COMMENT

State capture? Elon Musk threatens US Congress for voting

— Elon Musk’s attacks on the US spending bill, labelling it “criminal” and urging electoral consequences for supporting lawmakers, highlight troubling parallels with “state capture,” exposing risks to American political integrity.

COMMENT

It shouldn’t have taken a cyclone for the world to focus on Mayotte, France

— A devastating cyclone highlights Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean, where poverty contrasts with its EU status, attracting migrants despite slums and historical ties to colonialism.

COMMENT

Trump 2.0 is pretty good for media types… so long as they don’t do any journalism

— Donald Trump’s administration is appointing media figures like Kari Lake, Pete Hegseth, and Mehmet Oz to key roles, emphasising communication skills over journalistic integrity, raising concerns about credibility and impartiality.

COMMENT

What six hours in South Korea say about democracy and ‘revenge politics’

— South Korea’s swift public defiance of martial law underscores its strength as a model democracy, while its history of revenge politics highlights the risks of partisan divisions undermining democratic norms.

COMMENT

Will America like Trump’s recipe from the Argentina grill?

— Donald Trump appears inspired by Argentina’s Javier Milei, whose extreme state-shrinking measures include deep budget cuts and dismantling ministries. While admired by some, the “Argentine recipe” may not suit America.

COMMENT

Trump and the world: Mapping reaction a fortnight after election win

— Donald Trump’s global impact is divisive, with world leaders expressing mixed reactions. Europe grapples with populist surges; Russia sees opportunity; Ukraine fears abandonment; China anticipates trade clashes, while India remains cautiously optimistic.

COMMENT

A party that abandoned the workers found the workers had abandoned them

— Democrats faced an unprecedented electoral setback on November 5, losing key Senate seats and confronting voter backlash against progressive policies, revealing disconnects in language and messaging with working-class Americans.

COMMENT

Nigeria isn’t cheering its female ‘Trump’ export to the UK

— A Nigerian talk show panel criticised British Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for her disparaging views on Nigeria and its culture, questioning her empathy towards her heritage and community.

COMMENT

US politics got ‘weird’. But did it really start with ‘Laffin Kamala’?

— Minnesota Governor Tim Walz labelled Donald Trump’s MAGA movement as “weird”, a term that quickly gained traction. This label, embraced by Democrats and the media, has turned satire into a powerful tool to mock and diminish Trump’s divisive campaign.

COMMENT

Kamala-nominon, brat, coconut trees and loadsa laughs

— The rise of Kamala Harris as the presumed Democratic nominee has led to varied social media reactions, from TikTok avatars to the adoption of “brat” by Charli XCX, reflecting her evolving public image.

COMMENT

One of America’s two parties no longer believes in peaceful transfer of power

— The Republican National Convention has signalled the Republican Party’s departure from committing to peaceful power transfer between presidents. It embraces the myths of the 2020 election being “stolen,” vows vengeance, and might soon deny ever losing any elections.

COMMENT

“Third World” America’s First Felon? Trump Jr should wash his mouth out with soap

— Donald Trump Jr defended his father after his conviction by disparaging the “Third World”, a term rooted in Cold War propaganda. This outdated, imprecise label highlights global inequalities and stereotypes.

COMMENT

Sunak wants six. Starmer two. But do live TV debates even matter any more?

— Rishi Sunak’s call for six weekly debates with Keir Starmer, dismissed by the leader of the Labour Party, highlights the diminished value of televised political debates in an era of social media and scripted interactions.

COMMENT

Blowback from Gaza and chill regional winds of change

— Turkey halts all trade with Israel, imposing economic sanctions in response to the ongoing military operations in Gaza. This significant move highlights the escalating regional tensions and global impact.

COMMENT

Donald Trump’s trial needs a Dickens to tell the story

— Charles Dickens would have depicted Donald Trump’s New York trial as a stark contrast to modern reporting, showcasing Trump’s loss of control in a dramatic courtroom setting.

Israel

Netanyahu throws around the ‘N’ word when Germans talk Gaza

— Israeli PM Netanyahu’s recent strike on an Iranian site in Syria escalated Iran-Israel tensions, overshadowing Gaza’s plight until the German Foreign Minister refocused attention, despite Netanyahu’s dismissive response.