The Mighty Morphin Donald Trump

It’s been incredible to observe the breakneck speed at which the Trump Administration has flip-flopped. What started out with resounding campaign promises of ‘America First’ and isolationism has transformed into an administration that seems more than ready to assume the role as the West’s guarantor of security. Seemingly long gone are Trump’s desire to focus on domestic issues, enter into trade wars with China, sign a new healthcare law, or complete a major tax overhaul. (And what about that wall?) Trump’s about-faces are the political equivalent of a reverse Miley Cyrus–going from human wrecking ball to singing Hannah Montana songs. It’s Mighty Morphin Donald Trump!

France Under High Security Before Election: For the first time since multiple terrorist attacks have taken place on their soil, French citizens will be heading to the polls to elect a new president. Besides the heated debate between far-right queen Marine Le Pen and liberal firebrand Emmanuel Macron, the country is on edge over fears of an election-related terror attack. The French government has increased security around political rallies and meetings ahead of Sunday’s first round of polling.  

On Tuesday, French police arrested two men in Marseilles who were planning an “imminent and violent attack” days before the election. French Interior Minister Matthias Fekl identified the men as two French nationals aged 24 and 30, both heavily radicalized. Many fear an attack on or before Sunday’s poll could swing the election in favour of Ms. Le Pen, who has campaigned on a divisive, anti-immigrant, and anti-globalization platform.

Ukrainian President Says “Sanctions Should Stay Firm on Russia”: Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko appealed to the US to maintain sanctions against Russia, insisting that sanctions are “the only way” to keep Russian President Vladimir Putin at the negotiating table and to stop Russian tanks from making their way further into Central Europe. “Putin started his campaign in Ukraine with a sense of impunity. Because of sanctions he has a sense of hesitation,” Poroshenko stated. Ukraine is currently bogged down in a three-year-old conflict with pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine that followed Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Poroshenko’s statements come after a surge of pro-Russia candidates in recent and upcoming European elections, while support for sanctions against Russia has decreased. Poroshenko, who has steered his country in a fervently pro-EU direction, is worried that his country’s security and sovereignty might be sold out so the EU can build closer ties with Russia.

Bridge of Spies à la Iraq: For the fourth day in a row, a Qatari government-owned plane has been sitting on the tarmac at Baghdad International Airport. The plane was scheduled to collect 26 kidnapped members of Doha’s ruling family who are being held by an Iraqi militia. But the release of the group hinges on the evacuation of four besieged Syrian towns. Convoys taking civilians out of two of these towns (Shia-majority) in Northern Syria were bombed by a suicide attacker on Saturday, putting the hostages’ release on hold. Two Sunni towns near Damascus are also being evacuated to rebel-held areas in what is known as a “population” swap. Dozens of civilians were bused out of all four towns on Monday as the plan resumed. This complicated deal has involved some of the Middle East’s most powerful players for months and revealed their support for powerful militias and the influence that these proxies have over weak central governments in Baghdad, Damascus, and Beirut.

Meltdown at Fox News: First the Murdoch family putsch-ed out Roger Ailes, former Fox News CEO who made Fox News the go-to news channel for half of all Americans. Fox News was still flying high when in quick succession, Ailes was fired for sexual harassment, Megyn Kelly left, Tomi Lahren got fired, and now Bill O’Reilly is out after it was revealed that $13 million in settlements have been paid to five women who accused him of sexual harassment. Given the recent craziness at Fox, are we sure that Alex Jones isn’t working there too?

Many expected Trump’s presidency to create an ideal political climate in which conservative media could flourish. But if anything, it has simply called into question the stability and workplace norms of some of these media personalities and empires, notably Fox News. Less than two years ago Fox News published an opinion piece about “The Left’s War on Fox Women.” Perhaps an updated title would now be “Fox’s War on Fox Women.”

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