It won't be long before Europe's insane policies of the past 15 years are viewed correctly as the third wave of ideological lunacy - utopianism that brought disaster - as communism and fascism did in the last century.
It's very simple. Brexit meant taking back control and the political class simply didn't know what to do with the power. Decades of "Nothing we can do because the EU...." and now we see the results.
We are supposed to feel sorry for the team representing the blood-soaked Islamic Republic having to make the short flight back to Mexico after the game. Pass me a hankie.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei called his team perhaps the "most oppressed team in the whole World Cup," after he said Iran have been forced to leave Los Angeles and return to their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, immediately following their opening match. spr.ly/6012BDyS2A
Again - the violence is "unjustified" and he calls for "calm". Moderate language that is very different to the angry, rage and threats that followed the Southport rioting.
NEW: Keir Starmer says people are “rightly sickened” by “horrific” attack in North Belfast - and says his thoughts are with victim.
“But let me be clear, the acts of violence and arson that follow are totally unjustified,” he adds, saying he has spoken with NI political leaders & police.
“We are united in calling for calm and determined to restore order, support the police and all those on the front line and ensure that justice is done.”
Noticeable difference in Starmer/govt language over Belfast compared to English incidents. They condemn the violence but no mention of the 'far-right', no mention of 'mindless thugs' and it is clear the statements have been carefully worded.
Noticeable that there appears to have been none of the kind of police reaction in Belfast that you would expect on the 'mainland'. Very noticeable.
No filming, no You Tubers, fully masked, road-blocks, strategic fires. This isn't 'Tommy's lads' protesting in Northern Ireland.
johnny anderson retweeted
'I don't think you have, mate.' MATE. The world of contemptuous DEI-fuelled smugness in that word. The whole ruling regime is rotten - the #BeKind police force, who treat a dying young man like a lying nuisance in the name of being anti-racist, perhaps worst of all.
So similar to 1950's American 'Red Scare' material, it's actually funny:
theguardian.com/lifeandstyle…
‘I feel like I’m losing her’: the families torn apart by older relatives going far right
Good analysis. The American right mostly misunderstand European politics and (like the Dems) view it through their domestic prism. Trump is a toxic brand. National conservative movements are drawing the right conclusions. Farage needs to be careful on this.
Those gloating about Orban's defeat signalling the end of "national populism" may be jumping the gun. The forces driving that movement worldwide haven't gone away. But one thing does seem to be changing: how populists in Europe perceive Donald Trump unherd.com/2026/04/national-…
American cluelessness over Hungary is evident on both sides of the spectrum. The MAGA types can't understand Hungarian conservatives wanting Orban out and the liberals are trying to convince themselves that a left-liberal won. Shouldn't be a surprise.
So the day after the election victory Peter Magyar says Hungary won't stop buying Russian oil (obviously) although they would look to diversify supplies (obviously). Also says against fast-tracking Ukraine's EU membership ("absurd") and won't contribute to EU loan to Ukraine.
The Orban era was an unusually ideological period for Hungarian politics. I suspect it will now gradually return to disputes over public appointments, corruption scandals and battles over media control. Much less interesting for foreign ideologues of left and right abroad.
If you are looking for the main reason why Orban lost - you won't find it in the Ukraine stuff or any of the big broad themes people associate with Orban. It was corruption. Constant corruption for years. People were sick of it.
No-one will be interested in the detail because as always with Hungary coverage the grand, global narrative, gets more likes but...the Fidesz campaign was shockingly bad. So OTT on Ukraine, war etc. They completely forgot the recipe that had worked for them.