How to cope when Trump is flooding the zone
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Hello from New York,
The zone is flooded. Can’t decide what news to focus on? You’re forgiven. That may be the point. America is again imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court. Donald Trump, who long decried foreign forays, is trumpeting a plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza and turn the strip into a sparkling riviera. USAID, with an annual budget of $40bn and plenty of soft power, may or may not be vaporised. Federal spending programmes are in jeopardy and civil servants are being purged. The Senate, meanwhile, is accepting every one of Mr Trump’s nominees for office (Matt Gaetz aside).
All this makes it difficult to attend closely to any one story. Take tariffs. Mr Trump marched America up a potentially disastrous hill a week ago (it feels much longer), threatening immediate 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, only to trot meekly down again after winning some Potemkin concessions. (He stuck with 10% tariffs on China.) And now the latest twist: Mr Trump said over the weekend he would impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into America.? Who has the time to digest all this??
How to deal with the flooded zone for the next four years? Some readers may be tempted to head to drier ground, to shun the news. Don’t. A better approach—certainly that’s our job at The Economist—is to discern what to focus on, and when. A well-worn phrase about Mr Trump is useful here: take all that he says seriously, but not literally. On Gaza, for example, take seriously his signal that America would support radical upheaval in the region. Mr Trump would like history to remember him as a man who remade alliances in the Middle East in favour of Israel and Saudi Arabia, to weaken Iran. That’s a deadly serious proposition. But his talk of holiday resorts and expelling Palestinians I would not (at least not yet) take literally.?
Believe it or not, things also happen that do not directly involve Mr Trump. I recommend our history quiz, Dateline. None of the questions this week mentions the American president, I promise, though there is an ear-biting boxer to remember.
Our 1945 archive project, remembering the closing months of the second world war, is also rolling on. This week, 80 years ago, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Josef Stalin were huddled in Yalta, a resort town on the Black Sea. Their goal: to agree how Europe should be governed after Germany fell. The trio would end up dividing the continent—and setting the stage for the cold war. Read our coverage from the time.
Thanks to the many of you who responded to our recent cover article on red tape. Some wrote to point out the real benefits of specific regulation (I agree, no one wants their pyjamas to be flammable). Others provided examples of daft ones from around the world. You can read a round-up, neatly bundled in red ribbon, of some of the best letters on the subject.
The next rush of letters, I predict, will concern our regular Saturday feature on the science of human health, Well Informed. The latest article weighed up the benefits—or not—of intermittent fasting. Read it, and let me know if you agree by writing to [email protected]. We’ll publish a group of letters on this, but not immediately.?
Adam Roberts, Digital editor?
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OK Bo?tjan Dolin?ek
Financial Services Advisor
1 周Try truth and logic vs. emotions and feelings It's difficult but give it a shot
Sr. Advisor (Fortune 500 MNCs) | Independent Director | IAS (Retd.) Sec. GOI ('83 Batch) | MBA - IIM-A ('80) | Eco. (Hons.) - St. Stephens ('78) (DU Topper)
1 周Each trump action Has to weighed on its cost/benefit to society in general & USA in particular No pre judgement No fear That’s how u can keep him On his toes!!??
Harvard-Trained C-Level Executive | Driving Exponential Growth & Innovation in Telecom & IT
2 周Great discussion! The concept of ‘flooding the zone’ isn’t just about Trump—it’s about how modern leaders and influencers dominate the narrative, leaving little room for alternative perspectives. Figures who master this either redefine the system or leave behind a polarized mess. Let’s see where this all leads! Also… that picture choice. ?? No mention of Musk. Is someone at?The Economist?playing it safe? Wouldn’t want to end up in the same headlines as?Reuters, huh? ?? I mean, I hear even media giants are sweating these days after a few?million-dollar?revelations!
Experienced and certified Program Manager, certified BI & SQL Data Analyst, and certified GIS Analyst with a background in Geo-Environmental Engineering, Database Admin. & Management, Teaching, and Tech Writing.
2 周Removing and Firing Inspector Generals prior to Muskrat's DOGE dogs started diving into the details of America's economic data is a sign that they won't accept oversight nor monitoring of their activities. As the DOGE dogs start gutting Federal Agencies, especially the ones that are unfriendly to Musk's interests, or help poor people and children, American voters need to pay attention and ask themselves if this 'is what the Trump voter wanted'? It's early in the game, but taking note of what happened that day is important for every citizen. If you want a well-delivered, calm, commercial free News program ... I strongly suggest PBS Newshour to anyone concerned about getting Facts and not hearsay or opinions. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/