 2027 which suggests slow progress if not absolute deadlock.  Whether or not he will last the course is not clear from his chart but he is certainly running into total catastrophe towards the end of this decade.

Royals on parade to massage Trump’s ego

An unprecedented second state visit for Trump kicks off tomorrow. For him a vanity trip with photo ops galore amongst the Royals at Windsor. For the UK it is realpolitik with the hope of lower tariffs and a better bilateral relationship with the US than other countries.

 Though Epstein managing to send tremors from beyond the grave (or wherever) with the Mandelson scandale may put a minor damper on the forced jollity.

  Trump’s chart relocated to London puts his ‘influential’ Pluto and flamboyant Mars in Leo in the 10th, though Pluto close to the MC can have its downside. Perhaps his natal keeping-secrets 12th house Pluto is exposed when it relocates to the 10th with possible career damage.

 Transiting Mars is exactly conjunct the relocated Ascendant hinting at a combative, pro-active approach though there should be less risk since almost all of the events will be out of the public view.

 Trump’s relationship with King Charles has a friendly composite Sun Venus conjunction and a chained-together Saturn Pluto with ripples of disagreement from Mars trine Uranus – but will almost certainly glide by without incident.

 Prince William has a superficially amiable composite Sun Venus trine Jupiter in his relationship chart with Trump but that hides a deep-dislike composite Mars Pluto conjunction beside Uranus Saturn.

  The UK regards Trump with a degree of irritation and the composite UK/DT Sun opposition Moon square Mars is being undermined at the moment and through 2026/27 by tr Saturn Neptune in hard aspect.

  More pointedly, Trump’s relationship with Keir Starmer is not in great shape despite all the greasing and grovelling. Their composite Sun Mars is being ground down by tr Pluto in opposition exactly now until early December this year.

   Trump’s personal chart looks a touch downbeat over this week with tr Saturn square the Mercury/Uranus midpoint; and pushing against headwinds until early December with tr Pluto opposition his Saturn/Pluto midpoint. In part one assumes due to Charlie Kirk being shot.

   On the Epstein front, DT’s relationship with his posthumous chart is nerve stretched now and through 2026; worse in 2027.   For some reason (which fascinates me) Trump’s entangled relationship chart with Ghislaine Maxwell is facing a crucial turning point exactly now and again till early 2026. There is a ‘fated’ composite yod tying their destinies together onto an apex composite Sun at 28 degrees Pisces. That Sun is catching the separating tr Saturn conjunct exactly now, with the approaching Virgo Solar Eclipse adding its contribution of a crisis – and that effect runs on for several months.

   Just to mop up the Royals – with King Charles having had a meeting with Prince Harry for the first time since 2022, there is much excitable talk about a reconciliation and prodigal son return. Though Charles’ relationship chart with Harry has a sagging confidence tr Saturn Neptune square the composite Jupiter extending through 2026 – so not all moving ahead smoothly.

 More significantly Charles’ relationship with Meghan looks upset this month with the Solar Eclipse conjunct their composite Venus and an emotionally-dampening tr Saturn Neptune in opposition throughout the winter; with more disappointment through 2026 as tr Neptune Saturn oppose the composite Mars Sun. From which one might assume she is not delirious about a Harry UK return. 

  Meghan’s relationship with Harry with its final degree composite Mars in Virgo is also catching the Virgo Solar Eclipse and tr Neptune Saturn in opposition throughout the winter pointing the arguments and aggravations in Montecito. With hints of a major reset or rift come 2026 as tr Uranus squares their composite Sun and opposes the Uranus.

Tommy Robinson – tapping into UK fears

More than 100,000 people crowded into London yesterday for one of the UK’s largest ever Right-wing rallies organized by Tommy Robinson; with cheer-leading from Katie Hopkins, Lawrence Fox and Elon Musk (on video). Twenty-six police officers were injured, including four seriously  as supporters “kicked and punched” officers. 25 people have been arrested for offences including affray, violent disorder, assaults and criminal damage.

  Robinson has been active in far-right politics for many years on an anti-Islam crusade and has served five prison terms between 2005 and 2025. In 2013, he illegally entered the USA using a friend’s passport; in 2018 he violated a court order by publishing a Facebook Live video of defendants entering court; in 2021, he was subjected to a five-year stalking prevention order for harassing the journalist Lizzie Dearden and her partner and was found to have libelled a 15-year-old refugee in Huddersfield and was ordered to pay £100,000 plus legal costs. After breaching an injunction about repeating the libel, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for contempt of court in October 2024. He has admitted to gambling before declaring bankruptcy; and owed a considerable sum to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), as well as to creditors. (wiki).

  Born 27 November 1982 in Luton, he has a rebellious and rabble-rousing Sun, Uranus, Mercury, Venus conjunct in Sagittarius with Neptune also in Sagittarius and an Aries Moon. His Moon is possibly/probably opposition Pluto Saturn in Libra square Mars in Capricorn adding an exponentially aggressive streak to his personality. His ambitious and forceful focal point Mars is doubly emphasised being his only Earth in  a ‘hot air’ Fire Air chart.

  His Mercury is conjunct the Fixed star Antares which tends to make the individual headstrong, tough, belligerent, pugnacious and destructive to themselves by their own obstinacy. Has a suspicious attitude and can make wrongful accusations.

  His Chiron is conjunct Algol which could suggest that a tendency to destroy is his Achilles’ Heel. His unhealable wound is an attraction to darkness and risk. There will be a positive end to it but clearly he hasn’t found it yet. His Cancer North Node suggests the same – that empathy is his spiritual path if he can get onto it.

  At the moment he’s revved up with his Progressed Mars square his Jupiter – in a reckless mood keen to utilise the prevailing mood. Mars Jupiter has a tendency to go on crusades and to dress aggression up in idealistic or moral garb.   But by 2026/27 his Solar Arc Sun Uranus will conjunct his Mars for an almighty eruption which suggests he could go way over the top – and indeed be at some risk himself. This all runs alongside his tr Uranus opposition his Sun Uranus for his midlife crisis – hinting that either a) a change of direction is needed or b) he’ll double up on his ungovernable stance and end up running out of road.

  His alleged connection to Israel would fit astrologically since his Saturn Pluto conjunct sits on the Israel Ascendant; and his Neptune is conjunct the Israel Jupiter opposition Uranus; his Chiron Algol are conjunct the Israel Taurus Sun; and his Cancer North Node is conjunct the Israel Venus.

 It is less clear how he connects to the UK – except that his Uranus Sun Mercury fall in the UK 3rd house  which rules everyday communications, neighbours, communities etc. And squares the UK Pluto which will give a tendency to cause disruption to the established order. His afflicted focal point Mars also falls in the UK domestic 4th so he will focus his anger on what he sees is wrong with the internal foundations of the UK.

Jackie Kennedy – her final beau

Maurice Tempelsman, a diamond trader and latterly escort and friend to Jackie Kennedy has died. She famously said “The first time you marry for love, the second for money and the third for companionship,” although in the last instance the pair never tied the knot.

 Her marriage to JFK lasted ten years until his assassination; and her surprising, publicly unpopular match to Greek shipping mogul Ari Onassis after the shooting of her brother-in-law Robert Kennedy, continued none-too-happily until his death seven years later in 1975. She then returned to New York and lived under the radar until she succumbed to cancer in 1994.

Maurice Tempelsman was a discreet, well-connected businessman, not handsome like JFK or wealthy at the level of Onassis. But he and Jackie had a mutual interest in art, politics and the French language and he became her main financial adviser in 1975, managing her $26 million Onassis inheritance. When she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he moved his office into her New York apartment and escorted her to hospital appointments; and was at her bedside when she died in 1994,  remaining close to her two surviving children.

  The relationship charts and synastry of her three attachments are fascinating.

 With JFK, 29 May 1917 3pm Brookline, Massachusetts, there was a composite New Moon conjunct Pluto square Saturn in their relationship chart which points to a more-whole-when-together bonding with the New Moon; close and possessive with Pluto and unambiguously chained-together with Saturn Pluto. A high-octane match (and lifestyle) with a composite Mars trine Uranus – and not always easy.

  His Gemini Sun was conjunct her 7th house Jupiter which would smooth round rough edges and be a morale boosting combo; and his high-vitality Jupiter Mercury Mars also fell in her 7th so it would be for her a heady, exciting relationship. His Neptune was conjunct her Sun for the Camelot dream, though at times the reality would fall short. His Virgo Moon conjunct her Mars in her 10th for a few argumentative moments.

 Aristotle Onassis, 20 January 1906 10 am Smyrna, Turkey, whom she married in a panic, concerned for the safety of her children, did have his Jupiter in Taurus, like JFK, in her 7th house of relationship which would help. And his Sagittarius Moon in her 1st was trine her Sun which is good. But his Pluto fell in her 8th conjunct her Venus and opposition her 2nd house Saturn and square his Mars which hints at intense, dominating streak from his end which was in part compensated for with money which was important to her. But his Saturn and Mars in her 4th hints at an uncomfortable and aggravated domestic life.

 That relationship chart has cross overs with composite Pluto, Mars and Uranus so echoing a theme of a not-altogether harmonious duo. Plus a yod onto the Sun which also squared Neptune – tied together for good or for ill and ending ultimately in disappointment.

 What is curious (or maybe not) was that Maurice Tempelsman, 26 August 1929, was born only four weeks after her and had relatively similar placings. His Sun Neptune in Virgo was in her 10th for shared artistic interests and his intuitive guiding of her life in her latter days. His Jupiter in Gemini was conjunct her Jupiter, and on the cusp of her financial 8th house. His steady Taurus Moon fell in her 6th house of work and health.

 Their relationship chart had a hidden 12th house composite Sun trine Uranus and Venus square Uranus – so it thrived on discretion and being unorthodox. There was also a composite Mars square Saturn, perhaps indicating a workaholic streak or a need for one partner to suppress their assertiveness to make it work.

 What is worth noting is that she had a Taurus North Node conjunct her Descendant which suggested that close relationships did not come easily to her. And a Taurus Node tends to bring a tumultuous life before (hopefully) settling into calmer older years.