US politics

Subterms

    More stories

    • 188 Shares32 Views

      in US Politics

      Donald Trump’s UFC stunt is more than a circus. It’s authoritarian theatre | Karim Zidan

      by

      Ten years ago – before I became an investigative journalist – I found myself working as a color commentator for a Russian mixed martial arts organization bankrolled by an oligarch deep in Vladimir Putin’s orbit.The job took me around the Russian Federation and its neighboring states, allowing me to pursue unique stories that would otherwise have been out of my reach. I met a Latvian fighter who escaped a black magic cult run by his coach, attended an MMA show with the president of Ingushetia (now Russia’s deputy minister of defence) and knocked back vodka shots with ex-KGB officers and Russian oligarchs.Then there was the time the organization attempted to host an event in Moscow’s famed Red Square, one of the most historically and politically significant landmarks in Russia. It also sits adjacent to the Kremlin, the seat of Russia’s political power. The event would have been a chance for the organization and its oligarch to ingratiate themselves to Putin, a known MMA fan who had previously attended their shows.Logistical issues, including security concerns and layers of bureaucratic red tape, rendered the event impossible at the time. But the incident stuck with me nonetheless as an example of the political undercurrent flowing through the sport. That memory became especially relevant as Donald Trump announced plans to host an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday next year.Speaking to a crowd of supporters during a Salute to America event in Iowa Thursday, Trump said: “Does anybody watch UFC? The great Dana White? We’re going to have a UFC fight. We’re going to have a UFC fight – think of this – on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there.”White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the news during the press briefing, adding that the president was “dead serious” about hosting a UFC event at the official residence and workplace of the president.The announcement comes as no surprise given Trump’s longstanding relationship with the UFC, its current owner Ari Emanuel and its CEO Dana White.Over the past few years, Trump has frequently attended UFC events, basking in the admiration of the young, predominantly male crowd. He has cultivated relationships with fighters, leveraging their support to portray himself as a symbolic strongman. He has embraced the UFC’s culture of defiance, machismo and spectacle to help buttress his image as a rebel against liberal norms. It has also hastened the replacement of America’s conventional political culture with an abrasive new blend of entertainment and confrontational politics, perfectly embodied by both Trump and White.The UFC CEO stumped for Trump at three Republican national conventions and a slew of campaign rallies over the past eight years. He traveled with the president on Air Force One and produced a propaganda documentary on Trump entitled Combatant-in-Chief. And when Trump won the 2024 presidential election, it was White who took the stage at his victory party – because, naturally, Trump needed his fight promoter to seal the deal.For the UFC, its association with Trump has granted the once-renegade promotion a new kind of political legitimacy and influence. It also set it apart from other sports leagues through its unapologetically conservative posture. The UFC is even sponsoring the United States semiquincentennial, dubbed America250, joining the likes of Amazon, the Coca-Cola Company, Oracle and Walmart.Since taking office in January, Trump has attended two UFC events. He most recently attended UFC 316 in June just hours after signing a memo ordering the deployment of 2,000 national guard troops to Los Angeles county after Ice immigration raids sparked mass protests. He nevertheless enjoyed a standing ovation from the fans in attendance, and glowing endorsements from the fighters, one of whom even kneeled before Trump. UFC champion Kayla Harrison embraced him, planted a kiss on his cheek and wrapped her championship belt around his waist as his family and supporters looked on in delight. It was a spectacle befitting the strongman Trump imagines himself to be.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionWhich is why Trump’s plan to stage a UFC event at the White House makes perfect sense. It is the natural climax of a partnership in which the UFC has become the stage for Maga mythology. It carries shades of fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini, particularly its obsession with masculinity, spectacle and nationalism – but with a modern, American twist.View image in fullscreenFascist Italy used rallies, parades and sports events to project strength and unity. Sports, especially combat sports, were used as tools to cultivate Mussolini’s ideal masculinity and portray Italy as a strong and powerful nation. Similarly, Trump has relied on the UFC to project his tough-guy image, and to celebrate his brand of nationalistic masculinity. From name-dropping champions who endorse him to suggesting a tournament that would pit UFC fighters against illegal immigrants, Trump has repeatedly found ways to make UFC-style machismo a part of his political brand.Since Trump returned to office in January, his presidency has been marked by a purge of federal agencies, crackdowns on dissent and immigration, and hollowing out institutions once designed as guardrails against abuses in presidential power. Loyalty to Trump, rather than the constitution and the American people, has become the primary litmus test for political advancement. Meanwhile, sports have emerged as a central feature of his administration, advancing his policies while projecting a cult of personality and the celebration of violence. All of these are the hallmarks of authoritarianism.There was once a time when the US could point to the authoritarian pageantry of regimes like Mussolini’s Italy and claim at least some moral distance. That line is no longer visible. What was once soft power borrowed from strongmen is now being proudly performed on America’s own front lawn.

      Karim Zidan writes a regular newsletter on the intersection of sports and authoritarian politics. More

    • 125 Shares28 Views

      in US Politics

      Trump is waging war against the media – and winning

      by

      :root .content–interactive,:root .content–interactive-grid,:root .furniture-wrapper,:root #article-header >div,:root #feature-header >div,:root #article-header >h1,:root #feature-header >h1{opacity:0}:root.interactive-loaded .content–interactive,:root.interactive-loaded .content–interactive-grid,:root.interactive-loaded .furniture-wrapper,:root.interactive-loaded #article-header >div,:root.interactive-loaded #feature-header >div,:root.interactive-loaded #article-header >h1,:root.interactive-loaded #feature-header >h1{opacity:1;transition:opacity .3s ease}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:500;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:500;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:600;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:600;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:900;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:900;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Titlepiece;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:500;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:500;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:600;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:600;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:900;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:900;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Titlepiece;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:normal}#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid{grid-column-gap:0px;grid-template-columns:100%;grid-template-areas:”media” “title” “headline” “standfirst” “lines” “meta” “body”}@media (min-width: 30em){#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption{padding:0 20px;max-width:620px}}@media (min-width: 46.25em){#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid{grid-template-columns:100%;grid-column-gap:10px;grid-template-areas:”title” “headline” “standfirst” “media” “lines” “meta” “body”}#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid #maincontent{padding-right:80px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid{grid-template-columns:620px 300px;grid-template-areas:”title right-column” “headline right-column” “standfirst right-column” “media right-column” “lines right-column” “meta right-column” “body right-column” “. right-column”}#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid #maincontent,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid #maincontent{padding-right:unset}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid{grid-template-columns:140px 1px 620px 300px;grid-template-areas:”title border headline right-column” “. border standfirst right-column” “. border media right-column” “. border body right-column” “. border . right-column”}#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid .content__standfirst{padding-bottom:0}#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid figure.element–immersive figcaption{padding:4px 0 0}#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines],#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta],.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines],.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta],#comment-body .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines],#comment-body .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta],[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines],[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta],#feature-body .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines],#feature-body .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta]{grid-area:2/1/5/2}#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines],.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines],#comment-body .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines],[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines],#feature-body .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=lines]{height:-moz-max-content;height:max-content;margin-top:5px}#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta],.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta],#comment-body .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta],[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta],#feature-body .content–interactive-grid [data-gu-name=meta]{margin-top:18px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){#article-body >div .content–interactive-grid,.content–interactive >div .content–interactive-grid,#comment-body .content–interactive-grid,[data-gu-name=body] .content–interactive-grid,#feature-body .content–interactive-grid{grid-template-columns:219px 1px 620px 80px 300px}}body.ios .article__header .standfirst__inner p,body.android .article__header .standfirst__inner p{font-family:Guardian Headline,Guardian Egyptian Web,Guardian Headline Full,Georgia,serif;font-weight:500}body.ios .article__header .article-kicker__section,body.android .article__header .article-kicker__section{display:block}body.ios .article__header .article-kicker__section:first-letter,body.android .article__header .article-kicker__section:first-letter{text-transform:uppercase}body.ios .article__header .keyline-4,body.android .article__header .keyline-4{padding-top:12px!important}body.ios .article__header .meta__misc .byline__author,body.android .article__header .meta__misc .byline__author{font-family:Guardian Headline,Guardian Egyptian Web,Guardian Headline Full,Georgia,serif;font-weight:700}body.ios .article__header .meta__misc .byline__author a,body.android .article__header .meta__misc .byline__author a{font-weight:700}body.ios .article figure.element-image .figure__inner,body.android .article figure.element-image .figure__inner{height:auto!important}body.ios .article figure.element-atom+p,body.android .article figure.element-atom+p{margin-top:0}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Light.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-LightItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:300;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Regular.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-RegularItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:400;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Medium.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:500;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-MediumItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:500;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Semibold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:600;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-SemiboldItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:600;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BoldItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Black.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:900;font-style:normal}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Headline Full;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-BlackItalic.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:900;font-style:italic}@font-face{font-family:Guardian Titlepiece;src:url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff2) format(“woff2”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.woff) format(“woff”),url(https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-titlepiece/noalts-not-hinted/GTGuardianTitlepiece-Bold.ttf) format(“truetype”);font-weight:700;font-style:normal}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive{margin-left:160px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.content__main-column–interactive{margin-left:240px}}.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom{max-width:620px}@media (max-width: 46.24em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom{max-width:100%}}.content__main-column–interactive .element-showcase{margin-left:0}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-showcase{max-width:620px}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-showcase{max-width:860px}}.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{max-width:1100px}@media (max-width: 46.24em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width));position:relative;left:50%;right:50%;margin-left:calc(-50vw + var(–half-scrollbar-width))!important;margin-right:calc(-50vw + var(–half-scrollbar-width))!important}}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{transform:translate(-20px);width:calc(100% + 60px)}}@media (max-width: 71.24em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{margin-left:0;margin-right:0}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{transform:translate(0);width:auto}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.content__main-column–interactive .element-immersive{max-width:1260px}}.content__main-column–interactive p,.content__main-column–interactive ul{max-width:620px}.content__main-column–interactive:before{position:absolute;top:0;height:calc(100% + 15px);min-height:100px;content:””}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive:before{border-left:1px solid #dcdcdc;z-index:-1;left:-10px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.content__main-column–interactive:before{border-left:1px solid #dcdcdc;left:-11px}}.content__main-column–interactive .element-atom{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:12px;padding-top:12px}.content__main-column–interactive p+.element-atom{padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:12px}.content__main-column–interactive .element-inline{max-width:620px}@media (min-width: 61.25em){figure[data-spacefinder-role=inline].element{max-width:620px}}:root{–dateline: #606060;–headerBorder: #dcdcdc;–captionText: #999;–captionBackground: hsla(0, 0%, 7%, .72);–feature: #c70000;–new-pillar-colour: var(–primary-pillar, var(–feature))}.content__main-column–interactive .element.element-atom,.element.element-atom{padding:0}#article-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,#article-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#article-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#article-body >div hr+p,.content–interactive >div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive >div .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive >div .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,.content–interactive >div hr+p,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#comment-body hr+p,[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,[data-gu-name=body] hr+p,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type,#feature-body hr+p{padding-top:14px}#article-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#article-body >div hr+p:first-letter,.content–interactive >div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive >div .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive >div .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,.content–interactive >div hr+p:first-letter,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#comment-body .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#comment-body hr+p:first-letter,[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,[data-gu-name=body] .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,[data-gu-name=body] hr+p:first-letter,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#feature-body .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,#feature-body hr+p:first-letter{font-family:Guardian Headline,Guardian Egyptian Web,Guardian Headline Full,Georgia,serif;font-weight:700;font-size:111px;line-height:92px;float:left;text-transform:uppercase;box-sizing:border-box;margin-right:8px;vertical-align:text-top;color:var(–drop-cap, var(–new-pillar-colour))}#article-body >div hr+p,.content–interactive >div hr+p,#comment-body hr+p,[data-gu-name=body] hr+p,#feature-body hr+p{padding-top:0}#maincontent .element.element–showcase.element-showcase figcaption,#feature-article-container .element.element–showcase.element-showcase figcaption,#standard-article-container .element.element–showcase.element-showcase figcaption,#comment-article-container .element.element–showcase.element-showcase figcaption{position:static!important;width:100%;max-width:620px}.element.element–immersive.element-immersive{width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px))}@media (max-width: 71.24em){.element.element–immersive.element-immersive{max-width:978px}.element.element–immersive.element-immersive figcaption{padding-inline:10px}}@media (max-width: 71.24em) and (min-width: 30em){.element.element–immersive.element-immersive figcaption{padding-inline:20px}}@media (min-width: 46.25em) and (max-width: 61.24em){.element.element–immersive.element-immersive{max-width:738px}}@media (max-width: 46.24em){.element.element–immersive.element-immersive{margin-left:-10px!important;margin-right:0!important;left:0}}@media (max-width: 46.24em) and (min-width: 30em){.element.element–immersive.element-immersive{margin-left:-20px!important}.element.element–immersive.element-immersive figcaption{padding-inline:20px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper{display:grid;grid-column-gap:20px;grid-row-gap:0px;grid-template-columns:[title-start headline-start meta-start standfirst-start] repeat(5,1fr) [title-end headline-end meta-end standfirst-end portrait-start] repeat(5,1fr) [portrait-end];grid-template-rows:[title-start portrait-start] .25fr [title-end headline-start] 1fr [headline-end standfirst-start] .75fr [standfirst-end meta-start] auto [meta-end portrait-end]}.furniture-wrapper #headline >div:first-child,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] >div:first-child,.furniture-wrapper .headline >div:first-child{border-top:1px solid var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper #meta,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta]{position:relative;padding-top:2px;margin-right:0}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst .content__standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst .content__standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] .content__standfirst{margin-bottom:4px}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst ul li,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst ul li,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] ul li{font-size:20px}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst li a,.furniture-wrapper .standfirst a,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst li a,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst a,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] li a,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] a{border-bottom:none;background-image:none!important;text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:6px;text-decoration-color:var(–headerBorder, #dcdcdc)}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst li a:hover,.furniture-wrapper .standfirst a:hover,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst li a:hover,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst a:hover,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] li a:hover,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] a:hover{text-decoration-color:var(–new-pillar-colour)}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst p:first-of-type,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst p:first-of-type,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] p:first-of-type{border-top:1px solid var(–headerBorder);padding-bottom:0}}@media (min-width: 61.25em) and (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper .standfirst p:first-of-type,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst p:first-of-type,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] p:first-of-type{border-top:unset}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper figure{margin:0 0 0 -10px}.furniture-wrapper figure[data-spacefinder-role=inline].element{max-width:630px}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper{grid-template-columns:[title-start headline-start meta-start] repeat(2,1fr) [meta-end standfirst-start] repeat(5,1fr) [title-end headline-end standfirst-end portrait-start] repeat(7,1fr) [portrait-end];grid-template-rows:[title-start portrait-start] 80px [title-end headline-start] auto [headline-end standfirst-start meta-start] auto [standfirst-end meta-end portrait-end]}.furniture-wrapper #meta:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta]:before{content:””;width:540px;position:absolute;top:0;background-color:var(–headerBorder);height:1px}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] p{border-top:unset}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]:before{content:””;width:1px;background-color:var(–headerBorder);height:100%;position:absolute;top:0;left:.5px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.furniture-wrapper{grid-template-columns:[title-start headline-start meta-start] repeat(3,1fr) [meta-end standfirst-start] repeat(5,1fr) [title-end headline-end standfirst-end portrait-start] repeat(8,1fr) [portrait-end];grid-template-rows:[title-start portrait-start] .25fr [title-end headline-start] 1fr [headline-end standfirst-start meta-start] .75fr [standfirst-end meta-end portrait-end]}.furniture-wrapper #meta:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta]:before{width:620px}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]:before{left:-.5px}}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels >div,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div{padding-top:2px}.furniture-wrapper #headline h1,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1{font-weight:600;max-width:620px;font-size:32px}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper #headline h1,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1{max-width:540px;font-size:50px}}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper .keyline-4,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=lines]{margin-right:0}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper .keyline-4,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=lines]{display:none}}.furniture-wrapper .keyline-4 svg,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=lines] svg{stroke:var(–headerBorder)}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper #meta,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta]{margin-right:0}}.furniture-wrapper #meta .meta__social,.furniture-wrapper #meta .meta__social ul li a span,.furniture-wrapper #meta .meta__comment,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .meta__social,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .meta__social ul li a span,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .meta__comment{border-color:var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper #meta .content__meta-container_dcr >div >gu-island,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=meta] .content__meta-container_dcr >div >gu-island{display:none}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]{margin-left:-10px;padding-left:10px;position:relative}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper .standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]{padding-top:2px}}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst p,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] p{font-weight:400;font-size:20px;padding-bottom:14px}.furniture-wrapper figure{position:relative;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:2px;grid-area:portrait}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper figure{margin-bottom:0}}@media (max-width: 46.24em){.furniture-wrapper figure{width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));margin-left:-10px}}@media (max-width: 46.24em) and (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper figure{margin-left:-20px}}.furniture-wrapper figcaption{position:absolute;bottom:0;padding:4px 10px 12px;background-color:var(–captionBackground);color:var(–captionText);max-width:unset;width:100%;margin-bottom:0;min-height:46px}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span{color:var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span svg{fill:var(–headerBorder)}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span:nth-of-type(1){display:none}.furniture-wrapper figcaption span:nth-of-type(2){display:block;max-width:90%}@media (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper figcaption{padding:4px 20px 12px}}.furniture-wrapper figcaption.hidden{opacity:0}.furniture-wrapper #caption-button{display:block;position:absolute;bottom:10px;right:8px;z-index:100;background-color:var(–captionBackground);border:none;border-radius:50%;padding:6px 5px 5px}.furniture-wrapper #caption-button svg{transform:scale(.85)}@media (min-width: 30em){.furniture-wrapper #caption-button{right:10px}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive:before{top:-12px!important;height:calc(100% + 24px)!important}}.content__main-column–interactive h2{max-width:620px}:root:has(.ios,.android){–darkBackground: #1a1a1a;–feature: #c70000;–darkmodeFeature: #ff5943;–new-pillar-colour: var(–primary-pillar, var(–feature))}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){:root:has(.ios,.android){–new-pillar-colour: var(–darkmode-pillar, var(–darkmodeFeature))}}body.ios #feature-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container .element-atom:first-of-type+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter{color:var(–secondary-pillar, #000)}body.ios #feature-article-container .article__header,body.ios #standard-article-container .article__header,body.ios #comment-article-container .article__header,body.android #feature-article-container .article__header,body.android #standard-article-container .article__header,body.android #comment-article-container .article__header{height:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper{padding:4px 10px 0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels{font-weight:700;font-family:Guardian Headline,Guardian Egyptian Web,Guardian Headline Full,Georgia,serif;color:var(–new-pillar-colour);text-transform:capitalize}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline{font-size:32px;font-weight:700;padding-bottom:12px;color:#121212!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image{position:relative;margin:14px 0 0 -10px;width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));height:auto}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image .figure__inner,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image img,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image .figure__inner,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image .figure__inner,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image .figure__inner,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image .figure__inner,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image .figure__inner,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image a{background-color:transparent;width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));height:auto!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:24px;margin-right:-10px}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p{font-family:Guardian Headline,Guardian Egyptian Web,Guardian Headline Full,Georgia,serif}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a{color:var(–new-pillar-colour)!important;background-image:none!important;text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:6px;text-decoration-color:var(–headerBorder, #dcdcdc);border-bottom:none}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a:hover,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a:hover,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a:hover,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a:hover,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a:hover,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a:hover,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a:hover,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a:hover,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a:hover,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a:hover,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li a:hover,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a:hover{text-decoration-color:var(–new-pillar-colour)}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta{margin:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__byline span,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__byline span,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__byline span,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__byline span,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__byline span,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__byline span{color:var(–new-pillar-colour)}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc{padding:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg{stroke:var(–new-pillar-colour)}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .element–showcase #caption-button,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .element–showcase #caption-button,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .element–showcase #caption-button,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .element–showcase #caption-button,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .element–showcase #caption-button,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .element–showcase #caption-button{display:flex;padding:5px;justify-content:center;align-items:center;width:28px;height:28px;right:14px}body.ios #feature-article-container .article__body,body.ios #standard-article-container .article__body,body.ios #comment-article-container .article__body,body.android #feature-article-container .article__body,body.android #standard-article-container .article__body,body.android #comment-article-container .article__body{padding:0 12px}body.ios #feature-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive),body.ios #standard-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive),body.ios #comment-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive),body.android #feature-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive),body.android #standard-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive),body.android #comment-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive){margin:0;width:calc(100vw – 24px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));height:auto}body.ios #feature-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive) figcaption,body.ios #standard-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive) figcaption,body.ios #comment-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive) figcaption,body.android #feature-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive) figcaption,body.android #standard-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive) figcaption,body.android #comment-article-container .article__body figure.element-image:not(.element–thumbnail):not(.element–immersive) figcaption{padding:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .article__body figure.element-image.element-immersive,body.ios #standard-article-container .article__body figure.element-image.element-immersive,body.ios #comment-article-container .article__body figure.element-image.element-immersive,body.android #feature-article-container .article__body figure.element-image.element-immersive,body.android #standard-article-container .article__body figure.element-image.element-immersive,body.android #comment-article-container .article__body figure.element-image.element-immersive{width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px))}body.ios #feature-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted:before,body.android #feature-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted:before,body.android #standard-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted:before,body.android #comment-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted:before{color:var(–new-pillar-colour)}body.ios #feature-article-container .article__body .prose a,body.ios #standard-article-container .article__body .prose a,body.ios #comment-article-container .article__body .prose a,body.android #feature-article-container .article__body .prose a,body.android #standard-article-container .article__body .prose a,body.android #comment-article-container .article__body .prose a{color:var(–primary-pillar);background-image:none;text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:6px;text-decoration-color:var(–headerBorder)}body.ios #feature-article-container .article__body .prose a:hover,body.ios #standard-article-container .article__body .prose a:hover,body.ios #comment-article-container .article__body .prose a:hover,body.android #feature-article-container .article__body .prose a:hover,body.android #standard-article-container .article__body .prose a:hover,body.android #comment-article-container .article__body .prose a:hover{text-decoration-color:var(–new-pillar-colour)}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper{background-color:#1a1a1a}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels{color:var(–new-pillar-colour)}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline{background-color:unset;color:var(–headerBorder)!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst p,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst p{color:var(–headerBorder)}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst a,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .byline__author,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta span.byline__author a{color:var(–new-pillar-colour)}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__misc svg{stroke:var(–new-pillar-colour)}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image.element–showcase figcaption,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image.element–showcase figcaption,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image.element–showcase figcaption,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image.element–showcase figcaption,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image.element–showcase figcaption,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element-image.element–showcase figcaption{color:var(–dateline)}body.ios #feature-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted,body.ios #standard-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted,body.ios #comment-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted,body.android #feature-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted,body.android #standard-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted,body.android #comment-article-container .article__body .prose blockquote.quoted{color:var(–new-pillar-colour)}body.ios #feature-article-container #article-body >div,body.ios #feature-article-container .content–interactive >div,body.ios #feature-article-container #feature-body,body.ios #feature-article-container [data-gu-name=body],body.ios #feature-article-container #comment-body,body.ios #standard-article-container #article-body >div,body.ios #standard-article-container .content–interactive >div,body.ios #standard-article-container #feature-body,body.ios #standard-article-container [data-gu-name=body],body.ios #standard-article-container #comment-body,body.ios #comment-article-container #article-body >div,body.ios #comment-article-container .content–interactive >div,body.ios #comment-article-container #feature-body,body.ios #comment-article-container [data-gu-name=body],body.ios #comment-article-container #comment-body,body.android #feature-article-container #article-body >div,body.android #feature-article-container .content–interactive >div,body.android #feature-article-container #feature-body,body.android #feature-article-container [data-gu-name=body],body.android #feature-article-container #comment-body,body.android #standard-article-container #article-body >div,body.android #standard-article-container .content–interactive >div,body.android #standard-article-container #feature-body,body.android #standard-article-container [data-gu-name=body],body.android #standard-article-container #comment-body,body.android #comment-article-container #article-body >div,body.android #comment-article-container .content–interactive >div,body.android #comment-article-container #feature-body,body.android #comment-article-container [data-gu-name=body],body.android #comment-article-container #comment-body{background-color:var(–darkBackground)!important}body.ios #feature-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #standard-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.ios #comment-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #standard-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container #article-body >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container .content–interactive >div .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container #feature-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-letter,body.android #comment-article-container #comment-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-letter{color:var(–new-pillar-colour, #ffffff)}}body.ios.garnett–type-comment #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android.garnett–type-comment #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst{padding-top:24px;margin-top:0}.prose h2{font-size:24px}body.ios #feature-article-container #caption-button,body.ios #standard-article-container #caption-button,body.ios #comment-article-container #caption-button{padding:6px 5px 0}body.android #feature-article-container #caption-button,body.android #standard-article-container #caption-button,body.android #comment-article-container #caption-button{padding:4px 4px 0}.furniture-wrapper.has-guardian-org-logo #meta gu-island[name=Branding],.furniture-wrapper.has-guardian-org-logo [data-gu-name=meta] gu-island[name=Branding]{display:block!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,.furniture-wrapper #headline h1,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1,.furniture-wrapper .standfirst div p,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst div p,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] div p{font-weight:500}:root body{–weekend-essay-bg: #fff4f2;background:var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2);–article-section-background: var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2);–sub-meta-background: var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2)}[data-gu-name=lines]{display:none}.furniture-wrapper{position:relative}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.furniture-wrapper{grid-template-rows:[title-start portrait-start] .25fr [title-end headline-start] 1fr [headline-end standfirst-start meta-start] .3fr [standfirst-end meta-end portrait-end]}}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels{height:100%}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels >div,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div{position:relative;justify-content:space-between;flex-flow:row nowrap;height:100%}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels >div .gif-container,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div .gif-container{height:-moz-min-content;height:min-content;align-self:flex-end}}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels >div .gif-container img,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div .gif-container img{width:70px;height:70px}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels >div .gif-container img,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div .gif-container img{width:110px;height:110px}}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels >div .gif-container img.book-gif-white,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div .gif-container img.book-gif-white{display:none}.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels >div:after,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div:after{content:””;display:block;width:calc(100vw – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));height:1px;background-color:#dcdcdc;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:-10px}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels >div:after,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div:after{left:-20px;width:738px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper .article-header .content__labels >div:after,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div:after{display:none}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper #headline,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline],.furniture-wrapper .headline{margin-top:-2px}}.furniture-wrapper #headline h1,.furniture-wrapper #headline a,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] a,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1,.furniture-wrapper .headline a{font-weight:500;max-width:unset;font-size:36px;line-height:115%}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper #headline h1,.furniture-wrapper #headline a,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] a,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1,.furniture-wrapper .headline a{max-width:unset;font-size:50px}}.furniture-wrapper #headline h1:hover,.furniture-wrapper #headline a:hover,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] h1:hover,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] a:hover,.furniture-wrapper .headline h1:hover,.furniture-wrapper .headline a:hover{text-decoration-thickness:2px;text-underline-offset:6px}.furniture-wrapper #headline .byline span,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] .byline span,.furniture-wrapper .headline .byline span{font-size:36px;font-weight:500;line-height:115%}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper #headline .byline span,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] .byline span,.furniture-wrapper .headline .byline span{font-size:50px}}.furniture-wrapper #headline >div >div,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=headline] >div >div,.furniture-wrapper .headline >div >div{padding-bottom:0}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]{padding-top:4px;position:relative}.furniture-wrapper .standfirst div p,.furniture-wrapper .standfirst div a,.furniture-wrapper .standfirst li,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst div p,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst div a,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst li,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] div p,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] div a,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst] li{font-weight:500;line-height:115%}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper .standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]{padding-top:0}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper .standfirst,.furniture-wrapper #standfirst,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=standfirst]{padding-top:2px}}.furniture-wrapper .portrait-mainmedia__headline-wrapper{height:100%;position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding-bottom:24px}.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{position:relative}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media]{grid-area:portrait}}.furniture-wrapper #main-media div+span,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] div+span{display:block}.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure{height:100%;margin-left:0}.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure picture img,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure picture img{width:calc(100vw – 40px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));height:auto;margin-left:20px;padding:10px 0}.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure:before{content:””;display:block;width:calc(100vw – 20px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));background-image:url(https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2025/04/2025-weekend-essay-test/assets/v/1750687193/frame.png);background-size:contain;background-position:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;position:absolute;top:0;left:10px;height:inherit}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure picture img,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure picture img{width:670px;height:auto;margin-left:5px;padding:15px 10px}.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure:before{width:700px;left:-10px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure{margin-left:10px}.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure:before{width:470px}.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure picture img,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure picture img{width:450px;margin-left:0;padding:10px 0}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure:before{width:550px}.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure picture img,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure picture img{width:520px;margin-left:5px;padding:10px 5px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure:before,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure:before{width:630px}.furniture-wrapper #main-media figure picture img,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] figure picture img{width:600px;padding:15px 0}}.furniture-wrapper #main-media #caption-button,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] #caption-button{right:15px;bottom:20px}@media (min-width: 46.25em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media #caption-button,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] #caption-button{right:45px;bottom:30px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){.furniture-wrapper #main-media #caption-button,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] #caption-button{right:15px;bottom:20px}}.furniture-wrapper #main-media .no-media-div,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] .no-media-div{display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;width:100%}.furniture-wrapper #main-media .no-media-div p,.furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=media] .no-media-div p{font-size:24px;font-weight:500;line-height:115%;color:var(–byline-anchor);font-weight:700;text-decoration:underline;display:block}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive{margin-left:0}.content__main-column–interactive:before{display:none}}.content__main-column–interactive p:first-of-type:first-letter{font-weight:300!important}.content__main-column–interactive hr+p:first-letter,.content__main-column–interactive p.drop-cap:first-letter{font-family:Guardian Headline,Guardian Egyptian Web,Guardian Headline Full,Georgia,serif;font-weight:300;font-size:111px;line-height:92px;float:left;text-transform:uppercase;box-sizing:border-box;margin-right:8px;vertical-align:text-top;color:var(–drop-cap, var(–new-pillar-colour))}.content__main-column–interactive h2{color:#8d2700;font-size:28px;font-style:normal;font-weight:300;line-height:normal;margin-bottom:8px}@media (min-width: 71.25em){.content__main-column–interactive h2{font-size:32px}}.content__main-column–interactive h2:has(strong){font-weight:500!important}body.ios,body.android{background-color:#fff}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline{font-weight:500}@media (prefers-color-scheme: light){html:has(body.ios,body.android){background-color:var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2)}}html:has(body.ios,body.android) body.ios,html:has(body.ios,body.android) body.android{–opinion-primary: #c74600;–byline-anchor: var(–opinion-primary, #c74600);–primary-pillar: var(–opinion-primary, #c74600)}@media (prefers-color-scheme: light){html:has(body.ios,body.android) body.ios,html:has(body.ios,body.android) body.android{background-color:var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2)}}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){html:has(body.ios,body.android) body.ios,html:has(body.ios,body.android) body.android{–weekend-essay-bg: #1a1a1a;–opinion-primary: #ff7f0f}html:has(body.ios,body.android) .garnett–pillar-opinion:not(.garnett–type-media).ios .article__body,html:has(body.ios,body.android) .garnett–pillar-opinion:not(.garnett–type-media).ios .tags{background-color:unset}}body.ios #feature-article-container,body.ios #standard-article-container,body.ios #comment-article-container,body.android #feature-article-container,body.android #standard-article-container,body.android #comment-article-container{background-color:var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2)}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper{grid-column-gap:20px;grid-row-gap:0px;grid-template-columns:[title-start headline-start meta-start standfirst-start] repeat(5,1fr) [title-end headline-end meta-end standfirst-end portrait-start] repeat(5,1fr) [portrait-end];grid-template-rows:[title-start portrait-start] .25fr [title-end headline-start] 1fr [headline-end standfirst-start] 1.25fr [standfirst-end meta-start] auto [meta-end portrait-end]}}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper{display:flex;flex-direction:row nowrap;justify-content:space-between;position:relative}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels{font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-weight:700;line-height:115%}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .content__labels a{color:var(–new-pillar-colour, #c74600);text-transform:none!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img{width:70px;height:70px}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white{display:none}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif{display:none}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container.book-gif-white,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper .gif-container img.book-gif-white{display:block}}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after{content:””;display:block;width:100vw;height:1px;background-color:#dcdcdc;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:-10px}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper{grid-area:title}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after{width:50vw}}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .title-and-gif-wrapper:after{background-color:#606060}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .portrait-mainmedia__headline-wrapper,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .portrait-mainmedia__headline-wrapper,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .portrait-mainmedia__headline-wrapper,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .portrait-mainmedia__headline-wrapper,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .portrait-mainmedia__headline-wrapper,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .portrait-mainmedia__headline-wrapper{grid-area:headline}}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a{font-size:36px;font-style:normal;font-weight:500;line-height:115%}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a{color:var(–new-pillar-colour, #c70000)}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .byline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline a{color:var(–new-pillar-colour, #c74600)!important}}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .avatar,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .avatar,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .avatar,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .avatar,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .avatar,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta__byline .avatar{display:none!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper h1.headline{margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline{font-style:italic!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline .byline__author,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline .byline__author,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline .byline__author,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline .byline__author,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline .byline__author,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .byline .byline__author{font-style:normal!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media{height:auto;aspect-ratio:4/5;background-color:transparent}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element{height:100%!important;margin-left:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .figure__inner,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .figure__inner,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .figure__inner,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .figure__inner,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .figure__inner,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .figure__inner{position:relative;top:0;left:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner{background-color:transparent;overflow:visible;padding:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element img{width:calc(100vw – 40px);margin-left:20px;margin-top:25px}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img{margin-top:13px}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption{height:auto}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p span,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption span,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p span,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption span,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p span,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption span,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p span,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption span,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p span,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption span,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption p span,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element figcaption span{display:block;max-height:unset;position:relative;color:var(–captionText, #999)}@media (min-width: 46.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element{max-width:unset!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before{left:10px;width:calc(100vw – 20px)}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img{width:calc(100vw – 60px);margin-left:30px;margin-top:40px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before{width:calc(50vw – 20px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px))}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img{width:calc(50vw – 40px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));margin-left:18px;height:auto;padding:0;margin-top:10px}}@media (min-width: 71.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before{top:-4px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before{left:-20px}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element .element__inner img{width:calc(50vw – 90px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));margin-left:12px;height:auto;margin-top:-10px;padding-top:21px}}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element:before{background-image:url(https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2025/04/2025-weekend-essay-test/assets/v/1750687193/frame-white.png)}}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before{width:calc(100vw – 20px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));left:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img{width:calc(100vw – 20px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));margin-left:0;padding:10px}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img{width:calc(50vw – 30px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));margin-left:5px;height:auto;padding-top:21px}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image img{width:calc(50vw – 70px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));margin-left:5px;height:auto;margin-top:-10px;padding-top:21px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image{height:100%;max-width:620px!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before{width:calc(50vw – 20px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px));left:0;height:100%}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media figure.element.is-first-image:before{left:-20px}}@media (min-width: 46.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media #caption-button,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media #caption-button,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media #caption-button,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media #caption-button,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media #caption-button,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media #caption-button{bottom:45px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper #main-media{grid-area:portrait;max-width:620px!important;height:auto}}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element{position:relative;margin-top:0}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner{position:absolute;top:15px;left:20px;width:calc(100vw – 40px);height:auto}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner img,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner img,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner img,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner img,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner img,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner img{width:100%;height:100%;-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button{right:24px;bottom:20px}@media (min-width: 46.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element .figure__inner{width:680px;height:auto;top:10px;left:10px}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element #caption-button{bottom:25px}}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper figure.element{width:calc(50vw – 20px – var(–scrollbar-width, 0px))}}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst{margin-top:0!important;padding-top:8px!important;padding-right:10px!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst:before{display:none}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner p,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner a,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst__inner li{font-size:20px;font-style:normal;font-weight:500;line-height:115%;padding-bottom:0}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .standfirst{grid-area:standfirst}}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta{padding-top:0!important}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published{position:relative}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after{content:””;display:block;width:100vw;height:1px;background-color:#dcdcdc;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:-10px}@media (min-width: 61.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta{grid-area:meta;display:block}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after{width:50vw}}@media (min-width: 81.25em){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__misc,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__misc,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__misc,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__misc,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__misc,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__misc{margin-left:0}}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta .meta__published:after{background-color:#606060}}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta:before,body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .keyline:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta:before,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .keyline:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta:before,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .keyline:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta:before,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper .keyline:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta:before,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper .keyline:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .meta:before,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper .keyline:before{display:none}body.ios #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper aside.element-rich-link,body.ios #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper aside.element-rich-link,body.ios #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper aside.element-rich-link,body.android #feature-article-container .furniture-wrapper aside.element-rich-link,body.android #standard-article-container .furniture-wrapper aside.element-rich-link,body.android #comment-article-container .furniture-wrapper aside.element-rich-link{display:none}body.ios #feature-article-container #comment-header #cutout-container,body.ios #standard-article-container #comment-header #cutout-container,body.ios #comment-article-container #comment-header #cutout-container,body.android #feature-article-container #comment-header #cutout-container,body.android #standard-article-container #comment-header #cutout-container,body.android #comment-article-container #comment-header #cutout-container{display:none!important}body.ios #article-body,body.ios #feature-body,body.android #article-body,body.android #feature-body{background-color:var(–weekend-essay-bg, #fff4f2);margin-top:6px}body.ios #article-body hr,body.ios #feature-body hr,body.android #article-body hr,body.android #feature-body hr{height:1px;border:0;margin-bottom:3px;background-color:#dcdcdc;width:150px;margin-left:0;margin-top:48px}body.ios #article-body p:not(:has(span)):first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #article-body hr+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-body p:not(:has(span)):first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #feature-body hr+p:first-letter,body.android #article-body p:not(:has(span)):first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #article-body hr+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-body p:not(:has(span)):first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #feature-body hr+p:first-letter{font-family:Guardian Headline,Guardian Egyptian Web,Guardian Headline Full,Georgia,serif;font-weight:300!important;font-size:111px;line-height:92px;float:left;text-transform:uppercase;box-sizing:border-box;margin-right:8px;vertical-align:text-top;color:var(–drop-cap, var(–secondary-pillar))}body.ios #article-body h2:has(strong),body.ios #article-body .prose h2 strong,body.ios #article-body .prose h2 b,body.ios #feature-body h2:has(strong),body.ios #feature-body .prose h2 strong,body.ios #feature-body .prose h2 b,body.android #article-body h2:has(strong),body.android #article-body .prose h2 strong,body.android #article-body .prose h2 b,body.android #feature-body h2:has(strong),body.android #feature-body .prose h2 strong,body.android #feature-body .prose h2 b{font-weight:500!important}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){body.ios #article-body hr,body.ios #feature-body hr,body.android #article-body hr,body.android #feature-body hr{background-color:#606060}body.ios #article-body hr+p:first-letter,body.ios #feature-body hr+p:first-letter,body.android #article-body hr+p:first-letter,body.android #feature-body hr+p:first-letter{color:var(–new-pillar-colour, #ff5943)}body.ios #article-body p >a,body.ios #feature-body p >a,body.android #article-body p >a,body.android #feature-body p >a{text-decoration:none!important}}body.ios #article-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #feature-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #article-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #feature-body >div .element-atom:first-of-type+p:first-of-type:first-letter{font-weight:500}body.ios #comment-body .element-atom+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #comment-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios #comment-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.ios [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #comment-body .element-atom+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #comment-body .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android #comment-body .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+.sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter,body.android [data-gu-name=body] .element-atom+#sign-in-gate+p:first-of-type:first-letter{font-weight:300!important;padding-top:0}body.ios h2,body.android h2{color:#8d2700;font-size:28px;font-style:normal;font-weight:300;line-height:normal;margin:28px 0 8px}body.android #cutout-container{display:none}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){body.ios .portrait-mainmedia__headline-wrapper:after,body.android .portrait-mainmedia__headline-wrapper:after{background-image:repeating-linear-gradient(to bottom,#606060,#606060 .0625rem,transparent .0625rem,transparent .25rem)}body.ios #comment-body p:not(:first-of-type):first-letter,body.ios [data-gu-name=body] p:not(:first-of-type):first-letter,body.android #comment-body p:not(:first-of-type):first-letter,body.android [data-gu-name=body] p:not(:first-of-type):first-letter{color:#fff!important}body.ios #comment-body h2,body.ios [data-gu-name=body] h2,body.android #comment-body h2,body.android [data-gu-name=body] h2{color:var(–byline, #c74600)}}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){:root[data-rendering-target=apps]{–article-section-background: #1a1a1a}}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){:root[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapper .article-header .gif-container img.book-gif,:root[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div .gif-container img.book-gif{display:none}:root[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapper .article-header .gif-container img.book-gif-white,:root[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapper [data-gu-name=title] .content__labels >div .gif-container img.book-gif-white{display:block!important}}@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark){:root[data-rendering-target=apps] .furniture-wrapper figure.element:before{background-image:url(https://interactive.guim.co.uk/atoms/2025/04/2025-weekend-essay-test/assets/v/1750687193/frame-white.png)}}:root[data-rendering-target=apps] .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper],:root[data-rendering-target=apps] [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper]{display:block;margin-top:10px}:root[data-rendering-target=apps] .meta__byline gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] span,:root[data-rendering-target=apps] [data-component=meta-byline] gu-island[name=FollowWrapper] span{font-size:14px}
      .gif-container.svelte-1gfvg19 {opacity:0;}.interactive-loaded .gif-container {opacity:1;transition:opacity 0.3s ease;} More

    • 113 Shares34 Views

      in US Politics

      Has Trump taken leadership lessons from cold war-era Africa?

      by

      Ever since Donald Trump returned to power, pundits have struggled to find apt analogies for his style of governance. Some liken his loyalty demands, patronage networks and intimidation tactics to the methods of a mafia don. Others cast him as a feudal overlord, operating a personality cult rooted in charisma and bound by oaths, rewards and threats rather than laws and institutions. A growing number of artists and AI creatives are depicting him as a Viking warrior. And of course, fierce debates continue over whether the moment has arrived for serious comparisons with fascist regimes.While some of these analogies may offer a degree of insight, they are fundamentally limited by their Eurocentrism – as if 21st-century US politics must still be interpreted solely through the lens of old-world history. If we truly want to understand what is unfolding, we must move beyond Scandinavian sagas and Sicilian crime lore.I’ve found it increasingly difficult not to see striking parallels between recent events in the US and the rise of cold war-era dictatorships in Africa. It began with Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali, which recalled how Mobutu Sese Seko, on a personal whim, changed Congo into Zaire in 1971. Geographical renaming has been extensive in Africa because of its history of colonialism, but now the US has started changing names too.Trump’s deployment of national guard troops and marines to Los Angeles after protests over immigration raids also echoed Mobutu’s preferred method for dealing with civil unrest: presidential guards patrolling the streets to crush protests. The blunt use of military force to suppress domestic opposition is a tactic associated with figures such as Idi Amin in Uganda, Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe and Paul Biya in Cameroon – albeit with deadlier consequences.View image in fullscreenTrump’s aggressive deportation of undocumented Latino workers also resembles Amin’s 1972 expulsion of Uganda’s Asian minority. Amin framed it as a way to return economic power to “the ordinary Ugandan”, but it led to financial ruin. The embrace of bizarre, theatrical economic measures that look great on television but wreak havoc in practice is another striking parallel. Trump’s tariffs, announced with patriotic fanfare on “liberation day”, evoke Mugabe’s grandiose land reforms of the 1980s, which hastened Zimbabwe’s collapse.Anti-intellectualism, egomania and delusions of grandeur were hallmarks of dictatorships in Africa. Ivory Coast’s Félix Houphouët-Boigny built a replica of St Peter’s Basilica in his home town. Jean-Bédel Bokassa crowned himself “emperor” of Central African Republic. “Marshal” Mobutu ensured that Concorde could land in his native village. A similar extravaganza of ambition has reached the US, with Trump accepting a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar and hoping his face will be carved into Mount Rushmore beside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.The army parade in Washington on the day the US military turned 250 and Trump turned 79 was another moment of self-aggrandising narcissism. A populist personality cult and masculine pride often go hand in hand with deep paranoia and contempt. Trump’s relentless war on academia and the free press fits squarely within this tradition. In Equatorial Guinea, President Francisco Macías Nguema outlawed the word “intellectual” and prosecuted academics. Amin terrorised universities to the point of brain-drain.At first glance, viewing Trump as a westernised version of one of Africa’s dictators may seem jarring. After all, his interest in the continent appears limited to its natural resources, not its political models. The trade tariffs and travel bans he recently unleashed have hit several African countries hard, and his cruel withdrawal of aid hardly suggests admiration for anything African.What’s more, Trump has never set foot on African soil and reportedly dismissed the continent as a cluster of “shithole countries”. Only when a raw materials deal is in sight does he spring into life, such as last week when a “peace deal” between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda was signed at the White House. “We’re getting, for the United States, a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it,” Trump said.But once the comparison between Trump and a cold war dictator is made, it becomes hard to unsee. And it shouldn’t surprise us. The postcolonial dictator was, to a significant degree, an American creation. Sooner or later, it had to come home.The US supported repressive regimes unconditionally during the cold war, viewing them as bulwarks against communism – not just in Africa, but in Asia and Latin America. Dictators such as Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, Suharto in Indonesia, Augusto Pinochet in Chile and Jorge Rafaél Videla in Argentina remained in power for decades thanks to US backing. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the US abruptly abandoned these allies and championed the gospel of democratisation. Though the 1990s were rich in rhetoric about human rights, good governance and the rule of law, on the ground the spectre of autocracy never vanished entirely.We’re now witnessing a startling reversal. With the demise of USAID and its retreat from a role promoting global democracy, it’s not only that the US has turned its back on democratising countries in Africa and elsewhere – but that it has begun to imitate some of the worst historical examples of authoritarian rule.Viewing Trump’s regime through the lens of cold war-era autocracies in postcolonial states offers a framework that is both alarming and oddly reassuring.If there is one enduring lesson from the history of autocracy in Africa, it is this: things can turn ugly, fast. Cold war dictatorships were ruthless, bloody and often ended in chaos and state collapse. Yet their histories also show that when courts are neutered and legislatures reduced to rubber stamps, civil society, independent media and the moral force of religious and academic institutions can emerge as the last formidable strongholds against tyranny. After all, sooner or later, dictators die, whereas collective efforts remain.

      David Van Reybrouck is philosopher laureate for the Netherlands and Flanders. His books include Congo: The Epic History of a People and Revolusi: Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World More

    • 225 Shares38 Views

      in US Politics

      Trump news at a glance: President rings in Independence Day by signing his ‘big, beautiful’ bill into law

      by

      Donald Trump kicked off Independence Day by signing into law his sweeping tax and spending bill during a Fourth of July picnic at the White House.The president’s signature legislation, which he called the “big, beautiful bill”, introduces major changes including tax cuts, spending boosts for defence and more aggressive funding for an immigration crackdown.Trump says the changes will spur economic growth, but Democrats described the passage of the bill as a “dark day” for the nation, warning it will benefit the wealthy and hit low-income earners the hardest.Here are the key US politics stories at a glance.Trump signs tax and spending bill into law in major win for administrationThe president signed his sweeping spending package into law on Friday during a Fourth of July picnic at the White House, significantly cutting back on federal safety-net programs and increasing funds for aggressive immigration enforcement.During the picnic Donald Trump gloated about the bill’s passing. “It’s the most popular bill ever signed in the history of the country,” Trump said, while standing next to his wife, Melania Trump. “What we’ve done is put everything into one bill. We’ve never had anything like that before.”Read the full story‘Dark day for our country’: Democrats furious over Trump bill’s passageDemocrats have erupted in a storm of outrage over the passage of Trump’s budget bill, delivering scathing critiques that offered signs of the attack lines the party could wield against Republicans in next year’s midterm elections.Democratic leaders released a wave of statements reflecting their fury after the sweeping bill’s passage on Thursday.Read the full storyEl Salvador president denies Ábrego García was abused in prisonThe president of El Salvador has denied claims that Kilmar Ábrego García was subjected to beatings and deprivation while he was held in a notorious prison before being returned to the US to face human-smuggling charges.Nayib Bukele said in a social media post that Ábrego García, the Salvadorian national who was wrongly extradited from the US to El Salvador in March before being returned in June, “wasn’t tortured, nor did he lose weight”.Read the full storyUS judge clears path for eight immigrants to be deported to South SudanEight migrants lost their last-ditch effort to halt their deportation to South Sudan by the Trump administration on Friday, clearing the way for their imminent transfer after a judge in Massachusetts denied their request.Read the full storyDemocratic lawmakers denied entry to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration jailA group of Florida lawmakers were denied entry on Thursday into the new Florida-based immigration jail dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”, one day after the first immigrant detainees began to arrive.Read the full storyTrump has ‘good conversation’ with Zelenskyy after heavy bombardment of Ukraine Donald Trump spoke with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Friday as the US president appears increasingly disheartened over his chances of fulfilling a campaign pledge to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.Read the full storyWhat else happened today:

      ‘Catastrophic’ flood in Texas kills at least 13, including children, with more missing from summer camp.

      Joey Chestnut regains title in New York hotdog eating contest.

      Lost Thomas Jefferson letter on arms and democracy resurfaces for Fourth of July sale.
      Catching up? Here’s what happened 3 July 2025. More

    • 138 Shares22 Views

      in US Politics

      Federal judge again halts deportation of eight immigrants to South Sudan

      by

      A federal judge has briefly halted the deportations of eight immigrants to war-torn South Sudan, the latest twist in a case that came hours after the supreme court cleared the way for the Trump administration to deport the men to a country where almost none of them have ties.On Thursday, the nation’s highest court affirmed that US immigration officials can quickly deport people to countries to which they have no connection. Then on Friday afternoon, in an extraordinary Fourth of July hearing, the district judge Randolph Moss sent the case north from Washington to another judge in Boston. Moss concluded that the judge best equipped to deal with the issues was Brian Murphy, whose rulings led to the initial halt of the Trump administration’s effort to begin deportations to the eastern African country.Moss extended his order halting the deportation until 4.30pm Eastern time, but it was unclear whether Murphy would act on the federal holiday to further limit the removal. Moss said new claims by the immigrants’ lawyers deserved a hearing.The eight men awaiting deportation are from countries including Vietnam, South Korea, Mexico, Laos, Cuba and Myanmar. Just one is from South Sudan. All have been convicted of serious crimes, which the Trump administration has emphasized in justifying their banishment. Many had either finished or were close to finishing serving sentences, and had “orders of removal” directing them to leave the US.A lawyer for the men have said they could “face perilous conditions” upon arriving in the country. South Sudan is enmeshed in civil war, and the US government advises no one should travel there before making their own funeral arrangements.The administration has been trying to deport the immigrants for weeks. The government flew them to the US naval base in Djibouti but couldn’t move them further because Murphy had ruled no immigrant could be sent to a new country without a chance to have a court hearing.The supreme court vacated that decision last month, and then Thursday night issued a new order clarifying that that meant the immigrants could be moved to South Sudan. Lawyers for the immigrants filed an emergency request to halt their removal later that night.The case was assigned to Moss, who briefly barred the administration from moving the immigrants from Djibouti to South Sudan until his afternoon hearing concluded. He slightly extended that bar after he sent the case to Murphy. The administration has said it expected to fly the immigrants to South Sudan sometime on Friday. More

    • 125 Shares18 Views

      in US Politics

      Trump expected to sign tax-and-spending bill in win for administration

      by

      Donald Trump is expected to sign his sweeping spending package into law on Friday during a Fourth of July picnic at the White House, setting up significant cutbacks on federal safety-net programs and increasing funds for aggressive immigration enforcement.Trump has touted the legislation’s passage as a “birthday present for America”, speaking before a crowd at a campaign-style rally in Iowa on Thursday evening, even as Democrats expressed their displeasure at the spending package.After months of deliberations, the bill passed by a single vote in the Senate and later passed the House with a 219 to 213 vote on Thursday, with only two Republicans voting against it. The sweeping legislation accomplishes what rightwingers have pushed for, for decades, as the Guardian explained this week, and provides Trump a huge legislative win.The bill, once signed into law, will significantly cut taxes, building on the 2017 tax cuts during Trump’s first term. Although temporary tax exemptions for tips, overtime pay and car loan interest are included, research from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that the bill is skewed to the rich, with the wealthiest in the US benefiting the most from the tax relief.Additionally, the law, once signed by Trump, will add new restrictions to Medicaid, which provides healthcare to low-income and disabled people, and Snap, also known as food stamps, which helps low-income people afford food. Researchers estimate that the Medicaid cutbacks will leave as many as 11.8 million people without healthcare, while 8 million people will lose their Snap benefits. Critics say that the Medicaid cuts will have massive ripple effects on healthcare nationwide.“This is highway robbery,” the Democratic senator Raphael Warnock posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The bill Republicans just passed steals from you to give to the rich.”Proponents of the bill say that the Medicaid and Snap changes are designed to root out waste and abuse.Additionally, the spending package will allocate $170m to immigration enforcement, a monumental amount of money that will help support the Trump administration’s push to engage in “mass deportations”.“This disgraceful, anti-immigrant budget hands the Trump administration a blank check to further ramp up its shameful efforts to terrorize American communities and separate families,” said Nicole Melaku, the executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans, an immigrants’ rights organization. “Instead of safeguarding people’s access to healthcare and wellness, the bill gives tax cuts to big corporations and funnels billions of dollars to hire more immigration agents, build more immigration jails and deny people their fair day in court.”Already, the Trump administration has engaged in widespread attacks on immigrant communities, by increasing resources to immigration enforcement operations.“This budget promises to supercharge US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests that disappear community members, leave children parentless and threaten constitutional and due-process rights for all of us,” said Meg McCarthy, executive director of the National Immigrant Justice Center, alegal organization.A recent Guardian analysis shows that undocumented immigrants without any criminal history have been arrested at an exponentially increasing rate, after top White House officials instructed agents to increase arrests.Trump temporarily walked back some of Ice’s aggressive immigration enforcement actions after complaints from leaders in the farming and hospitality industries: last month, the Trump administration engaged in a short-lived pause on raids at farms, restaurants and hotels. But at Thursday’s event, Trump again brought up the idea of pausing large-scale enforcement on farms.“If a farmer is willing to vouch for these people in some way, Kristi, I think we’re going to have to just say that’s going to be good, right?” Trump said to the secretary of homeland security, Kristi Noem. “We don’t want to do it where we take all of the workers off the farms.”In addition to tax cuts, restrictions on Medicaid and Snap and the aggressive supercharging of immigration enforcement, the bill seeks to end green energy incentives created under Joe Biden, seen as a further blow against efforts to combat the climate crisis.The US budget deficit will increase with this bill, leading to opposition by some Trump allies. The non-partisan congressional budget office estimates the bill will add $3.3tn to the country’s debt through 2034, leading to clashes with some rightwingers.One of the two Republicans who voted against the bill, Thomas Massie, said he opposed the spending bill “because it will significantly increase US budget deficits in the near term, negatively impacting all Americans through sustained inflation and high interest rates”.Elon Musk, the rightwing billionaire who established the federal government’s office tasked with slashing federal spending during the first few months of the Trump administration, has also publicly called out the spending bill. Days before Congress passed the bill, Musk repeated his call for the creation of a new political party to oppose the Republicans and Democrats. More

    • 113 Shares38 Views

      in US Politics

      Democratic lawmakers denied entry to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration jail

      by

      A group of Florida lawmakers were denied entry on Thursday into the new Florida-based immigration jail dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” one day after the first immigrant detainees began to arrive.Five Democratic lawmakers attempted to enter the facility, which was previously toured on Tuesday by White House officials, but were stopped by law enforcement officers from local agencies, according to the state representative Anna Eskamani in an interview with CNN.“This is a blatant abuse of power and an attempt to conceal human rights violations from the public eye,” the five said in a joint statement.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the first detentions at the facility began on Wednesday, but did not respond to questions regarding the number of people detained so far.The controversial Everglades jail was quickly set up in a partnership between the federal and Florida state governments. Sitting approximately 50 miles (80km) west of Miami, the remote facility is managed by the state but in large part funded the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema).“It might be as good as the real Alcatraz. A little controversial, but I couldn’t care less,” Trump said on Tuesday after touring the site. During the tour, Trump joked about immigrants being pursued by snakes and alligators if they attempted to escape.Since Trump took office, Florida has been assisting the administration’s goals in rounding up a large number of immigrants to be detained and deported. Through a program called 287(g), local law enforcement agencies partner with DHS and become deputized to carry out immigration enforcement operations. According to the state government, Florida has more 287(g) deputizations than any other state in the US, which has allowed it to engage in widespread operations targeting immigrant communities.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionImmigrants arrested by Florida law enforcement under the arrangement will be detained at the facility, DHS said.“You’ll have a lot of people that will deport on their own because they don’t want to end up in an Alligator Alcatraz, or some of these other places,” Florida governor Ron DeSantis said after touring the facility with Trump. “This is a model, but we need other states to step up.”Being undocumented in the US is not a crime; rather, it is a civil offense. Data analysis by the Guardian shows that there has been a dramatic nationwide increase in the arrest of undocumented immigrants with no criminal record. The White House has pressured immigration officials to arrest 3,000 people per day, with the reported goal of reaching one million a year.Two non-profit groups have sued DHS, claiming the site’s buildup is violating environmental policies. DHS said it expects the facility to expand quickly to 5,000 beds. More

    • 163 Shares33 Views

      in US Politics

      Trump has ‘good conversation’ with Zelenskyy after heavy bombardment of Ukraine by Russia

      by

      Donald Trump spoke with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Friday as the US president appears increasingly disheartened over his chances of fulfilling a campaign pledge to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.The call with Zelenskyy comes as Washington has halted its latest shipment of military aid to Ukraine including Patriot air defense missiles and other crucial munitions meant to support the country’s defenses, and hours after Russia launched a devastating air attack on Kyiv using a record number of drones and ballistic missiles.Zelenskyy called the conversation “important and useful” and said in a post said that he and Trump had discussed Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, joint defense production and “mutual purchases and investments”, all potentially avenues for Ukraine to restart aid from the United States by providing incentives for the Trump administration to rush crucial munitions to Kyiv.He said that the two sides had also agreed to “increase aerial protection”, a particular focus for Kyiv as Russia has increased bombardments of Ukrainian cities despite outrage from Trump and other world leaders.Yet it was not immediately clear if Zelenskyy had achieved any concrete progress with Trump and in his statement he did not mention the halt of aid shipments from the US or announce their resumption. Axios reported that a source described the call as a “good conversation”.Trump said he was “very disappointed” after a telephone call with Vladimir Putin on Thursday. A Putin aide told reporters that the Russian president was not willing to make concessions on what the Kremlin has called the “root causes” of the war with Ukraine, a list of grievances that includes Nato expansion and Ukraine’s desire to join western economic and security blocs.“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don’t think he’s there,” Trump told reporters after holding a rally in Iowa on Thursday evening. “I don’t think he’s there, and I’m very disappointed. I’m just saying, I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad.”The US has said that it halted the shipments, some of which were already in Poland, due to a review of US military stockpiles that suggested that the country is running low on munitions for its own troops.Germany has said that it is in “intensive talks” to buy the Patriot missiles for Ukraine, although it’s unclear whether those stocks would be available immediately.“There are various ways to fill this Patriot gap,” a German government spokesperson told a news conference in Berlin on Friday. One option being considered was for the German government to buy the Patriot missile batteries in the United States and then send them to Ukraine.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion“I can confirm that intensive discussions are indeed being held on this matter,” the spokesperson said.The shortage of Patriot missiles was further highlighted by the record bombardment of Ukraine in which Russia sent more than 550 drones and ballistic missiles at major cities in what Zelenskyy described as a “deliberate act of terror”.The strike immediately followed the call between Putin and Trump, Zelenskyy said, and was a “clear interpretation of how Moscow interprets diplomacy”. More