A history of American political scandals that have shaped American politics as it is today. Resourced and researched through American freedom of information act and with Political History Majors and Professors from Columbia university.
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Bolton criticises EU’s stance on Iran war amid Ukraine conflict concerns
Bolton criticises EU’s stance on Iran war amid Ukraine conflict concerns
John Bolton stated that Europe risks prompting Trump to abandon support for Ukraine due to its perceived inaction regarding the conflict in Iran.
EU leaders reaffirmed their commitment to aid Ukraine, despite Bolton’s criticisms and ongoing discussions surrounding geopolitical tensions and Hungary’s veto on financial support.
EU leaders are currently evaluating the implications of the Iran conflict during a crucial summit in Brussels, addressing the energy crisis and Hungary’s loan veto for Ukraine.
Briefing summary
John Bolton, former national security advisor, has warned that Europe’s response to the Iran conflict may influence US President Donald Trump’s engagement in the Ukraine war.
Bolton urged that the lack of political will among EU leaders regarding the Iranian threat could be a critical mistake, labelling the ongoing conflict as “Europe’s war.”
EU leaders convened in Brussels for a summit addressing the Middle East tensions and Hungary’s veto of a €90 billion loan for Ukraine amid the energy crisis.
‘Iran war is Europe’s war’, says former Trump security advisor
Published on •Updated
Europe’s stance on the Iran war risks US President Donald Trump walking away from the conflict in Ukraine, his former national security advisor, John Bolton, has said, criticising the EU’s reaction to the situation in the Middle East.
In an interview with EU News, Bolton, who also previously served as the US’s ambassador to the UN, branded the Iran conflict as “Europe’s war.”
“Europe is just as much, if not more, at risk from nuclear attacks if Iran gets nuclear weapons,” said Bolton. “It has the missile capability to hit Central and Eastern Europe – not the United States.”
He warned that EU leaders could be handing an “invitation” to Trump to decide that “Ukraine is not America’s war,” branding the lack of political will across the bloc to partake in the war on Iran as a “mistake.”
“Trump will declare a victory no matter what happens, and the argument will be that the nuclear weapons programme has been set back further, that support for international terrorism has been set back further,” Bolton said. “But if the regime survives, however much damage has been done to it, it will build back, and the nuclear threat and terrorism threat will simply return.”
Bolton spoke to EU News via video call on the sidelines of a crunch EU summit in Brussels, as leaders gathered to discuss the war in the Middle East, the looming energy crisis, and Hungary’s veto on a €90 billion loan for Ukraine.
Watch the full interview in the video player above.
Iran launches ballistic missiles towards Diego Garcia military base, raising European threat level
Get you up to speed: Iran launches ballistic missiles towards Diego Garcia military base, raising European threat level
Iran launched two ballistic missiles towards the Diego Garcia military base, which is jointly owned by the UK and US, located 2,360 miles from Iran. Although neither missile hit its target, the attack indicates potential advancements in Iran’s missile capabilities, suggesting European capitals may soon be at risk.
Military experts have indicated that the recent launch of ballistic missiles by Iran towards Diego Garcia signifies advancements in Iran’s missile capabilities, potentially allowing for strikes on European capitals, including London, which is now considered to be on the “edge of vulnerability.” Foreign affairs analyst Nawaf Al-Thani stated, “For years, the accepted ceiling was around 2,000 kilometres,” noting that the attack suggests a range closer to 4,000 kilometres, which marks a strategic leap into the intermediate-range category.
Military experts have indicated that Iran’s capability to strike European capitals may be imminent, following a recent missile attack on a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. Iran has stated it will persist in obstructing shipping traffic from US and allied ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Fears Iran’s missiles could reach London after Diego Garcia attack | News World
Experts have also suggested Iran could have used a space launch vehicle to enable its ballistic missiles to reach Diego Garcia military base (Picture: Getty/IDM)
Military experts have warned that Iran could soon have the capability to strike European capitals, after it launched long-range missiles at a key UK-US military base thousands of miles away.
Last night, Tehran launched two ballistic missiles towards the strategically important base on Diego Garcia, a jointly owned base in the Chagos Islands 2,360 miles from Iran.
Neither missile hit its target in the attack, which was condemned by the Ministry of defence as ‘reckless’ and a ‘threat to British interests and British allies’.
Diego Garcia is a strategic base jointly owned by the UK and US (Picture: Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
One is believed to have malfunctioned during flight, while the other was intercepted by an American warship before impact.
The attempted strike suggests advances in range that could eventually bring parts of Europe within reach.
The Daily Mail reported that Iran could have used intermediate range ballistic missiles or a space launch vehicle to boost range.
Steve Prest, a retired Royal Navy commodore, told the Daily Mail: ‘Ballistic missiles are space rockets. They launch, they go really high up and they come down really fast. If you’ve got a space program, you’ve got a ballistic missile program.’
London is in the ‘edge of vulnerability’ of a missile attack (Picture: Daily Mail)
The attack on Diego Garcia happened a week after Israeli forces carried out a strike on Iran’s primary space research facility in Tehran, amid concerns it was being used to develop technology capable of targeting satellites in orbit.
Foreign affairs analyst Nawaf Al-Thani said missile threat is ‘no longer confined to the Gulf, Israel or parts of South Asia’, and key European capitals such as Paris would be in the included range. London is in the ‘edge of vulnerability’.
He said in a post on X: ‘For years, the accepted ceiling was around 2,000 kilometres. A ballistic missile reaching Diego Garcia suggests something in the neighbourhood of 4,000 kilometres, which pushes it out of the medium-range category and into the intermediate-range class (IRBM). That is a strategic leap.
‘If confirmed, Diego Garcia was not just a target. It was a message.’
If the Diego Garcia strike report is accurate, then one of the central assumptions about Iran’s missile program has just collapsed. For years, the accepted ceiling was around 2,000 kilometers. A ballistic missile reaching Diego Garcia suggests something in the neighborhood of… pic.twitter.com/MxD16567NM
— Nawaf Al-Thani نواف بن مبارك آل ثاني (@NawafAlThani) March 21, 2026
The strike comes just days after an Iranian missile hit a military base in the United Arab Emirates, which is home to US, UK and Australian troops.
Explosions were heard near the military base, which is used by Western nations as a transit hub within the region.
Meanwhile, Iran has said it will continue to stop shipping traffic from US and allied ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which is used to transport a fifth of the world’s oil supplies.
Brits were encouraged on Friday to work from home and use air fryers instead of ovens to lessen demand for energy.
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EU faces pressure over energy prices amid Middle East tensions and US sanctions
EU faces pressure over energy prices amid Middle East tensions and US sanctions
Escalating tensions in the Middle East are tightening global oil supply, prompting concerns among European leaders regarding the impact on energy prices.
European leaders are convening to discuss strategies for energy security amid increasing tensions and recent US sanctions on Russian oil, raising concerns about political commitments.
European leaders are convening to reassess energy policies in response to rising costs and geopolitical tensions, with discussions ongoing regarding potential strategies for enhancing energy security.
Briefing summary
Recent tensions in the Middle East are impacting global oil supplies, pressuring energy prices across the European Union. Concerns range from instability around the Strait of Hormuz to potential repercussions of US sanctions waivers on Russian oil purchases.
French MEP Fabrice Leggeri criticised the European Commission for ideological sanctions amidst internal energy dependencies. Conversely, Finnish MEP Jussi Saramo called for investments in renewable energy, arguing against nuclear power for addressing current issues.
Energy crisis hits Europe – Who pays the price? MEPs clash in The Ring
Across the European Union, energy prices remain highly sensitive to global instability — and recent developments are adding new pressure.
The Ring turns its attention to the ripple effects of escalating tensions in the Middle East, where disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz are tightening global oil supply. The United States has broadened a sanctions waiver allowing all countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea. This decision has prompted unease among European leaders, who fear it could weaken efforts to isolate Moscow.
How should the EU respond to rising costs while staying aligned with its political commitments? And how can Europe safeguard both its energy security and its strategic independence in an unpredictable global environment?
For French MEP Fabrice Leggeri, from the far-right Patriots for Europe group, the European Commission is to blame for energy dependencies: “It imposed sanctions in a very ideological way without having any kind of assessment of the internal consequences”.
On the other hand, Finnish MEP Jussi Saramo, from The Left, defends investing in the green transition across the EU: “If we want to answer people’s problems today, this decade, we need to build renewables, not nuclear power. We are late, but it’s time to start.”
Both MEPs also disagreed on their views on the US and Israel’s attack on Iran. While both agree that the regime in Tehran should collapse, Saramo argues that “bombing schools doesn’t help the Iranian people in their fight.”
Pro-Kremlin lawyer Ilya Remeslo admitted to psychiatric facility after criticising Putin
Get you up to speed: Pro-Kremlin lawyer Ilya Remeslo admitted to psychiatric facility after criticising Putin
Ilya Remeslo, a pro-Kremlin lawyer and former supporter of Vladimir Putin, has been admitted to a psychiatric clinic in St Petersburg after posting critical messages on Telegram describing Putin as a ‘war criminal, liar, and thief’. He was reportedly placed in a ward for patients suffering from ‘delusions, thought disorders, and incoherent speech’.
Ilya Remeslo has been admitted to the Skvortsov-Stepanov City Psychiatric Hospital in St Petersburg after criticising Vladimir Putin on Telegram. His friends reported difficulties in reaching him, and he was placed in a ward for patients with “delusions, thought disorders, and incoherent speech.”
Ilya Remeslo has been admitted to the Skvortsov-Stepanov City Psychiatric Hospital in St Petersburg, where he is placed in a ward for patients suffering from “delusions, thought disorders, and incoherent speech.” His denunciation of Vladimir Putin has heightened concerns about potential fractures within Putin’s elite and the Kremlin’s increased security measures amidst a failing war and looming economic issues.
Putin critic admitted to hospital ‘hours after he turns against leader’ | News World
Ilya Remeslo (left) hit out at Vladimir Putin (right) earlier this week in a series of attacking posts on Telegram He is now inside a facility (Pictures: East 2 West news)
A pro-Kremlin lawyer and propagandist who suddenly turned on Vladimir Putin has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric clinic.
TV pundit Ilya Remeslo, 42, was previously a staunch Putin supporter and endorser of Russia’s illegal invasion into Ukraine.
But earlier this week, he posted a series of messages on the messaging website Telegram, describing him as a ‘war criminal, liar, and thief’, and forecast a coup would topple him this year.
He said Putin’s war in Ukraine had turned into an abject failure with up to two million casualties.
‘Vladimir Putin is not a legitimate president,’ he posted. ‘Vladimir Putin must resign and be prosecuted as a war criminal and a thief.
‘[Putin] is becoming weaker and weaker, year after year. You can see what is happening now, complete disarray and instability.
Remeslo described Putin as a ‘war criminal, liar, and thief’, and forecast a coup would topple him this year (Picture: Ilya Remeslo/e2w)
He said Putin’s war in Ukraine had turned into an abject failure with up to two million casualties (Credits: EPA)
‘There are already clear signs of an approaching collapse of the system. Because Putin is afraid to surround himself with worthy rivals, people who could genuinely compete with him, he will lose power.
‘This will most likely happen this year, in 2026.’
He criticised Kremlin propaganda which claims the West is preparing WW3 against Russia.
‘No one is calling for war against Russia,’ he said. ‘But now the war is being waged solely for Putin’s ego complexes, and we ordinary citizens get nothing from it, only losses.’
Hours later, Remeslo was reportedly admitted to a psychiatric facility in St Petersburg.
Friends have said they have been unable to reach him at the Skvortsov-Stepanov City Psychiatric Hospital in the city of St. Petersburg.
He was reportedly sent to a ward for patients suffering from ‘delusions, thought disorders, and incoherent speech’.
Firefighters put out the fire in an multi-storey apartment building following a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine (Picture: AP)
Rescuers work at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike in Odesa, Ukraine (Credits: via REUTERS)
The hospital – in Putin’s home city – was used in Soviet times for ‘punitive psychiatry’.
In recent years, there have been allegations of torture inside the jail.
Remeslo denunciation of Putin – the strongest since the war started from an insider – raises questions of whether figures in Putin’s elite are now turning against him.
In recent weeks, the regime has been blocking mobile internet access in Moscow and on the frontline amid the failing war and looming economic calamity.
Security has been stepped up around the Kremlin.
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Has Trump hinted he’s finished with the Iran conflict? Don’t assume too much.
Has Trump hinted he’s finished with the Iran conflict? Don’t assume too much.
Winding Down War
President Trump indicated a desire to “wind down” military efforts in the Middle East regarding Iran, citing accomplishments and nearing objectives on Truth Social.
Thousands more American troops are en route to the region amid Trump’s indication of winding down war efforts in Iran.
Thousands more American troops are now deploying to the region as tensions remain high in response to President Trump’s shifting stance on the Iran conflict.
Briefing summary
President Trump announced potential plans to wind down the conflict in Iran, claiming military objectives have been largely achieved. He cited significant accomplishments, including degrading Iran’s missile capabilities.
Despite claiming success, challenges remain as nuclear materials remain in Iran. Trump emphasized that while the U.S. won’t guard the Hormuz Strait, other nations must take responsibility for securing it amid ongoing regional tensions.
Full reading: Has Trump given his biggest indication he’s done with the Iran war? Don’t take anything for certain | US News
Has President Trump just given the biggest indication yet that he’s done with this war in Iran?
There’ve been a flurry of overnight developments.
The caveat, up front, is that this is a president who changes his mind and has delivered very mixed messages in recent weeks. He also sees real value in saying one thing and doing the opposite. He bluffs.
That said, his language is more definitive than before. It feels more than ever like an “off-ramp” from his “Iran excursion” as he calls it.
Iran war latest: Trump considers ‘winding down’ Iran war
Pic: Reuters
First, on the White House south lawn, he told us: “Oh, I think we’ve won. We’ve knocked out their navy, their air force. We’ve knocked out their anti-aircraft. We’ve knocked out everything. We’re roaming free.”
He followed that with: “We want victory… and that’s what we’ve got.”
As ever the messaging was somewhat mixed. “Well, look,” he said: “… I don’t want to do a ceasefire. You know, you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side.”
But then an hour later, from the air, on Air Force One he delivered the clearest indication yet, via his Truth Social account, that he’s keen to wind down the conflict.
Does he really think he’s achieved all the war aims, or is he now properly spooked by the global economic consequences the war has caused?
List of accomplishments
On Truth Social he said: “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran.”
Then he lists the accomplishments as he sees them:
“(1) Completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them.
“(2) Destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base.
“(3) Eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti Aircraft Weaponry.
“(4) Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the U.S.A. can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place.
“(5) Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.”
I’ll get to his kicker for his allies in a moment but a thought on those points above first.
The nuclear material is still in Iran
The first three points amount to the comprehensive destruction of Iran’s military – that may well be accurate given how intense the American and Israeli bombing has been over three weeks.
But point four – “Iran is now not even close to nuclear capability”?
Well it’s almost certainly been knocked back years, but the nuclear material – near weapons grade, remember – that’s still somewhere in Iran.
And, of course, for now at least the regime remains in place: more defiant, more aggrieved, more intent on revenge.
Danger of retaliation is huge
The danger of low-level, prolonged, dangerous and disruptive asymmetrical retaliation is huge. The Iranian regime, as President Trump reminds us, was the global sponsor and exporter of terror. Its sleeper cells are sophisticated. It’s a huge challenge for intelligence agencies.
Finally – the kicker in his statement.
“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it – The United States does not! If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated.”
Put simply – he’s saying: “Sorry folks – not America’s problem. We broke the global energy market. You need to fix it.”
He adds that it will be easy to fix. No one else anywhere is claiming that, by the way.
So what next? Well, let’s see how what’s left of the Iranian government responds to this apparent shift by President Trump.
Remember too that this is a president who shifts, changes, and contradicts his own statements all the time.
To underline that, thousands more American troops are already on the way to the region.
Don’t take anything for certain.
Russian attacks kill two in Ukraine as peace talks are anticipated in Miami
Russian attacks kill two in Ukraine as peace talks are anticipated in Miami
At least two people have been killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine, with a strike on a home in Zaporizhzhia leaving a couple dead and their children injured.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed a delegation’s arrival in the US to resume peace talks, with discussions anticipated to address recent escalations.
Expected peace talks between the United States and Ukraine are scheduled for today in Miami, aimed at resuming suspended US-brokered negotiations to end the war.
Briefing summary
At least two individuals have died following overnight Russian attacks in Ukraine, with reports indicating that Ukrainian forces intercepted 148 of 154 drones launched during the assault.
Simultaneously, a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia resulted in fatalities and injuries to a couple and their children, amid expectations of impending peace talks in Miami involving the United States and Ukraine.
In related developments, reports from the regional governor of Belgorod mention casualties from a Ukrainian strike on a social facility, heightening tensions as drone activity continues on both sides.
Russia launches 154 drones over Ukraine, killing a couple at home and injuring their children
Published on
At least two people have been killed in overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. 154 drones were launched over the country, with 148 of them downed.
In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, a Russian strike on a home has killed a couple and wounded their two children, aged 15 and 11, and four others, according to regional head Ivan Fedorov on Saturday morning.
The attack came hours before expected peace talks to be held in Miami between the United States and Ukraine, according to Ukrainian state media.
On Thursday, an official Ukrainian delegation left for the United States in a push to resume suspended US-brokered talks on ending the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The White House has not yet confirmed any meeting.
Ukraine’s armed forces reported five drones striking four locations, as well as debris falling in seven places.
Whilst Russia’s defence ministry claims to have downed 283 Ukrainian drones overnight, the regional governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a Ukrainian strike on a social facility has left two women dead and one injured, “Two people have been killed and another one injured in a Ukrainian attack on the village of Smorodino in the Graivoronsky District,” Gladkov said on Telegram.
Video editor • Lucy Davalou