Trump II Spirals Deeper Into Madness in One Bonkers Weekend

A lot has happened. Here are some of the things. This is the TPM Morning Memo.

The biggest losers of the weekend

If you spent the weekend enjoying spring, you’ll be forgiven if you’re a little disoriented this Monday morning.

Since our last meeting on Friday:

• Viktor Orbán has admitted his defeat in the Hungarian elections.
• President Trump has decided to close the Strait of Hormuz to Iran.
• Eric Swalwell’s political career abruptly ended after serious allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced.
• Trump openly opposed the Pope while presenting himself as an American Jesus.

And yet… clearly stating things like this doesn’t quite capture the crazy nature of the weekend’s news. Just ask JD Vance, who emerged as the biggest loser after an ignominious trip abroad that included a final election appearance for Orbán and the rapid collapse of negotiations to end the Iranian conflict that he reportedly quietly opposed.

A blow to global authoritarianism

If we are lucky, Orbán’s defeat in Hungary will mark the beginning of the end of right-wing state capture. Some notable first reactions:

• Political theorist Jacob T. Levy: “It’s not just that Orbán’s loss inspires hope in other autocratic, competitive countries run by right-wing nationalist authoritarians. It’s also that his loss materially changes things in those other countries, because he functions as a headquarters and funding source for the international ideological movement.”
• Timothy Ash, of Chatham House in Britain: “People can support a kleptocracy as long as the economy is doing well, but ultimately, if the economy starts to collapse and they see all these guys lining their pockets, then you can expect a backlash. »
• Political scientist Gabriela Greilinger in TPM: “On the contrary, the Hungarian elections show that authoritarians do not “just lose”. Rather, Hungary represented the perfect storm for defeating authoritarian rule: a weak economy, scandal after scandal from the ruling party, and an emerging opposition figure who rose to the occasion with the skill to lead a movement, highlight the government’s many failures, and raise the profile of issues that matter to the majority of voters.”

Latest news on the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz

• Trump’s bow on the Strait of Hormuz looks like this: I will destroy Persian civilization if Iran does not open the strait -> The strait will automatically open itself after the ceasefire and we can all make money from the ships passing through it. -> Very well, I will close the strait myself.
• Contrary to President Trump’s assertion that the United States will blockade the strait, the US military says it will only be a blockade of Iranian ports.
• NATO allies refuse to participate. It’s not at all clear what the blockade is intended to accomplish or could reasonably accomplish — or how it fits into Trump’s broader strategy, if there is one.

Assessment of damage in Iran

A trio of articles from the New York Times:

Anarchic American ship strikes continue

A United States. A strike Saturday on two suspected drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific killed five people, bringing the campaign’s death toll to at least 168 people.

Swalwell under criminal investigation

After reports published Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN alleging that Rep. Eric Swalwell engaged in repeated instances of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, the California Democrat suspended his campaign for governor. In response to an alleged incident in New York, the Manhattan District Attorney opened a criminal investigation into Swalwell.

In unrelated news from SwalwellThe Trump DHS appears to be leading a vindictive new investigation against Swalwell for allegedly illegally employing a Brazilian nanny several years ago.

Trump targets Pope Leo

We are still far from the bottom of Trump II’s descent into madness: