Trump's approval on economy falls in AP-NORC poll, showing new warning signs for president A new AP-NORC poll finds that President Donald Trump’s approval rating on the economy has slumped over the past month as the Iran war drives prices higher.

Trump's approval on economy falls in new AP-NORC poll🇺🇸⬇️📉

apnews.com/article/trum...

Live updates: Ship traffic appears to halt in Strait of Hormuz after Trump's blockade announcement The U.S. military announced it will begin a blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas, tempering President Donald Trump's earlier vow to entirely block the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Pope Leo hit back at President Trump over the Iran war, saying the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he didn’t fear the Trump administration.

Follow AP's live updates.

Orban has officially conceded to his ‘painful’ defeat, ending his 16 year rule.

The effects of this massive loss will not only be felt in Hungary, but also across Europe and in the US, where Trump has just lost one of his most important ideological allies.

Nearly half the votes have been counted and the Hungarian opposition may be heading for a supermajority! 🇭🇺😮

#hungaryelections #magyar #tisza

With 22.1% of the vote counted, Magyar’s party is leading Orban by 10ppts

#hungary #magyar #orban

💥🇭🇺🗳️ WOW! 54.14% turnout by 1pm in Hungary’s historic election (vs 40.01% in 2022), where voters could end Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule. Massive participation, in line with independent pollsters’ predictions – who also predicted a massive opposition win. Polls close at 7pm.

👀

#Hungary 🇭🇺

I also really enjoyed writing about this topic in the latest edition of Too Long… looking at Trump’s appeal to divine purpose, and the Pope’s efforts to counterbalance this.

Below is a sneak peak!

Super interesting read from the FT this weekend: from Iran to immigration to AI, the American Pope has positioned the Vatican as a counterweight to MAGA’s Christian nationalism ✝️🇻🇦🇺🇸

#maga #popeleo #trump #vatican

I’m heading over to the Associated Press 🙂

Exit poll: Slovenia’s ruling liberals edge populists, but election still too close to call Slovenes voted Sunday in a dramatic election roiled by interference and espionage claims.

Liberals just ahead of the Far Right in the Slovenia exit poll. Very important election if you want to deny Orban another ally.

Caught Between Belgrade, Bratislava, Budapest: Serbia’s Fractured Minorities - VSquare.org As protests continue to shake Serbia, minority Hungarian and Slovak communities in the country’s northern Vojvodina region describe growing political pressure, shrinking autonomy and a quiet exodus of youth.

💥Minority Hungarian and Slovak communities in Serbia’s northern Vojvodina region describe growing political pressure, shrinking autonomy and a quiet exodus of youth.

Nihad Uk podnio ostavku na poziciju premijera Kantona Sarajevo: Od funkcije mi je važniji glas građana Premijer Kantona Sarajevo saopćio je da podnosi ostavku nakon što su mladi izašli na ulice zbog tragične smrti mladića i teškog stradanja djevojke, ističući da...

Following a deadly tram derailment and three days of protest, Nihad Uk. Sarajevo Canton PM, BiH's largest metropolitan area, has resigned. Protests expected to continue and popular appetites for further resignations will grow. BiH heads to the polls in Oct. www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/...

Time is running out for Bosnia’s public broadcaster Bosnia & Herzegovina’s state-level public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT), faces the risk of collapse after ...

📰 My latest piece for @intellinews.com discusses why B&H public broadcaster may soon face shutdown ⚠️ following a fee dispute with Republika Srpska (RS), part of a broader pattern in which separatist RS seek to undermine state-level institutions 🏛️🇧🇦

www.intellinews.com/time-is-runn...

has anyone ever achieved less with enormous governing majorities in a time of crisis than Keir Starmer

Finally, a chart where my country (Hungary) is not the worst. 🥴

.. expect a video on the topic over on TLDR EU soon too!🇪🇺

🚫Today border crossings between Schengen and Western Balkan countries came to a halt in protest over the EU's new Entry/Exit System. 🔄

🚚Truckers' associations claim it unfairly rules Balkan drivers as 'illegal workers.'

🖊️If you're interested check out this piece I wrote for @intellinews.com...

It's been a very Trump heavy week or so over on TLDR EU, and a very chaotic start to the new year🇺🇸🎆

Why Bulgaria’s Political Crisis is Getting Worse YouTube video by TLDR News EU

Another day, another Balkan anti-corruption explainer from me- this time Bulgaria, where mass protests erupted over a controversial draft budget, threatening topple yet another government (the 7th in 4 years)!

Watch below to learn more⬇️
youtu.be/5YgS63UZENs

#bulgaria #balkan #protests

Protesters and police clash in Bulgaria anti-graft demonstration.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Sofia and other major regional centres across Bulgaria in an anti-government protest, triggered by the draft budget for 2026 that protesters say is an attempt to mask corruption

Thousands rally in Bulgaria against 2026 budget, clash with police Thousands of people rallied in the Bulgarian capital Sofia and several other cities on Monday, protesting against the 2026 budget plan, the first drafted in euros before the European Union-member country adopts the common currency on January 1.

Thousands rally in Bulgaria against 2026 budget, clash with police reut.rs/4orpqos

Far-right party named ‘TRUMP’ launches in Belgium Founder aims to harness the U.S. president’s appeal as “the ultimate symbol of populism.”

I'm just going to leave this here

www.politico.eu/article/far-...

#TRUMP

USA Photo of the year

🇧🇴🗳️Not my usual European beat, but here’s an explainer I wrote during the first round of Bolivia’s elections. It looks at how internal divisions within Morales’ socialist party opened the door for a pro-business, center-right candidate to end more than 20 years of socialist rule!
youtu.be/CUCR51sIH-E

In western Hungary, journalists from Átlátszó uncovered a surreal scene: a €1.2 million roundabout built with EU funds — standing alone in the middle of a field. The promised logistics terminal and railway connection were never built.

The Era of Orbánism as an Exportable Model May Be Ending - VSquare.org Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s once-admired “illiberal model” is faltering — plagued by economic crisis, voter frustration, and collapsing governance. With the 2026 election looming, his future — and the global appeal of his system — is at stake as his government faces its biggest political test.

💥 Viktor Orbán faces a possible ousting in April 2026 — and whether he manages to cling to power or not, his regime and its global allure as a model for autocrats worldwide are crumbling. Read the sharpest analysis available.

bart simpson is sitting at a podium in a room with a man in a hat standing next to him . Alt: bart simpson is sitting at a podium in a room with a man in a hat endlessly coming in and out of the room

Les gouvernements sous Macron

Republika Srpska: Milorad Dodik steps aside – DW – 09/30/2025 After dominating politics in Republika Srpska for 27 years, Milorad Dodik is stepping down in the face of national court rulings and international pressure, paving the way for a presidential election ...

🇧🇦 After months of secessionist bluster, former RS President Milorad Dodik has stepped aside ahead of the RS presidential elections, pressed by international, domestic, and party pressure.

He leaves behind a crippling RS economy and a patronage network choking the entity.

www.dw.com/en/republika...