Awake, for morning in the bowl of night has flung the stone that puts
the stars to flight.
And, lo, the hunter of the east has caught the sultan’s turret in a noose of light!

Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable – Christopher Howse: ‘A Pilgrim in Spain.

Cosas de España

More on the iniquitous Spanish tax ‘trap’ for folk becoming resident here under the Beckham Rule. And on how it can happen in a modern democracy.

On a lighter note . . . This is the final Ravachol, ready to be incinerated on Saturday night.

I’m told he’s a film director this year as a reference to both the Ferroz Awards ceremony recently hosted by Pv city and to the fact that a crew has been shooting a film about the Galician writer Castelao in the city.

Last night was La Noche de las Piratas, when a lot of kids (and adults) dressed up as corsairs to see a boatload of nasty Brits sail through the old quarter, in a galleon sporting a large British flag. This was a reference to (the despised) Francis Drake, who raided this coast a couple of times, causing great damage in both Vigo and Pv city. One British (landlubber) pirate was a Scottish piper, a member of a marching band.

I think they might actually be real Scottish bagpipes, not the – one drone less – Galician gaita. Not sure about the busby, though.

Europe

Thank-you, Mr Trump (Oh, and your mate, Mr Putin) . . . European rearmament is going to turn the world upside down. A rapid rise in defence spending is about to unleash a high-octane blast of military Keynesianism.

The USA

How utterly depressing to see Republicans stand and cheer the inanities, insults and lies of Trump in his address to Congress last night. Perhaps the lowest moment came when when Trump repeated claims that god had purposefully saved him from assassination. Which was cheered to the rafters by the massed ranks of sycophants. Or nodding jackasses. ‘Bobbleheads’, as someone has called them.

The moment the US irony meter broke down completely . . . As Elon Musk looked on from a prime seat, Trump announced that: The days of unelected bureaucrats are over.

If you can bear it, this a list of Trump’s litany of lies.

And here’s WSJ on Trump’s ‘dumb’ tariffs, which came into force last night.

This is a podcast on Michael Wolff’s latest book on Trump. He insists, inter alia, that the only strategy Trump has is a media strategy – centred on constant conflict, aimed at ensuring he dominates the news agenda. Witness his comment after the debacle with Zelensky about it being great television. In short, a perpetual reality show of nil conviction or depth. But it has to be said he’s pretty successful at this. As I’ve said, I believe it allows others to use the shallow, vain, conviction-less Trump to achieve their objectives. Which are set out in the Project 2025 pdf available on line. Using oodles of flattery, of course.

This podcast references said Project 25 – which Trump has repeatedly said he knows nothing about – and cites its architect – Russel Vought – as, effectively, the most important person in the USA. Wiki doesn’t have a page on him but there’s a profile at the end of this post.

That podcast also endorses the claim that the Ukraine minerals deal is non-viable, possibly explaining why Trump has let it drop, blaming Zelensky for that.

The clearly mad Commerce Secretary – Howard Lutnick – said yesterday that Trump might roll back tariffs within 48 hours of the chaos they’ve produced. Because “he’s decisive, responsive and acts fast’. Or perhaps because he has no idea what he’s doing.

How everyone other that most Republicans saw that meeting . . .

Ukraine

Now hit by a Trump ‘pause’ in aid. Just what Putin needed, of course.

Quotes of the Day

• Folks, this wasn’t politics. It was like watching Sinatra play Vegas. It was madness on a level not seen since Hugo Chavez handed out washing machines and fridges to voters on TV. 
• This was a speech which would seem normal if you were a complete moron.
• Trump and Vance aren’t clever; they’re clueless
• Until European leaders begin to factor in assumptions that Trump will do the completely unreasonable, however awful, then they cannot begin to hope to deal with a White House that seems to be bent on the destruction of the Western alliance.
• When a clown moves into a palace he doesn’t become a king: the palace becomes a circus.

Spanish

Dar la talla: To measure up (to a challenge)

Finally . . .

Here’s your chance to see something that simply couldn’t be done these days . . .

Russel Vought

As Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Vought is a key figure in the Trump administration. He is known for his conservative policy-making and government restructuring efforts. He co-authored the Project 2025 policy agenda, which advocates expanded executive powers, spending cuts to social programs, and aggressive deregulation. In 2021, he Founded the Center for Renewing America, a conservative advocacy group. He is known for his staunch fiscal conservatism and Christian nationalist views. He supports:-

• Strengthening presidential authority over federal agencies
• Large-scale budget reductions, particularly in low-income assistance programs and environmental regulations
• The controversial “Schedule F” policy to reclassify and remove federal employees
• Combating what he calls “woke and weaponized bureaucracy”

His tenure as OMB Director is expected to focus on deregulation, fiscal conservatism, and realigning federal resources with Trump’s priorities

My thanks to those readers who take the trouble to Like my posts.

The Usual Links . . .

• You can get my posts by email as soon as they’re published. With the added bonus that they’ll contain the typos I’ll discover later. I believe there’s a box for this at the bottom of each post. If you do this but don’t read the posts, I will delete your subscription. So perhaps don’t bother if you have other reasons for subscribing . . .
• For new readers: If you’ve landed here looking for info on Galicia or Pontevedra, try here. If you’re passing through Pontevedra on the Camino, you’ll find a guide to the city there.
• For those thinking of moving to Spain:– This is an extremely comprehensive and accurate guide to the challenge, written by a Brit who lives in both the North and the South and who’s very involved in helping Camino walkers. And this is something on the so-called Beckham Rule, which is beneficial – tax-wise – for folk who want to work here. Finally, some advice on getting a mortgage. And this article ‘debunks claims re wealth and residency taxes’. Probably only relevant if you’re a HNWI. In which case, you’ll surely know what that stands for.