Iran’s Top Diplomat Says Trump Team

Sabotaged Talks With Deal  ‘Inches Away’

“Zero lessons earned,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.


Jake Johnson
Apr 13, 2026
COMMON DREAMS

Iran’s foreign minister said Sunday that the Trump administration’s representatives derailed marathon talks in Pakistan’s capital with maximalist demands, just as the two sides were “inches away” from a preliminary agreement to end the six-week conflict.

“In intensive talks at the highest level in 47 years, Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war,” Abbas Araghchi wrote on social media. “But when just inches away from ‘Islamabad [Memorandum of Understanding],’ we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade. Zero lessons earned. Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity.”

The failed weekend talks marked the second time since February that US negotiators have been accused of sabotaging formal negotiations despite participants believing a deal was within reach. Oman’s foreign minister, who mediated previous talks, said hours before the US and Israel started bombing Iran on February 28 that “we have already achieved quite a substantial progress in the direction of a deal.”

The Trump administration’s negotiating team, which consisted principally of Vice President JD Vance and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, reportedly set down numerous “red lines” during the Islamabad talks this past weekend, including demanding that Iran end all uranium enrichment—which Iran has a right to conduct under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons—and dismantle its major nuclear energy facilities.

“We just could not get to a situation where the Iranians were willing to accept our terms,” Vance told reporters on Sunday. “I think that we were quite flexible.”

US President Donald Trump claimed on social media that “the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not.”

Iran’s top negotiator, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, wrote following the talks that “due to the experiences of the two previous wars, we have no trust in the opposing side.”

After the single day of talks faltered, Trump announced a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, an illegal act of war that critics warned could plunge the two sides into a deeper conflict.

“It is concerning that Vance already suggests that the US has put forward a final and best offer, suggesting that the US is still trying to dictate terms rather than negotiate a better future,” said Ryan Costello, policy director at the National Iranian American Council. “We urge President Trump to walk back his blockade threat and for the US and Iran to reengage and consider implementing practical steps where there is agreement to lower tensions and build on this fragile pause to the war.”

The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Trump and his advisers “are looking at resuming limited military strikes in Iran” on top of the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which the president said is set to begin at 10 am ET.

“Trump could also resume a full-fledged bombing campaign,” the Journal noted—though unnamed officials said that option was “less likely.”

US Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said in an interview on Sunday that American lawmakers “need to do whatever we can to get [Trump] out” of office, calling the president’s war on Iran “illegal,” “a war crime,” “immoral,” and disastrous for the American public.

“Impeachment, invoke the 25th Amendment, push for him to resign, whatever it is,” Jayapal told MS NOW. “This is so grave of a situation.”

'I thought it was a joke': Mockery as Iran talks collapse while Trump booed at UFC event

Nicole Charky-Chami
April 11, 2026 

RAW STORY

President Donald Trump watches a match during the UFC 327 event at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on April 11, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The internet was stunned on Saturday night after Vice President JD Vance announced that talks had failed between Iran and the United States — all while President Donald Trump and his family attended a UFC event in Miami.

Trump walked into the arena to a largely cheering crowd, though many booed while Kid Rock blared, just as Vance had publicly acknowledged the conversation between the Iranian and American diplomatic teams had not reached an agreement despite the 21 hours of marathon talking.

People didn't hold back from sharing their thoughts on social media:

"I guess all the Iran experts had to be at the UFC?" Writer and essayist Hari Kunzru wrote on Bluesky.

"When I heard that Trump was at a UFC fight tonight while Vance was trying to hammer out the Iran deal at four in the morning, Iran time, I thought it was a joke," writer Mary Pezzulo wrote on Bluesky.

"How the f--- is the president and Secretary of State at a UFC fight in Miami while war negotiations affecting the world economy are falling apart. And I know that MF-- isn’t going to try to play golf tomorrow too," Ron Filipkowski, Editor in Chief of MeidasNews, wrote on Bluesky.

"These 2 pics are happening simultaneously: LEFT: Vance after he fails to secure permanent ceasefire to the illegal war Trump launched. RIGHT: Trump attends UFC fight 5 days after threatening genocide of 90M people. This is what happens when you elect a genocidal fascist and an unqualified sycophant," Qasim Rashid, human rights lawyer, wrote on Bluesky.

"He clearly just wants to run the UFC, not the country. Someone should find a way to make that happen," Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin, founder of The Gaia Leadership Project & The Ripple Effect Institute, wrote on Bluesky.

"There was never a framework for a deal. I heard someone say, 'Not only does Iran have the cards, but they hold a strait.' Another Trump failure," writer and editor Stephen Simpson wrote on X.

"The Strait was open. Trump started an unprovoked, unauthorized war, and now the enemy controls the Strait, and won’t give it back," liberal political commentator Marlene Johnson wrote on

‘Hungary Has Chosen Europe’ as Voters End 16 Straight Years of Orbán’s Far-Right Rule

“Europe has always chosen Hungary,” said the head of the European Union. “Together, we are stronger.”


Jubilant Hungarians wave flags to celebrate the resounding Tisza win in parliamentary elections on April 12, 2026 in Budapest.
(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Brett Wilkins
Apr 12, 2026
COMMON DREAMS


Far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Sunday conceded defeat to conservative European lawmaker Peter Magyar in parliamentary elections that ended 16 years of increasingly authoritarian Christian nationalist rule amid overt interference from the Trump administration and alleged covert meddling by Russia.

“The election result is not final yet, but it is understandable and clear,” Orbán said. “The election result is painful for us, but clear. The responsibility and possibility of governing was not given to us. I have congratulated the winner.”

“We will serve our country and the Hungarian nation from the opposition,” he added.

Magyar, who leads the socially conservative but democratic Tisza Party, said on social media that “just now, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has congratulated me on our victory in a phone call.”

Tisza is projected to win 135 seats in the 199-seat Országgyűlés, or Parliament, with nearly half of all votes counted, according to the national election office. Orbán’s Fidesz party is projected to control 57 seats, based on results as of Sunday evening.

Magyar had promised that “step by step, brick by brick, we are taking back our homeland and building a new country, a sovereign, modern, European Hungary.”

Domestic and international critics have long accused Orbán of systematically eroding Hungary’s democratic institutions, tightening his grip over the country’s political system, and consolidating control over much of the media to strengthen Fidesz’s rule.

After serving a single term as prime minister from 1998-2002, Orbán was elected again in 2010 and served four consecutive terms, thanks to passage by Fidesz-led lawmakers of the so-called “Fundamental Law” and other illiberal measures.

Human rights deteriorated markedly during Orbán’s tenure, especially for LGBTQ+ people, migrants, women, and Roma. The European Union has withheld billions of dollars in funding in response.

EU leaders have condemned Orbán’s rule, calling his government a “hybrid regime of electoral autocracy.” Orbán describes it as “illiberal democracy,” while touting its universal appeal to international conservatives, including US President Donald Trump.

European leaders also bristled at Orban’s warm personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although the Hungarian leader did condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and voted along with the rest of the 27-nation EU to impose economic sanctions on Moscow.

Russia is accused of trying to influence the outcome of the election in favor of Fidesz via a coordinated online disinformation campaign. At a massive election eve rally and concert in Budapest, thousands of attendees chanted in unison, “Russians go home!”



Trump and senior members of his administration had openly backed Orbán, with the president promising “to use the full economic might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s economy” if the prime minister was reelected.

US Vice President JD Vance traveled to Budapest last week to campaign for Orbán. While decrying what he called “disgraceful” interference by the EU—of which Hungary is a member—Vance added that he wanted to “help as much as I can possibly help” to secure Orbán’s reelection.



Orbán has also accused Ukraine of election interference, although he has provided no evidence supporting his claim.

Responding to alleged foreign meddling, Magyar said on social media that “this is our country.”

“Hungarian history is not written in Washington, Moscow, or Brussels—it is written in Hungary’s streets and squares,” he insisted.

Numerous world leaders congratulated Magyar.

“Europe’s heart is beating stronger in Hungary tonight,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media. “Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. Together, we are stronger. A country reclaims its European path. The Union grows stronger.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “The Hungarian people have decided. My heartfelt congratulations on your electoral success. I am looking forward to working with you. Let’s join forces for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe.”

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that “France welcomes what has been a victory in terms of people taking part in the democratic process, and a victory which shows the attachment of the Hungarian people to the values of the European Union and for Hungary’s role in Europe.”

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson cheered “Tisza’s historic victory in the Hungarian election!”

“I look forward to working closely with you—as allies and EU Members,” Kristersson added. “This marks a new chapter in the history of Hungary.”

'Bye bye, Viktor!' Internet erupts as Trump-endorsed far-right leader loses election

Robert Davis
April 12, 2026 

RAW STORY


Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban votes during the Hungarian parliamentary election in Budapest, Hungary, April 12, 2026. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

The internet erupted on Sunday after a Trump-backed autocrat lost a high-stakes election.

Viktor Orbán, a strongman and staunch Russian ally who has led Hungary for the last 16 years, conceded defeat to opposition party leader Peter Magyar in the country's national election. Orbán has been a symbol of the rise of the far right across Europe as he sought to roll back the country's democratic reforms.

Orbán lost the election despite U.S. Vice President JD Vance traveling to the country to campaign for him. President Donald Trump also endorsed Orbán in multiple Truth Social posts.

Orbán described his loss as "painful," according to a report from the Associated Press.

Political analysts and observers reacted to the news on social media.

"Bye bye Viktor!" former Republican lawmaker Adam Kinzinger posted on X. "MAGA hero is gone."

"Voters in Hungary said no to a strong man. We can do it too," legal expert Joyce Vance posted on X.

"I’m incredibly obsessed with JD Vance sinking Victor Orban," political commentator Molly Jong-Fast posted on Bluesky.

"Off with you, you fascist Putin puppet," author Paul Kemp posted on Bluesky.

"The return of Trump has been dreadful news for hard-right politicians around the world, and now they're disrespecting him by accepting electoral defeat," Larry the Cat, who lives at the U.K. Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street, posted on X.

Trump-endorsed autocrat in Hungary concedes election loss after 16 years in power

Robert Davis
April 12, 2026 

RAW STORY


Viktor Orbán, the autocratic Hungarian president and staunch Russian ally, conceded defeat in the country's national election on Sunday, ending his 16-year reign in power, according to reports.

The Associated Press reported that with 60% of the vote counted, opposition leader Peter Magyar’s party held 52% of the vote compared to Orbán's 38% support. Orbán described the loss as "painful."

"It’s a major blow for Orbán, the European Union’s longest-serving leader and one of its biggest antagonists, who has traveled a long road from his early days as a liberal, anti-Soviet firebrand to the Russia-friendly nationalist admired today by the global far-right," the AP reported.

Trump endorsed Orbán in a Truth Social post on Friday, calling him " a truly strong and powerful leader." Trump added that the U.S. stood ready to "strengthen Hungary's economy," if Orbán won.

'The tears of MAGA will flow': Internet brutally mocks GOP fears over potential Orbán loss

Nicole Charky-Chami
April 11, 2026 
RAW STORY


President Donald Trump shakes hands with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as they take part in a charter announcement for Trump's Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts, alongside the 56th annual World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

The internet was mocking MAGA followers over how they could respond to a potential loss for Hungary's authoritarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, a far-right symbol.

Orbán has served four consecutive terms as prime minister in the Eastern European country since 2010 and MAGA was looking to the Sunday election as a signal of what could happen during midterms in the United States. Vice President JD Vance and President Donald Trump have also been vocal supporters, with Vance even heading to Hungary to stump for the prime minister and Trump making multiple endorsements of Orbán, who has been referred to as a dictator by outside observers.

People offered their predictions of what they think MAGA would do if Orbán is not elected again.

"The tears of MAGA will flow like a bitter ocean if their role model Orbán loses," Wajahat Ali, writer, political commentator and host of the "Democracy-ish" podcast wrote on X.

"The palpable desperation of this… shows you how much MAGA have staked on Orbán being their guy in Europe," commentator Mike Galsworthy, Chair of European Movement UK and founder of Bylines Network and Scientists for EU, wrote on Bluesky.

"For Trump and Vance, Orbán must win, because there must only be one inevitable path of history, towards right-wing oligarchy and the end of democracy," Timothy Snyder, University of Toronto professor and modern European history expert, wrote on Bluesky.

"When Orbán loses, that exposes the weaknesses of MAGA: talk of peace but need for war; talk of prosperity but fleecing of the working classes; talk of the nation but dependence on an international oligarchical network," Snyder added.

"This. Viktor Orbán’s far-right extremist agenda is a model for MAGA. Trump and Vance are all-in on this election. If Orbán loses it would also be a political and ideological loss for the Trump regime and MAGA," Tom Joscelyn, Senior Fellow at Just Security, wrote on Bluesky.

"Why does Vance care whether Orban wins? Because if he loses, it will challenge the MAGA belief that history flows in only one direction," Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, wrote on Bluesky.

'Dreadful news': MAGA dismayed after European ally's 'tragic' election loss

Robert Davis
April 12, 2026 
RAW STORY

U.S. President Donald Trump attends UFC 327 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, U.S., April 11, 2026. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool via REUTERS

Fans of President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement were dismayed on Sunday after one of their European allies suffered a stinging election defeat.

Hungarian autocrat Viktor Orbán conceded defeat to the opposition leader Péter Magyar on Sunday, ending his 16 years in power as Hungary's Prime Minister. Magyar's Tisza party is expected to take a supermajority in the country's legislature, and his victory was hailed as a relief to many across the U.S. and Europe.

However, fans of Trump's MAGA movement spun Orbán's defeat as a sign of Europe's continued decline. They shared their reactions on social media.

"Dreadful news for Hungary and the West," MAGA commentator Michael Knowles posted on X.

"Orban is out. A sad day for Western civilization," Paul Weston, a far-right British lawmaker, posted on X. "In 5 years' time, Budapest will look like every other ruined ex-European city. This makes our Ursula very happy of course."

"This is tragic," MAGA fan Wendy Patterson posted on X.

"The people fell for Magyer’s lies in a month or two people are going to be in an uproar," MAGA fan Tracie James posted on X.

"Hungary was nice while it lasted. Where do I go on vacations in Europe now without my date and my dog being at risk of being raped by a Moslem?" conservative strategist Joey Mannarino posted on X.

Ukraine loan, frozen funds: how could Orban’s ouster unblock EU?

ByAFP
April 13, 2026


Hungarian voters have ousted Viktor Orban after 16 years in power. Will his successor Peter Magyar make things easier for the EU? - Copyright AFP Ferenc ISZA
Max DELANY

After years of holdups and bitter horse trading, EU leaders breathed a resounding sigh of relief at Viktor Orban’s crushing defeat in Hungary’s elections.

From support for Ukraine to sanctions on Russia, the bete noire from Budapest repeatedly stalled some of the EU’s key initiatives.

Now, as his vanquisher Peter Magyar gears up to take power vowing to reset ties, the question is how quickly could these dossiers get unlocked?

Here are five areas to watch:



– 90 billion euros for Ukraine? –



Most pressing is a desperately needed 90-billion-euro loan for Ukraine that Orban took hostage as he made opposition to helping Kyiv a key campaign plank.

Orban’s veto — which he tied to a row with Ukraine over a damaged pipeline pumping Russian oil — enraged his EU counterparts as it came after he gave his initial green light.

Conservative Magyar is no major cheerleader for Kyiv, but if Orban doesn’t budge in his remaining weeks in office then unblocking the loan could be an easy way for the newcomer to win over hearts and minds in Brussels.

It will also take two tango and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky will have to play ball over the pipeline and soften his rhetoric as well.

“Sooner or later this has to resolve itself. Hopefully sooner,” said one EU diplomat, talking as others on condition of anonymity.



– Sanctions on Moscow –



In a similar vein, Magyar could also signal a shift in Budapest’s approach to Russia by backing a stalled package of sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine war.

Orban — who maintained good ties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin despite the invasion — was slammed by critics as acting like a trojan horse for the Kremlin inside EU summits.

Hungary repeatedly held up previous rounds of punishment on Moscow and, as the electioneering heated up, Orban threw a spanner in the fresh round of sanctions.

By changing tune, Magyar can showcase a switch from Budapest.

That would then leave Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico — the other most Moscow-friendly leader in the EU — as the only holdout.



– Ukraine’s EU membership?



A longer term test will be over Ukraine’s EU membership push.

Orban was an implacable opponent of Kyiv’s bid and to the chagrin of Brussels and Ukraine was vetoing any progress.

Now he is on his way out, Magyar could show willing by greenlighting the opening of so-called negotiating “clusters” that EU officials insist Kyiv has long been ready for.

But Magyar, who has vowed a referendum on Ukraine’s membership, is no pushover and there are still plenty of steps down the road for the push to be held up.

“We shouldn’t expect Hungary to become super pro-Ukraine membership all of a sudden,” said a second senior EU diplomat.

Also, other countries cautious about Kyiv joining had hidden behind Orban’s opposition. They may now have to come out of the shadows more.

“The end of Hungarian obstruction to Ukraine’s accession does not mean it will accelerate,” summed up Sebastien Maillard from the Jacques Delors think tank.



– Frozen funds for Hungary –



It’s not just a one-way street for Magyar: he will be desperate to show that his promise to reset ties with Brussels can bring fast benefits to Hungary and its flagging economy.

The EU has frozen some 18 billion euros in funds earmarked for Budapest over Orban’s democratic backsliding, tackling graft and the treatment of LGBTQ issues.

Magyar has until the end of August to start pushing through reforms to try to secure the 10 billion euros left over from Covid recovery funds, or lose them for good.

Brussels could be willing to move fast on EU funds as it did for Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk after he took power a few years ago.

“It would give Magyar an enormous boost to say ‘look I’m coming back from Brussels with these funds,” said another EU diplomat.



– New mood? –



It may be a little harder to gauge, but EU officials will also be hoping for a more constructive atmosphere around the bloc’s top table.

While they’d learned to live with his grandstanding, Orban’s hardening stance towards the end — and proximity to Moscow — had seriously strained trust between leaders.

“I think everyone will welcome Magyar with renewed enthusiasm,” an EU official said.

That’s not saying that all will now be joy and harmony. EU leaders will still fight their corners tooth and nail, Magyar included.

“Magyar will want, as he did during the campaign, not to be caricatured as being a pawn of Brussels; do not expect him to say yes to everything,” said the second EU diplomat.

Trump says ‘not a big fan’ of Pope Leo after his anti-war message


ByAFP
April 13, 2026


US President Donald Trump slammed the Pope's anti-war message as he returned to the White House after a weekend of golf and UFC fighting - Copyright AFP ATTA KENARE

US President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that he is “not a big fan” of Pope Leo XIV, after the global leader of Catholics made a plea for peace amid the war in the Middle East.

The 70-year-old American pope publicly implored leaders on Saturday to end the violence, telling worshippers at St Peter’s Basilica: “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”

“I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo. He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

He accused the pontiff of “toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon.”

Trump later doubled down on his comments to reporters with a post on Truth Social, saying: “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”

“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” he said.

The president added that Leo had only been elected “because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”

“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”

Trump later posted an AI-generated image seemingly depicting himself as Jesus Christ.

In the image, the president appears dressed in red and white robes as he cures a man with his healing hand. The American flag is shown over his shoulder.

Trump and the White House have previously shared AI-generated images, including one that showed the president dressed as the pope.



– Rejecting a rift –



Washington and the Vatican have rejected reports of a rift.

On Friday, a Vatican official denied reports that a top Pentagon official gave the church’s envoy to the United States a “bitter lecture” over Pope Leo’s criticisms of the Trump administration.

The story in the Free Press — which the Pentagon had already dismissed as “distorted” — reported that Cardinal Christophe Pierre was summoned in January to the Pentagon, where he was given a dressing-down by US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby.

The military official reportedly told the cardinal that the United States “has the military power to do whatever it wants — and that the Church had better take its side.”

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement “the account presented by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth in any way.”

While both parties insist the meeting was cordial, the Holy See and the White House have openly been at odds over the Trump administration’s hardline mass deportation campaign — which the pope called “inhuman” — and the use of military force in the Middle East and Venezuela.

When Trump made genocidal threats against Iran Tuesday — saying “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” — the pontiff slammed the “truly unacceptable” statement and urged parties to “come back to the table” for negotiations.

Earlier this month, Pope Leo hailed the news of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran as a “sign of real hope.”

But peace talks between the United States and Iran, held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, ended abruptly and without a resolution on Saturday, with US Vice President JD Vance telling reporters after a marathon-session of talks that Washington has delivered its “final and best offer.”

Trump rages at 'weak' Pope Leo XIV over criticisms: 'Leo should get his act together!'

Robert Davis
April 12, 2026 

RAW STORY

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks after disembarking Air Force One as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., April 12, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

President Donald Trump raged at Pope Leo XIV in a Truth Social post on Sunday night after the Pope criticized the president.

Pope Leo has been an outspoken critic of Trump's war with Iran, and called the president's threat to destroy the Iranian civilization "truly unacceptable." The Pope has also rebuked the president's immigration policies.

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money!” Leo said on Saturday, according to the Associated Press. “Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”

Trump responded to Pope Leo's criticisms on Sunday on Truth Social.

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about 'fear' of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart," Trump wrote. "I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!"

"I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country," Trump added. "And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History."

"Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!" Trump continued.

Observers mock 'lunatic' Trump's late-night diatribe about Pope Leo XIV: 'Bro, go to bed'

Robert Davis
April 12, 2026 

RAW STORY

Political analysts and observers mocked President Donald Trump on Sunday night after he issued a lengthy diatribe against Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo has sharply criticized the Trump administration's immigration policies and its war with Iran. Those criticisms seem to have gotten under Trump's skin, as he raged at the "weak" Pope for his handling of "crime" and "foreign policy" in a new post on Truth Social.

"I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," Trump wrote. "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country."

"And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History," he added. "Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn't (sic) in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican."

Political analysts and observers reacted on social media.

"Bro, go to bed," Rep. Malcom Kenyatta, a Democrat in Pennsylvania, posted on X.

"I've never been closer to converting to Catholicism than this moment," physician Eric Strong posted on Bluesky. "I have absolutely no intention of ever doing so - but this is still the closest I've been."

"Trump is a f------ lunatic," writer Polly Sigh posted on X.

"Way to build coalitions. Attack the Pope!" writer Wajahat Ali posted on X.

Op-Ed: Trump vs Pope is not a fight Trump can win.


By Paul Wallis
EDITOR AT LARGE

DIGITAL JOURNAL
April 13, 2026


Pope Leo painted a grim picture of the current state of the world during a prayer vigil for peace at St Peter's Basilica - Copyright AFP Filippo MONTEFORTE

Americans seem to think that the rest of the world is some sort of sideshow. 8 billion people think otherwise.

The world didn’t elect Trump. They’re not under his jurisdiction. Nor are Canada, Greenland, Europe, or the rest of the world, including the Vatican and the Pope, the most recent subject of a Trump tirade.

You’d think otherwise from Trump’s stated views. The Pope is accused of being “weak on crime, weak on nuclear weapons”.

Let’s leave out the fully justified sarcasm. The Pope doesn’t have the Epstein files on his To Do list, nor a plague of lawsuits dating back years. The Pope isn’t presiding over the biggest, dirtiest, most crime-ridden money laundry on Earth in conjunction with global organized crime that makes trillions a year. Trump has never even mentioned organized crime in either term.

The Pope isn’t even threatening to destroy civilizations. The guy should obviously get out more and mix with the real conservative geniuses who selflessly destroy their own countries with or without wars.

The Pope is also accused of catering to the Radical Left, that omnipresent, vicious global threat that never seems to do anything at all. The same Radical Left we’ve been calling “leftovers” for decades now, based on their equally dated rhetoric. Catering may even go so far as a feeble smile and an overpriced avocado sandwich.

Trump also posted a truly nauseating picture of himself as a saviour-like figure healing the sick by laying on of AI-generated glowing hands. Some might call it heresy. Others might call it bad taste in a country maimed by medical costs.

The world’s 1.4 billion Catholics may not be impressed by all this.

Neither is anyone else.

Even Murdoch’s News Group is calling it “weird”. According to the quote in that link, the Pope “likes crime’. That News article is interesting because it uses the same misplaced capitalizations that Trump includes in every statement. It may well be verbatim to some extent.

Trump was elected to be President of the United States.

Nowhere else.

Nobody else.

We’ll see how good he is at that if the 2026 budget goes through with its two trillion overspend. If all the court orders don’t destroy him. If the Epstein files and associated baggage suddenly turn into fiction.

There are roughly as many Catholics in the US as Trump’s entire voter base in 2024.

Trump is famously not good with numbers.

I just want to see the numbers when they read the will.

Critics dumbfounded as Trump suffers 'complete collapse' among his strongest voter group

Alexander Willis
April 12, 2026 
RAW STORY


U.S. President Donald Trump attends UFC 327 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, U.S., April 11, 2026. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool via REUTERS

A new CBS News poll published Sunday found that Trump has suffered an unprecedented collapse in support among what has historically been his single-strongest voter base, leaving critics stunned.

Conducted between April 8 and 10, the CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted with a “nationally representative sample” of 2,387 adults, and found that among white, non-college-educated voters, Trump’s support fell from 36 points in February of 2025 to minus 4, a staggering 40-point drop.

“Trump complete collapse amongst his original base: working class voters,” wrote Robert Barnes, a trial and constitutional lawyer, in a social media post on X Sunday to his nearly 370,000 followers.

“This is the making of a party [realignment],” wrote Neera Tanden, a Democratic strategist and former Biden administration official, also in a social media post on X to her more than 330,000 followers.

More broadly, Americans overall disapproved of Trump’s job performance by a margin of 61%, with 39% approving. Additionally, 63% described the condition of the economy as “bad,” and 64% disapproved of Trump’s handling of the U.S. war against Iran, with 62% believing that Trump did not “have a clear plan” for the conflict.
“40 POINT SWING!” noted Amy Siskind, political activist and writer, writing in a social media post
on X to her more than 445,000 followers.

Trump just proved he's 'the most powerful idiot' in world history: columnist

Robert Davis
April 12, 2026 
RAW STORY




President Donald Trump's latest effort to settle the war with Iran proves that he is "the most powerful idiot in the history of the world," according to one columnist.

David Rothkopf, a columnist at The Daily Beast, argued in a new column on Sunday that Trump's decision to impose a retaliatory blockade on the Strait of Hormuz showed the president is operating with the "strategic acumen of a four-year-old in a fight on a pre-school playground."

The Iranian regime has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the U.S. and Israel launching a coordinated bombing campaign across Iran in late February. The closure has sent global energy prices skyrocketing.

"He is undoubtedly the most powerful idiot in the history of the world," Rothkopf wrote.

"Both his idiocy and his power are unparalleled. On the latter point, his position as president and commander-in-chief of the most dominant, potent nation confirms that no idiot since the beginning of time has ever been in a position to do so much damage to so many people as a consequence of his idiocy," he added.

"On the prior point, just look at the record," Rothkopf continued. "The misbegotten, ill-considered, going-from-bad-freaking-worse every damn day War with Iran illustrates Trump’s manifold mental deficiencies with shocking clarity—and, unfortunately for all of us, the damage he is doing seems certain to touch more lives in more egregious ways going forward than it already has."

 

Spectacular find: archaeologists recover 1000 Roman objects from a lake in Switzerland

Copyright © Fondation Octopus

By Kirsten Ripper & Euronews

Published on 12/04/2026 - 

In Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland, archaeologists have recovered a shipload of more than 1,000 very well preserved ceramic artefacts and swords dating from 20 to 50 AD. To avoid looting, the spectacular find was initially kept secret.

The moment of discovery was particularly impressive for the underwater archaeologists. Diving in Lake Neuchâtel, Fabien Langenegger and Julien Pfyffer made a spectacular discovery from the Roman Empire.

"At first, we both cautiously approached this pile of circles, which could have been a depot of mines left behind from the Second World War. But when I switched on my camera light, the characteristic colour of terracotta emerged. Looking at some broken plates, we realised that this find was extraordinary."

This is how Julien Pfyffer of Swiss NGO Octopus Foundation describes the discovery of a particularly well-preserved cargo from a ship that probably sank between 20 and 50 AD in an interview with Euronews. Even food remains found in the ceramic vessels are now being analysed.

Not mines, but a spectacular ceramic find in Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland @ Fondation Octopus

"We remained rooted to the spot above the cargo"

"We stood rooted to the spot over this load for several minutes. At that moment, as I watched Fabien, I realised that we were in a very special situation." This was at the end of November 2024, but was kept secret for a long time to avoid looting.

Related

Drone footage showing a dark spot in the water of Lake Neuchâtel, which had been clearer for several years, had initiated the dive - the search was for a wreck. During excavation campaigns - lasting two weeks in 2025 and almost a month in 2026 - the underwater archaeologists from the Octopus Foundation unearthed more than 1,000 objects.

This coin lay at the bottom of Lake Neuchâtel @ Fondation Octopus

Clues about kitchen utensils and legionnaires

It is assumed that this was the cargo of a freight ship that was supposed to bring kitchen utensils manufactured in Switzerland to a Roman camp. One crate was dated to the year 17 AD.

The wreck of the cargo ship has not yet been found in Lake Neuchâtel. In recent decades, Roman ships have been excavated in both the Rhine in Germany and the Rhône in France.

However, objects were found that belonged to the equipment of legionaries - namely two gladiator swords, a dagger, a belt buckle and a fibula. According to the team of archaeologists, these suggest that legionnaires were escorting the ship. Given the quantity of artefacts found, the cargo could have been intended for a legion of around 6,000 men.

A sword with a wooden hilt at the bottom of Lake Neuchâtel @ Fondation Octopus

A wicker basket was also discovered, which, according to archaeologists, "has been miraculously preserved in the lake chalk and contains a group of six ceramic objects that differ in their manufacture from the rest of the load." The research team assumes that these are the less elaborate crockery and food of the seamen, i.e. the ship's sailors.

Underwater archaeologists recover the 2000-year-old ship's cargo @ Fondation Octopus

"We have recovered from the water all the artefacts - just over 1000 - that were in danger of being damaged by anchors or nets or stolen by looters. These artefacts are now in the cleaning phase and are being processed by the restoration team on land. Once this phase is complete, the restorers can discuss with the archaeologists what they have observed and what we completely miss during the excavation phase, as we are very often in the middle of a cloud of sediment," explains Julien Pfyffer. "The restorers will be able to recognise details (such as manufacturing seals, traces of food, protective elements such as straw between the plates) that are very difficult for us to see in the water."

The finds are currently being restored and analysed @ Fondation Octopus

The Octopus Foundation team is preparing a book and a documentary film to be published in 2027. An exhibition of the spectacular finds will be held at the Laténium (source in German), Switzerland's largest archaeological museum, in Neuchâtel. A date has not yet been set. And there is still a lot to discover: according to the Octopus team, there are more historical artefacts in the oceans than in all the museums in the world.

 

Whale Timmy: Can whale songs still save him? Biologist prepares autopsy

Copyright © Daniel Müller / Greenpeace

By Kirsten Ripper & Euronews

Published on 12/04/2026 - 

For days now, marine biologists have been assuming that there is no rescue for Timmy the humpback whale stranded in the Bay of Wismar. The Environment Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is now talking about a "minimally invasive attempt to mobilise the whale".

"There is no point in carrying an animal that is too weak to swim out into deeper water. It's like throwing a bird that has hit the windscreen into the air and hoping it will fly again. Then the bird dies somewhere else, just not on my doorstep. That's torture for this animal." That's what Lisa Klemens from the German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund says in an interview with the leading German daily SZ.

Her colleague, marine biologist Anja Gallus, also takes a critical view of the way the humpback whale, affectionately known to humans and the media as "Timmy", is treated. For the researchers, he has no name: "The whale is a wild animal, not a pet with which you can build up a loving relationship. That doesn't mean we don't have feelings for this animal. We try to help him as best we can. That's why we went into science."

However, Lisa Klemens, who is preparing for the autopsy of the weakened animal and is being insulted and threatened on the internet, finds herself calling the whale "Timmy".

What sounds could mobilise Timmy the whale?

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Environment Minister Till Backhaus believes that there is no longer any realistic hope of saving the humpback whale.

However, Timmy recently made some unusual noises on Saturday night. As reported by German public broadcaster NDR (source in German), the scientific team is now investigating whether it makes sense to play the whale recordings of its own songs under water. According to the minister, this is a "minimally invasive attempt to mobilise the whale".

Marine biologists in a boat next to Timmy the whale in the Bay of Wismar © Florian Manz / Greenpeace

Marine biologist Klemens speaks of the whale "growling". She "almost felt scolded" when the animal growled at the end of March because the experts had travelled close to it in a boat.

In response to the crossfire of criticism, the Ministry of the Environment in Schwerin has now published the report on the assessment of the stranded humpback whale off the island of Poel (source in German) on the internet. However, the researchers from the German Oceanographic Museum point out how unfounded the accusations often are when people - "holding a megaphone in one hand and a fish sandwich in the other" - protest.

How long will it take for Timmy to die?

Nobody can say how long it will take for the stranded humpback whale to die. Marine biologist Gallus explains: "It sounds harsh, but we may have to wait until the whale has starved to death, and that can take time. Whales don't eat for six months. Although it has just come from a region where it has eaten little, it is not completely emaciated." The researchers admit that this may seem cruel.

Over the past few weeks, Timmy has repeatedly behaved differently than a humpback whale would normally do, namely swim out into the open sea. The apparently injured animal has repeatedly returned to the shallow waters near the coast.

The danger of gillnets in the Baltic Sea

The marine biologists from Stralsund assume that Timmy got caught in a gillnet, in which harbour porpoises native to the Baltic Sea often perish in agony.

Environmental protection organisations such as Greenpeace criticise the up to 15-metre-high and up to 15-kilometre-long nylon net walls because of the enormous quantities of so-called bycatch: ducks and other sea birds, but also marine mammals that cannot locate the thin nets, get caught in them and die.

Lisa Klemens explains that although many people are interested in Timmy's fate and hope for a happy ending, many important problems go unnoticed: "Set nets are a great danger, the animals die a cruel, man-made death in them. But nobody is interested in that, we don't get that much attention."

 

German pilots’ union calls for two-day Lufthansa strike action on Monday and Tuesday

Copyright Photo by Dennis Gecaj on Unsplash

By Fakhriya M. Suleiman

Published on 12/04/2026 - 

The latest round of strikes continues a recent trend of travel disruptions at Germany’s busiest hubs, throwing passenger journeys into uncertainty.

German commercial pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has called on its members at Lufthansa group airlines to stage two days of strike action on Monday and Tuesday.

Set to begin on 13 April at 12:01 am local time and end on 14 April at 11:59 pm local time, the “strike call” applies to VC members at Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Lufthansa Cargo AG and Lufthansa CityLine, the union said in a news release issued on Saturday. It also said that Eurowings GmbH flights that take off from German airports between 12:01 am and 11:59 pm on 13 April will be on strike.

The walkout, announced with less than two days' notice, is projected to put at least 80% of flights from Frankfurt and Munich in jeopardy, potentially leaving more than 50,000 travellers in limbo, Air Traveler Club reported.

VC, which represents at least 10,000 pilots across various German airlines, added that its grievance is rooted in Lufthansa's reluctance to settle several wage disputes, including over 

"Despite a deliberate decision to refrain from strike action over the Easter holidays, no serious offers were forthcoming,” said VC President Andreas Pinheiro.

“During this time, there was neither a response nor any discernible willingness to negotiate on the part of the employers. The employers always have the opportunity to avert the strike by submitting negotiable offers.”

How has Lufthansa responded?

With negotiations collapsing, the Cologne-based carrier now faces the fallout, including replacing scheduled flights with services operated by other airlines within the Lufthansa Group or partner airlines.

“Lufthansa is working intensively to keep the impact on our passengers as low as possible,” the airline said. It added that amid being inundated by a high volume of calls, affected passengers may be informed as late as 12 April.

As per their rebooking and refund policy, passengers with tickets from Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, Brussels Airlines or Air Dolomiti, issued on or before 11 April, and booked on Lufthansa-operated flights, including Lufthansa CityLine on 13 and 14 April, can rebook for free to another Lufthansa Group flight from 11-21 April.

There is also the option to request a refund, no later than 13 April.

Lufthansa will also offer Deutsche Bahn train tickets for passengers on cancelled flights with no alternative options.

“We sincerely regret the disruption caused by the strike announced at short notice by the union Vereinigung Cockpit and thank you for your understanding,” the carrier said.

Weekend awash with disruptions

The upcoming strike action comes after ten of thousands of passengers across Germany experienced travel disruptions over the weekend.

Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation (UFO), a union representing cabin crew professionals in Germany, called on crew members at Lufthansa and its regional subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine GmbH to strike on Friday 10 April.

The day-long strike grounded flights across Frankfurt and Munich, with The Independent reporting approximately 580 Frankfurt flight cancellations, affecting as many as 72,000 travellers.

UFO’s grievances lie in unresolved pay disputes – resorting to industrial action to achieve their demands.

“To this day, management consistently refuses to even enter into negotiations with us regarding our demands for a collectively agreed social plan, to address our demands, or even to submit a negotiable offer for such a plan,” the union said.