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’.

To NOTE

1. Apologies for all the typos yesterday. I spent too much time on the Trump schedule and had to rush the editing before going out.

2. My blog is back on Substack here.

Cosas de España/Galiza

Here’s The Olive News and The Corner on the allegations of criminality against ex president Zapatero, whose nickname was Bambi. I was wrong to say he was in office at the time; I assumed this from the allegation of ‘influence peddling’.

This place might look like Ireland but it’s really Galicia, says the DdP.

Up until yesterday, I never – in 25 years – saw a learner driver on an autopista or autovia – Spain’s dual carriage 120kph A roads. But yesterday, mine was one of 15 cars following one at 25kph (16mph) as it took the exit for North Pontevedra. Perplexity, to my surprise, says this is legal, provided the driver is under official instruction.

Lunching in a restaurant on the Camino, yesterday, I saw quite a few walkers heading south to Portugal, not north to Santiago de Compostela. I’m told that one possible reason for an upsurge in these is that it’s The Year of Fátima, or something like that. These Caminoers follow the blue arrows, not the yellow ones taking one to SdC. I guess some committed folk – the very religious ones – will have walked first north to SdC and are now returning southwards to Portugal, even as far as Lisbon or Fátima. It takes all sorts.

Relatedly, I’m surprised just how many Caminoers head out of Pv city under the midday sun, even in May. Today it was almost 30 degrees in Pv city.

More evidence of the influence of my blog . . . Pothole Pat was filled in the day after I posted a foto of her . . .

Notary News . . . My lawyer told me this morning that she’d gone there yesterday and that they’d call me about picking up the escritura. They haven’t.

The Middle East War

The latest update from Naked Capitalism.

The United States of Trump America

Dr Gartner tells the Daily Beast of his observations and his terrifying conviction that there’s a high probability that Trump will press the nuclear button and that, effectively, there’s no obvious way to stop him . Podcast or Video.

There are reports that Vance and Rubio are preparing a coup but, unsurprisingly, they’re given only a 30% chance of success. My guess is it’ll never happen. Too much fear of failure and its repercussions for their ambitions.

Regarding the most outrageously corrupt act yet by Trump – the slush fund for Jan 6 criminals and himself – this is my understanding, after listening to several opinions:-

• Is it illegal? – Almost certainly.
• Can the judge stop it? – No
• Congressional Democrats acting alone stop it? – No. They have no ‘standing’ in law.
• Can Congressional Democrats and Republicans acting together stop it? – In theory, Yes, but very unlikely to happen. Plus, if Congress did pass a law to make it illegal, Trump would veto it. Congress would then need to pass a new law and impeach Trump. Not likely until the Democrats control both the House and the Senate. Assuming Trump lives that long.

So, as is often the case with the law, the question is not whether it’s legal but whether, in practice, it can be stopped. Effectively, it’s a political issue, not a legal one, And all depends on the Republicans and, if they prove ineffective, the electorate.

Shockingly, the most corrupt president in US history might well get away with it. Here’s the folk from The Rest is Politics US on the issue. Podcast Video

Given that Trump will be desperate to avoid being impeached and going to jail, creating a slush fund to transfer cash to violent supporters can surely be seen as a measure preparatory to another incitement to insurrection should the Republicans lose the Congress in November. This follows from the logic that, if Trump wants to stay in power and loot the US Treasury while staying out of jail, his options are:-

• Win in November and retain control of Congress. Unlikely.
• Rig the election. Very likely, via reduction of the electorate
• Influence the result via violence, etc. Very likely.
• Defy a negative result.

So, promising in advance to pay- both now and later – his insurrectionist foot soldiers needs to be seen the in the light of his final – desperate – option. He is bribing the most criminal members of US society. And possibly some Christian Nationalists, who think he’s ordained by their god.

The US is increasingly like Germany of the 1930s. If you don’t believe me, read the trilogy I cited a few months ago. I’m sure some White House folk have.

Some good news? It’s said that the vile Stephen Miller has been frozen out of White House meetings, But Perplexity claims this is an exaggeration: On the available evidence, this looks more like partial sidelining or narrowing of portfolio than a full freeze-out. The most credible reporting does not show him being excluded from the White House generally, especially not on immigration. So, wishful thinking.

Quote of the Day

In the USA, the top 1% took more wealth every year – then came Trump [Guess what happened then.]

Russia

Indefatigable reader Perry cites this video on Russia having entered a demographic death spiral.

Spanish

• Menina: Lady-in-waiting. Maid-of-honour.
• Pomelo: Grapefruit.

Did you know?

The name Charlemagne comes from the French form of the Latin Carolus Magnus, meaning “Charles the Great.” It began as a title or honorific for the Frankish ruler who started the Carolingian dynasty, which ruled over the kingdom which became France. A tad ironically, as a Frank, he spoke a form of High German, not French. So, the French are really Germans, some would say . . .

You Have to Laugh

How to speak Glasgow. A language I can just about understand. On a good day.

Finally . . .

Perry has kindly sent this link to an article on the Dogger Bank.

Finally . . . Finally

Draft no. 2 of the Trump Schedule.

• Additions are below the empty boxes at the end of each column.
• Note that the 2 sides don’t reciprocate and nothing is in priority order.

What Trump is good at	What Trump is bad at
Lying	Telling the truth
Being corrupt	Being a politician
Making billions corruptly	Being a president
Blaming others for his mistakes	Dealing with dictators
Cheating those who work for him	Admitting mistakes
Defrauding his supporters	Taking responsibilty
Not answering questions	Apologising
Insider dealing	Showing sympathy
Golfing frequently	Showing empathy
Employing inadequate people	Restraining his anger
Insulting those who ask questions	Negotiating – bullhorn, threats and lawsuits
Being a reality TV star	Paying people who work for him
Faking Christian values	Running businesses, even casinos
Living in a fantasy world	Understanding non-MAGA voters
Adultery	Delivering on his campaign promises
Feeding his MAGA base	Being a faithful husband
Rash decision-making	Getting out of problems he’s created
Inconsistency	Appointing competent people
TACO-ing	Employing talented people
Controlling the narrative	Understanding the purpose of NATO
Insane posting	Cooperating with US allies
Making billionaires even richer	Compromising
	Dealmaking
	Recognising reality
	Being faithful to those faithful to him
	Sleeping adequately
ADDED	ADDED
Fundraising	Thinking though planned actions
Bribing billionaires	Showing restraint
Bullying
Threatening
Inciting violence
Screaming instead of talking
Ranting

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

The Usual Links . . .

The US commentators I follow, all on Podbean and/or YouTube for free:-

• The Daily Beast Podcast/Video
• Inside Trump’s Head Podcast/Video
• The Daily Blast with Greg Sargent Podcast
• The Rest is Politics US Podcast/Video
• The DSR Network Podcast
• The Politics Girl Video. Amusing
• The Daily Show Video. Very amusing

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 . . .

I can also be read on X at Thoughts from Galicia. And on Substack here. I no longer post on Facebook.

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.

If you´re thinking of moving to Spain, this link should be useful to you.