Was last night a tipping point? Possibly for many - I see the powerful comments of Robert Jenrick as a hopeful sign that a section of the right sees it that way now, but there's still work to be done.They are absolutely part of, and on the side of, global gangsterism. Which is, I think, how we should think about it from a "geopolitical alignment" point of view. It's got nothing to do with left/right or east/west.
But supporting and defending Trump (and Vance) is rapidly becoming like supporting Putin and their invasion of Russia: a point of view that, if not quite yet, will shortly be seen as actively betraying our country.
I see GB News has decided that it was all Zelenskyy's fault. I presume that that wll be Reform's line as well, as their tailwagging devotion to Trump continues.
Which side are you on, boys, which side are you on?
FPT:I do think that we are too prone to police speech in this country, but Vance needs to look to his own country’s sins.I think that all of this is a series of tactical exaggerations / misrepresentations, tbh.I mean specifically the Labour representatives going to campaign for Harris. I didn't see Trump or Vance use that against Starmer; did I miss it?Starmer didn't get away with anything Trump and Vance are seriously harsh about Starmer's restricting free speech and the Apple backdoor nonsenseWhat really seemed to upset Vance and Trump was Zelensky campaigning in Pennsylvania for the Democrats and that wasn't, in fairness, the smartest move. Thank goodness none of our parties were stupid enough to send supporters to campaign for Harris.I agree this was definitely a trigger. In that context it's funny that Starmer got away with Labour's actions. Once again it shows that this was a hatchet job on Z.
Watch the WHOLE press conference
Here is an FT piece about a group of Republicans coming to the UK in 2015 to help the Tories campaign in marginal seats. Campaigning with sister parties over the pond is just normal, and has been so since the time of Mrs Thatcher, and perhaps earlier (I wasn't around).
https://www.ft.com/content/48d94f08-e82b-11e4-9960-00144feab7de
The President of Ukraine visiting a US Munitions plant with a representative of the US Govt to thank the workers for making shells for his country is actually exactly what Vance was demanding, ie gratitude. The issue is perhaps the Vance fantasises about the state as politicised against him. Vance's demands about "have you thanked us" are nonsense, the USA already having been thanked again at the start of the meeting. I say Vance's upset is entirely tactical.
The free speech stuff is weird. The examples in Vance's Munich speech were fabrications - whether because he's manipulating or because he's ignorant I cannot tell. "Facebook poster jailed for hurty words" claims I have seen have almost all been for far more serious offences, such as calling for hotels full of brown people to be burnt down with the brown people still in them. That's an attempted wedge issue by elements on the Right of our politics, in the hope of using talking points that used to belong to the BNP and similar to build a support base.
IMO it's all mainly Trump & Vance reacting to images they have projected on the inside of their own heads, or a deliberate political tactic. Vance gets seriously harsh when anyone refuses to kneel down and lick the boots.
Power, even ownership.An argument that might have a bit more strength if, just this last week, Musky Baby had not attended cabinet dressed like a hobo.More importantly, who was the great hairy twat of a journalist that queried Zelensky's attire?Conversely, Zelensky was criticised before for addressing Congress without wearing a suit. Everyone else adores the sweatshirt because it's war leader cosplay, in America some don't. A wise choice might have been to develop a sort of general's version of it with a shirt and tie underneath, elbow patch jumper on top, and some decorations and gold braid here and there.
"Why aren't you wearing a suit"?
I mean, really? Really? Zelensky is a war leader, they often wear combats and the like to express that status, and fair play, it's not like Zelensky is lying. He was in Kyiv as the bombs fell and as the Russians tried to hunt him down and kill him
It's that ignorant and insulting question that introduces the first discordant note and changes the mood, and you can see how it riles Zelensky (and I don't blame him) - he mentions it several times later (before the Goodfellas out-take)
There was zero criticism of him from the same people who are apparently offended by Zelenskyy's attire.
Because it's ridiculous criticism; designed solely to attack Z.
The Trump administration has publicly and privately signaled that it does not believe Russia represents a cyber threat against US national security or critical infrastructure, marking a radical departure from longstanding intelligence assessments.All the more reason to break away from Five Eyes. The US simply can no longer be trsuted to be a secure ally with whom we can share intelligence.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/trump-russia-hacking-cyber-security
Hegseth orders Cyber Command to stand down on Russia planning
https://therecord.media/hegseth-orders-cyber-command-stand-down-russia-planning
Nothing to see here, especially if you are not looking for it.
Incredible how thin skinned the Trump-Vance canal seem to be. I think I’ve probably watched that video about 5 times now and I’m left with the feeling they really can’t stomach even the slightest bit of criticism. They love to give it, but they forbid getting it back. Free speech fans that they are.They are thin skinned. The MAGA movement is full of very brittle, bristling individuals who think they are very clever and have the world all worked out. As a result they become apoplectic when someone lifts the curtain and politely challenges them on some of their delusions.
Or rather, they can’t stomach criticism from what they consider to be their inferiors and supplicants. They would sit rigid with Cheshire Cat smiles if Putin or Lavrov started publicly berating them.
Vance in particular thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room and will brook no argument. He was probably sitting there speculating on whether his IQ was higher than Zelenskyy’s.