Benjamin Netanyahu has been indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three corruption cases, the first time an acting Israeli prime minister has been charged with such offenses. In response he let fly and said the corruption charges against him were “an attempted coup” against him which has caused some derision. Shades … Read more
The first public hearings in the Trump impeachment process in Congress started today at 10.06am. It’s a long process that may end up in front of the Republican-controlled Senate who are likely to vote in favour of the president. But public testimony from diplomats and others indicating that Trump improperly used his office … Read more
Impeachment proceedings have been formalised against Donald Trump for abusing the power of his office to pressure a foreign leader to investigate his domestic political rivals. The process now moves to televised public hearings within two weeks and a vote on impeachment itself by the end of the year. If agreed, it then goes … Read more
Melania Trump was flying solo this week on behalf of her anti-drugs campaign in Washington, brushing aside questions about impeachment. She’s a mysterious figure as First Lady, often invisible, away presumably at Mar-A-Lago, or as an adjunct to the president as a spectacularly chic piece of silent arm-candy. Stories from Mar-A-Lago have her … Read more
Jeopardy is rising for Trump’s hash-and-crash personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who once had hopes unbelievably of becoming Secretary of State. He’s now entangled in the attempts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden over unfounded allegations of corruption involving his son which are driving the impeachment … Read more
The shifting sands of the Middle East just blew up another storm with Trump’s off-the-cuff agreement, against his own advisers and party leaders, allowing Erdogan of Turkey free rein to invade Kurdish-held Northern Syria. Turkey dislikes the Kurds whom they see as terrorists with ambitions to set up their own state which would encroach … Read more
Despite his best efforts, William Barr, the Attorney General, is being dragged down into the rapidly expanding Ukraine impeachment affaire. It appears he and Mike Pompeo, according to multiple reports, ‘collectively participated in contacts between Trump and leaders of at least four foreign countries.’ These contacts were variously aimed at producing stories that could … Read more
‘An enigma without a secret’ – Matthew Parris’s delightful description of Theresa May might just as easily be applied to Mike Pence, Trump’s VP. To European eyes his fusion of evangelical Protestantism with unvarnished capitalism and the spirit of the Tea party seem head-jarringly contradictory. Less so in the USA but even there his piety … Read more
Keeping a calm head in the midst of chaos and cutting through the cacophony of noise when all sides are screaming that they are right and are winning ain’t easy. Trump’s impeachment may seem a slamdunk to the chattering classes but out in the boondocks where they don’t watch the news (or think) nothing … Read more
Nancy Pelosi finally caved and announced Congress would move towards an impeachment inquiry on Trump’s dealings with Ukraine where he allegedly threatened to withhold aid unless it dug dirt on his electoral rival Joe Biden. The chart for 5pm on 24 September does have a successful or at least enthusiastic Jupiter in the 10th but … Read more