As an American living in Europe, I have been surprised by the number of friends and acquaintances in the US who are angry at democratic nations across NATO, Europe, and the world for not agreeing to calls from President Trump to support his military operations against Iran. Their frustration is not simply because the US … Continue reading Reputational Crash: The Return of the Ugly Americans
politics
Supporting Ukraine’s Science Diaspora
I had the privilege of attending a two-day event (23-24 March 2026) at the University of Liverpool entitled ‘The UK-Ukraine Research Twinning Showcase and Networking 2026’. It was organized by Dr. Igor Potapov and held at Liverpool’s School of Law and Social Justice. I was impressed by the number of initiatives between the UK and … Continue reading Supporting Ukraine’s Science Diaspora
Distrust in the US
Distrust in the US: Collapsing Foundations of the Trump Administration Trust in the United States has been sinking – collapsing. The foundations of this distrust are two interrelated aspects of the Trump administration: the decline in Presidential authority and the failure of checks and balances, broadly defined. By checks and balances I mean more than … Continue reading Distrust in the US
Trump and the Evolution of Political Communication
All conventions on the norms and practices governing political communication, particularly around presidential communications, have been shattered by US President Donald J Trump. The Israel-US War on Iran provides a recent example. In the first 48 hours of the War on Iran, the US administration gave mixed messages over its rationale and aims, justifying the … Continue reading Trump and the Evolution of Political Communication
Very Effective Opposition to US Foreign Policy in Munich
Tradition has it that partisan politics and opposition stays in the US and the government speaks with one voice in international arenas on foreign policy. There have been many exceptions to this, and the 2026 Munich Security Conference is a major one. From my perspective, I was so pleased to see American opposition to the … Continue reading Very Effective Opposition to US Foreign Policy in Munich
Glory to Ukraine: The US Must Step Up
Ukraine Needs the US to Step Up It is blindingly obvious that the Ukraine-Russia negotiations are rigged against Ukraine. Russia has more cards to play in the negotiations: Donald Trump admires President Putin and resents President Zelenskyy; Trump has business deals in Russia; Trump is jealous of the sophistication of leaders of the NATO and … Continue reading Glory to Ukraine: The US Must Step Up
David versus Two Goliaths – and Winning
A photo of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin standing together at the Alaska ‘Summit’ in August 2025 is displayed in the Palm Room of Trump’s White House. It speaks volumes of Trump’s inexplicable admiration of Putin along with other autocrats and dictators, and what Volodymyr Zelenskyy is up against in negotiating with Russia while the … Continue reading David versus Two Goliaths – and Winning
Focus on Ukraine
In the aftermath of excellent speeches at the WEF by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, I see some clarity in thinking and moving forward. Policymakers can’t keep being deflected by repeated volleys of one-day crises, with their twists and turns, such as with Donald Trump feeding of the news media … Continue reading Focus on Ukraine
Is Trump Fit for Office?
Reports from the Economist, BBC World Service, and Aljazeera, concerning US President Donald J. Trump, note that: “In the message that was confirmed on Monday as being delivered to Norwegian leader Jonas Gahr Store, Trump wrote that “considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, … Continue reading Is Trump Fit for Office?
Truth Political: : The Minneapolis ICE Shooting
Protests over the actions of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) following the death of Renee Nicole Good have been extensive across the US, from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, an unarmed mother of three, who had just dropped a child off at school, by Jonathan Ross, a 43-year-old ICE … Continue reading Truth Political: : The Minneapolis ICE Shooting