Simon Marks

America, 2026

Back in the US after a long break in the UK, I am suffering from total sticker shock after visiting a couple of DC supermarkets. I have never seen prices like it. Inflation numbers here are going to soar & are not yet telling the full story. The difference between late May & today is staggering.

Hot off the presses for @theipaper.com 📰: inews.co.uk/news/world/b...

A carefully planned Russian propaganda operation is underway. Having starved people in Oleshky for months, Russia, with the 'intervention' of Melania, will allow people to leave and pretend Ukraine was at fault. Read @zarinazabrisky.bsky.social www.kyivpost.com/analysis/88041

“Highly unusual”

Let’s see how this pans out…

Very sorry to learn of the death of Bob Franken, CNN's former Congressional Correspondent. He was hugely talented and absolutely committed to the traditional, honest craft of serious, fact-based journalism. A good man who never lost sight of what this business is supposed to be all about.

And the video version is here, via the LBC Official YouTube channel: 📺: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzU-...

My "American Week" for @lbc.co.uk's Friday drivetime programme. This week: - Trump's top envoy calls Putin a "humanitarian". - Hegseth besmirches the honour of fallen allied soldiers yet again. - Trump engages in racist tirades on the campaign trail. audioboom.com/posts/896849...

Live at 5.50pm, then on catch-up afterwards.

youtu.be/wTTgWafddJs?...

I'm back on @lbc.co.uk tonight again from 10pm to 1am...my last hurrah for this round of shows. Hope you can join me. Then next week, full midterm election coverage will be coming you way live from the US via all LBC programmes and platforms.

Complete Philistines. Also, what a metaphor. America, 2026. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

I was behind Kamala all the way through the run up to the election. But. Since the loss and since she (and others) shut down any talk of rigging, I soured a bit. Then there’s the whole issue of Irael. This video might make some voters uncomfortable but is worth watching. youtu.be/V_4tWtntMwQ?...

There's no coming back from any of this.

Couple of bits from me last night on Andrew Marr's show and then on my own that are hopefully worth your time. First, why Trump's slowing of weapons procurement for Ukraine is also sabotaging us. And then some thoughts about...Marco Rubio. 📺: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trln...

Is Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff, about to depart Trump's inner circle? My chat this morning with @clairebyrne.bsky.social on Ireland's Newstalk. 🎧: audioboom.com/posts/896734...

Are you comfortable? It's about to get 'big and messy' | Simon Marks' American bonus youtu.be/V_4tWtntMwQ?...

👀 www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...

To be fair to Trump, he misspoke here. In context it is clear that he meant to say “fine on Iran”. Which is also untrue, but less untrue than “fine on Ukraine”.

Trump: "It's going to be the greatest ballroom and military complex combination ever built!" (Has any ballroom/military complex EVER been built?!)

From 10pm tonight on @lbc.co.uk 10 - Are the French riots propelling the country into Marine Le Pen's hands? 11 - Trump and Putin are about to sell Ukraine down the river. Can we stop them? 12 - Antisocial behavior...can Burnham stamp it out? ☎️: 0345 6060 973 Text: 84850

Christiane Amanpour departing CNN. Kidos to her for walking away as the CBS-isation of the network looms under Paramount’s ownership.

Devastating piece. No way back now for CBS News. www.semafor.com/article/10/1...

I'll be holding the fort at @lbc.co.uk from 10pm until 1am tonight, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I hope you'll join me or have a listen on catch-up afterwards. No shortage of interesting issues to natter about.

What can possibly go wrong.

Trump makes his support for Putin explicit, and decrees Ukrainian land "lost".

The US President is preparing for a loss – and a gleeful descent into anarchy for his final, combative act "The more politically vulnerable that he appears in opinion polls, the more radical his rule." 🖋 Simon Marks Read more: trib.al/qIvErrq

Career-ending in any normal environment. variety.com/2026/tv/news...

My latest for @theipaper.com. 📰: inews.co.uk/news/world/t...

But of course. (Worth remembering that Trump remains the only president of the modern era who thinks it is appropriate to interfere in other countries' elections by endorsing candidates).

Simply staggering to see the way this woman has bent the knee. Complete profile in cowardice.

A new challenge for Burnham. U.S. Floats Another Lifeline to Russia: Allowing It to Sell More Gas to Europe www.nytimes.com/2026/10/17/u...

This audio is a bang-to-rights indictment of CBS News in its new pro-Trump guise, and means questions have to be mounting over the BBC's continued association with the network, its official U.S. media partner. You can hear the full audio on the Power Lines podcast. www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

And the video version of my "American Week" via the LBC Official YouTube channel is here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh0i...

Oh.

My somewhat prescient "American Week" for @tomswarbrick.bsky.social's programme on the UK's @lbc.co.uk. Listen live every Friday at 5:50pm or find it on-demand here afterwards, and in video at the LBC Official YouTube channel. 🎧: audioboom.com/posts/896579...

New course record, as Zacharia is poised to exit the White House less than a week after her appointment was announced. A total train wreck that anyone who has ever had any dealings with her could have seen from space.

Good night, Irene.

Live at 5.50pm UK time and here on-demand afterwards.

"Evolved". Another NYTimes classic.

Spoilers: Yes. Yes.

America, 2026 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Trump ditches the plan for a public execution of former Maj Nidal Hasan. My live update next on @lbc.co.uk

Trump breaks completely with Zelensky and Zelensky calls it betrayal. All while Trump conspires to ease sanctions on Russia to America's financial benefit while the war on Ukraine continues. Plus a Zacharia update. Mine with @mrjamesob.bsky.social earlier @lbc.co.uk www.youtube.com/watch?v=whc5...

Trump stabbing Ukraine in the face will stand as one of the defining acts of perfidy and self destruction his relentless transformation of the US into a pariah state.