Iran Will Not ‘Cry Uncle’ to Donald Trump | Trita Parsi

May 6, 2026 | “Iran will not give him the perception of having humiliated Iran.”

Donald Trump’s public threats against Iran risk sabotaging the diplomacy his administration is simultaneously trying to advance behind closed doors, says executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, Trita Parsi.


If I am not greatly mistaken, the USA has lost this war. The Iranians have outmanoeuvred the Americans. President Trump: Eat your heart out! — © Mark Alexander

USA und Russland nehmen Gespräche wieder auf: Rubio und Lawrow telefonieren zu Ukraine und Iran

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Zum ersten Mal seit Oktober telefonieren der russische Außenminister und sein Amtskollege wieder. Moskau deutet eine veränderte Verhandlungsposition an.

US-Außenminister Marco Rubio hat am Dienstag nach Angaben des US-Außenministeriums mit dem russischen Außenminister Sergej Lawrow telefoniert. Das Gespräch sei auf Bitten der russischen Seite zustande gekommen, teilte der Sprecher des Außenministeriums, Tommy Pigott, mit. Diskutiert worden seien die Beziehungen zwischen Washington und Moskau, der Krieg zwischen Russland und der Ukraine sowie der Iran.

Das russische Außenministerium beschrieb den Austausch als „konstruktiv und sachlich“. Beide Seiten hätten „die Uhren verglichen“ zur internationalen Lage und zum Stand der bilateralen Beziehungen sowie über den Zeitplan weiterer Kontakte gesprochen, hieß es in einer Mitteilung des Ministeriums.

Es war das erste direkte Gespräch zwischen Rubio und Lawrow seit Oktober vergangenen Jahres. Damals hatten beide Seiten mögliche Schritte zur Beendigung der Kampfhandlungen in der Ukraine sowie einen geplanten, später nicht zustande gekommenen Gipfel zwischen US-Präsident Donald Trump und Kremlchef Wladimir Putin in Budapest erörtert. » | Alexander Dergay | Mittwoch, 6. Mai 2026

Tucker Turns the Tables on New York Times Reporter

May 6, 2026

Rob Groves: Deliberate Destruction of USA Is Trump's Revenge

May 2, 2026 | "As King Prince Charles touched down in Washington for a state visit, Britain's own ambassador to the United States had a recording leaked to the Financial Times in which he said the only country that truly has a special relationship with America is probably Israel.

This week's Truth To Power looks at the collapse of American soft power under Trump, the growing European consensus that the United States under this administration is not an ally but a threat, and Rebecca Solnit's compelling thesis that Trump isn't governing badly, he's deliberately destroying governance itself. As an act of revenge on the country that rejected him in 2020.

And what does all of this mean for Britain? Trapped, according to the LSE, between a Europe we've partly left and an America we can no longer trust."


It is such a pity that Starmer sent our king to pay homage to King Don in his kingdumb! — © Mark Alexander

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Says US Is Being Humiliated by Iran

Apr 27, 2026 | Merz says he doesn't see what exit strategy the US has in the war with Iran, warning 'an entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards'

8 Memorable Moments From Past British Royal Visits to the U.S.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: With King Charles III and Queen Camilla set to arrive for a state visit with President Trump, we look back at some major moments in previous royal trips to the United States.

Screenshot taken from this NYT article. | Clockwise from top left: King George VI with President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939; Prince Charles and Princess Anne with President Richard M. Nixon in 1970; Queen Elizabeth II with President Ronald Reagan in 1983; and the queen with President Gerald R. Ford in 1976.Alamy; Associated Press; Ed Reinke/Associated Press; Universal Image Group, via Getty Images
King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s visit to Washington comes as the relationship between Britain and the United States is in turmoil, with President Trump having repeatedly lobbed insults at Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his refusal to join the Iran war.

But the role of the British monarchy, which is officially apolitical, has often been to distract from the messiness of everyday politics and, through ritual and ceremony, point to something more enduring.

Here are a few pivotal moments in previous British royal visits to the United States. » | Esther Bintliff | Reporting from London | Published: Monday, April 27, 2026. Updated: Tuesday, April 28, 2026

„NICE“ statt ICE: Trump unterstützt Vorschlag zur Umbenennung der US-Behörde

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Der US-Präsident unterstützt auf Social Media die Idee, die Einwanderungsbehörde ICE umzubenennen. Andere Medien ordnen den Vorstoß als symbolisch oder provokant ein.

US-Präsident Donald Trump hat einen Vorschlag zur Umbenennung der Einwanderungsbehörde Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aufgegriffen. In einem Beitrag auf seiner Plattform Truth Social unterstützte er die Idee, die Behörde künftig „NICE“ zu nennen – als Abkürzung für „National Immigration and Customs Enforcement“.

Trump reagierte damit auf einen in sozialen Netzwerken verbreiteten Vorschlag, wonach die neue Bezeichnung auch die öffentliche Wahrnehmung der Behörde verändern könnte. „GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT“, schrieb der Präsident dazu, wie unter anderem der Sender Fox News berichtete. Der offizielle Twitter-Account des Weißen Hauses teilte einen Screenshot von Trumps Beitrag auf Truth Social. » | Alexander Schmalz | Montag, 27. April 2026

US Is Being ‘Humiliated’ by Iran’s Leadership, Says Friedrich Merz

THE GUARDIAN: German chancellor suggests Trump administration is being outwitted at negotiating table by Tehran

The US is being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership, according to Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, who suggested the Trump administration was being outwitted at the negotiating table by Tehran.

Two days ago Donald Trump cancelled a trip by US negotiators to Islamabad for indirect talks with an Iranian delegation. A previous round in the Pakistani capital two weeks earlier, when JD Vance, the American vice-president, led the US delegation, broke up without progress.

Merz’s trenchant assessment of the stalled US-Iranian talks, which appeared certain to deepen the severe transatlantic rift between the US and its Nato allies, directly contradicts Trump’s effort to cast the limbo in a positive light.

A day earlier, the US president told Fox News: “We have all the cards,” adding that if Tehran wanted to talk, “they can come to us, or they can call us”.

Speaking to students in Marsberg, Merz suggested it was Trump’s team that was being outplayed. “The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result,” he said.

“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible.” » | Julian Borger | Senior international correspondent | Monday, April 27, 2026

How Christianity Shaped the American Presidency

Apr 24, 2026 | “Dare I say this perhaps doesn’t reflect a deep religiosity of his own.”

Trump is trying to secure the evangelical Christian vote despite his “superficial” religious rhetoric, says author and broadcaster Edward Stourton.

Todesstrafe: US-Justizministerium will Hinrichtung durch Erschießung auf Bundesebene

BERLINER ZEITUNG: Minister Todd Blanche spricht sich für Erschießungskommandos als Form der Todesstrafe aus. In einigen Bundesstaaten ist die Praxis bereits zulässig.

Das US-Justizministerium setzt sich dafür ein, Hinrichtungen auf Bundesebene künftig auch durch Erschießungskommandos zu ermöglichen. Justizminister Todd Blanche begründet den Schritt mit der eingeschränkten Verfügbarkeit von Mitteln für andere Methoden.

In einem Regierungsbericht spricht sich Blanche dafür aus, neben der Giftspritze weitere Hinrichtungsmethoden zu erwägen, darunter das Erschießungskommando. Damit könne das Ministerium auch dann Exekutionen vollstrecken, „wenn ein bestimmtes Mittel nicht verfügbar ist“, heißt es in dem Bericht. Das könnte beispielsweise auf die Substanz für die Giftspritze zutreffen. » | Maximilian Eichgrün | Freitag, 24. April 2026

A Watershed Moment? | John Mearsheimer and Sir Max Hastings

Apr 24 2026 | Historians reserve the term “watershed” for those rare moments when events do not merely shock the established order but upend it. Think of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which hastened the end of the Cold War and ushered in an era of American unipolarity. Or the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US, which ignited the global war on terror and culminated in the long, costly entanglements of the so-called forever wars.

In each case, those living through the moment could sense they were witnessing events whose consequences would extend far beyond the immediate crisis. The question now is whether the Iran war belongs in that category. On the world stage, many allies and partners increasingly worry that the United States as a friend is shrinking with extraordinary rapidity. If this is true, what does this mean for international affairs after the Iran war?

Guests are Sir Max Hastings, the British military historian, columnist and former newspaper editor, and John Mearsheimer, professor of political science from the University of Chicago.


To put it succinctly, Trump is a chump who is also off his chump! — © Mark Alexander

Iran-Krieg, Schuldenrekord, Tabubruch: Wie Trump eine „Pleite der USA“ provoziert

April 22, 2026

MAGA Pastor Completely Humiliated by Laughing Panel as He's Totally Out of His Depth

Apr 20, 2026 | Donald Trump’s disastrous and unwinnable war with Iran is finally fracturing his own base, and the entire meltdown just spilled onto live television.

In this massive, unedited 21-minute masterclass, commentators Wajahat Ali and Tim Miller systematically dismantle a pro-Trump MAGA pastor, exposing how Trump’s broken promises and unhinged feud with the Pope are destroying his coalition from the inside out.

When the pastor attempts to defend the administration’s chaotic foreign policy and Pete Hegseth’s bizarre biblical justifications, Wajahat Ali delivers one of the most brutal live takedowns in recent memory.

As gas prices soar and the "America First" coalition splinters—with figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens defecting—Trump is left isolated in a forever war he promised never to start.

This video breaks down the explosive panel exchange, the devastating reality of Trump’s catastrophic Middle East blunders, and why the MAGA coalition is experiencing a total meltdown in real-time.


Trump is a DISGRACE. He should be REMOVED from office WITHOUT DELAY. — © Mark Alexander

Jeffrey Sachs Predicts the Next Steps of America Iran War & What Might Be Trump's Next Move

Apr 21, 2026 | Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs tells NDTV that escalating naval clashes, hardline rhetoric from Donald Trump and deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran have pushed the US-Iran ceasefire close to collapse-warning that a renewed shooting war could devastate the global economy and trigger a wider international crisis.

NYT: Trump Extends Cease-Fire With Iran: The pause in hostilities had been set to expire within hours. The president said Pakistan, which is trying to mediate an end to the war, requested he hold off any attacks. »

This Will Make Trump Look Like a ‘Complete, Absolute Fool’ | Sir Bill Browder

April 21, 2026

Strategic Autonomy: Can Europe Break Free from the US?

Aug 20, 2026 | Europe is reassessing its place in a rapidly destabilizing world.

A stark warning from Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney — that reliance on the United States has become a “weakness” — is now echoing across Europe, where leaders are confronting growing uncertainty about Washington’s long-term commitments.

At a key meeting in Poland, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Tusk discussed deeper defense cooperation, including nuclear deterrence coordination and joint military projects.

The push reflects a broader debate over “strategic autonomy” — Europe’s ability to defend itself and act independently on the global stage — as tensions with Russia persist and divisions widen over conflicts such as the war involving Iran.

But how realistic is Europe’s ambition to become a true geopolitical power? And can it reduce its dependence on the United States without weakening its own security?

We speak to Steven Everts, director of the European Union Institute for Security Studies.

The War Just Took a Dark Turn — Hormuz Is Not Stable | Prof Jeffrey Sachs

April 18, 2026

Bernie Sanders - Senate Showdown: Should the US Keep Funding Israel’s War?

Apr 17, 2026 | Bernie Sanders address two Senate votes that could determine whether the United States continues funding Israel’s military campaign under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and took hostages, Israel had the right to respond. But that response, critics argue, has violated international law. In Gaza, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and much of the territory destroyed, including homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. Severe blockades have caused widespread hunger. Violence has also escalated in the West Bank, where over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since then.

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Lebanon Ceasefire: Peace Breakthrough or Just a Temporary Trump Pause in the War?

Apr 17, 2026 | A 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon brings both relief and skepticism after weeks of escalating violence. Announced by Donald Trump following talks with Benjamin Netanyahu and Joseph Aoun, the pause is meant to halt fighting and create space for diplomacy. While it appears focused on Israel and Hezbollah, the conflict is deeply tied to a wider U.S.-Iran standoff. Hezbollah’s attacks in support of Iran triggered a devastating Israeli response, leaving southern Lebanon heavily damaged and thousands of civilians affected. The ceasefire offers a needed break, but its short duration and complex regional stakes make its long-term impact uncertain and fragile.

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Carney Confronts Trump Policies in Explosive Canada-First Speech

April 12, 2026

Mark Carney is a great leader. — © Mark Alexander