Through his first 100 days as mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani has focused on “pothole politics” — a blend of high-level legislative wins and intense focus on everyday essential services that keep the city running.
The right move: "A homelessness charity has cut ties with Sharon Osbourne after she expressed her support for a Tommy Robinson rally. … 'Political activity like this runs counter to our values and our long history of supporting young people regardless of their background, religion or ethnicity.'"
Countering the far right: “Sanchez has said he hopes the event ‘will provide the basis for all progressive forces in the world to unite. Our unity will be our strength.’”
“Patel’s drinking has been a recurring source of concern across the government…A request for ‘breaching equipment’—normally used by SWAT and hostage-rescue teams…was made last year because Patel had been unreachable behind locked doors, according to multiple people familiar with the request.”
Modern politics is decided on the margin. Democrats were just one vote away from checking Trump's illegal war.
A headline for the history books: “Vance Says the Pope Should Be More Careful When Talking About Theology.”
John Dunn: “Politics can never define itself. Its definition is always radically individual…There are patterns in that individuation…but everyone who lives beyond early childhood must and in the last instance will understand politics for themselves – understand it through their own lives.”
"'The state is not going to finance CPAC events, or Mathias Corvinus Collegium institutions…I think this was a criminal offense, party financing mixed up with government expenditures,' Magyar said…'The future authorities will have to examine or investigate.'" (@politico.eu)
More far-right fragmentation: “Trump doubled down on Wednesday, saying their bond had frayed. ‘She's been negative,’ Trump told Fox News. ‘Anybody that turned us down to helping with this Iran situation, we do not have the same relationship.’”
Internal contradictions: "A seemingly endless torrent of criticism directed toward Trump from former MAGA allies suggests the president is losing support from his base."
“Nearly 84% of disaster requests from states that voted for Trump have been approved in his second term, while about 42% of requests from states that voted for 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris were approved, according to an analysis of public FEMA data.”
Politically motivated: “‘Disasters are disasters, regardless of state lines or political parties,’ the senators said. ‘President Trump’s refusal to grant Major Disaster Declarations…is callous and leaves rural Coloradans, who urgently need support, vulnerable and footing the bill.’”
Orbán’s fate could be MAGA’s future: “Republicans in the U.S., facing flagging poll numbers and an unhappy electorate, could suffer the same fate in 2026 and 2028 by failing to keep right-wing populism popular.”
Another world is possible: "Spain's government has approved plans to give legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants, allowing them to be integrated formally into the workforce."
The dangers of the far right: Under the AfD's proposals, "Refugees would be deported or moved into group homes. … Public broadcasters would lose funding. Schools would ban gay pride flags. … [The AfD's] leaders have variously belittled the Holocaust, revived Nazi slogans and maligned foreigners."
"Kevin Warsh…has submitted financial disclosures that suggest he holds assets worth well over $100m. … The holdings of Warsh’s spouse, Jane Lauder, whose family interests include the Estee Lauder cosmetics company and who Forbes estimates has a net worth of around $1.9bn, were also included."
Under Trump, the distinction between the capitalist class and the managerial class tasked with administering capitalism is beginning to collapse.
“‘I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do,’ the pope told reporters … and invited people of all nations ‘to look for ways of building bridges for peace and reconciliation.’”
"Vance" is a useful new verb in the English language, and one consistent with our Latinate heritage.
Compare:
➡️ ADVANCE: To move something forward.
⬅️ VANCE: To cause a situation to decline or devolve.
In a sentence:
"Donald Trump's second term vanced the American economy."
Jesus was “weak on crime” too. It’s called mercy—something Donald Trump will need a lot of once he’s out of office.
“Once Orbán consolidated power in Hungary, he then spent a huge amount of Hungarian money — we think up to 1% of total Hungarian GDP — on an effort to influence and to build a far-right network across Europe.” — Prof. Kim Lane Scheppele (Princeton)
“MCC is no typical institution…The college is endowed with more than $1 billion by Prime Minister Viktor Orban…Underpinned by money comparable with the rest of the country’s combined higher education budget, MCC has become a training ground for the next generation of Orban disciples.” (Nov. 2023)
Now begins the work of extricating Hungary’s public assets from the transnational far-right networks that the Orbán regime has built using them.
"'Enough of the idolatry of self and money!' Leo said. 'Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!'"
bsky.app/profile/crim...
Special forces operations offer the tantalizing promise of “war without war,” a kind of decaffeinated war—and are therefore favored by body count-averse (on their side) leaders. But the operational autonomy these forces require also breeds lawlessness and impunity.
Read this book.
I'm old enough to remember when this was called election interference.
This is a crucial report, shining a spotlight on the funding links between Russia, Hungary and the British mainstream right
“'I’ve never experienced anything like this in my entire life,' the congresswoman said, fighting back tears.
"She described the way people were laying down inside as “like sardines.”
“'It is frightening in there,' she said. 'It is disgusting'..."
azmirror.com/2026/04/10/i...
Trump sent Vance to Hungary this week. Can you imagine the unhinged reactions from Trumpworld if European politicians were to travel to the U.S. in 2028 and campaign on behalf of Democrats? Cries of foreign interference would abound. Yet we’re meant to accept Trump’s meddling in a European election.