After nearly a decade of mainstream pollsters consistently underpolling President Trump’s national support in the United States, it is fair to ask the question: Does his approval rating even matter anymore? Or is there any better way to asses the success of his second administration?
‘Greenland, the world’s largest island, has attracted US interest not only for its natural resources but also for its geostrategic location. Both the Cold War and today’s geopolitical competition demonstrate that Arctic regions are increasingly significant from military and economic perspectives.’
‘If Hungary wants to avoid a recession, it needs to offset this lost external demand with internal demand. That means the country must stimulate consumption, at least until it finds a new structure for its trade.’
‘Having chosen to both forgo the traditional papal attire of his predecessors and to take up residence at the Casa Santa Marta—the five star hotel within the Vatican City walls—instead of the papal palace, Francis presented himself as a populist pope—or, as he was characterized after he died, the “people’s pope”—, vowing to drain the swamp of corruption in the Holy See and revolutionize the Church.’
In a speech marked by boastfulness and distortion, re-elected EPP President Manfred Weber, while repeatedly attacking Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, delivered a clear message to Hungary ahead of the 2026 elections: those who join the EPP are expected to strictly follow his political line, including military, financial, and political support for the war in Ukraine and Kyiv’s fast-tracked EU accession.
‘We persist in fighting for life wherever opportunities arise. Likewise, we should applaud the conservative government of Hungary for its efforts rather than criticize them. It holds a proven record on life through pronatalist incentives, not just anti-abortion restrictions. In a West fading to demographic dusk, Hungary stands as a partner and a beacon worth defending.’
‘There has been an extraordinarily noticeable and palpable shift in the political culture and discourse in the United States over the past two decades…And the absolute most crucial thing the Democratic Party wants you to believe is that, above all else, being a Democrat is the only acceptable thing to be in America.’
‘Going on a media blitz for an illegal alien with likely gang ties is not the best idea for Democrats, as common sense would suggest…However, Democrats do have to move fast on the issue. The 2030 census is fast approaching, and if Republicans manage to retain the White House, they will be in control of the US Census Bureau, conducting it.’
‘It is not obligatory to accept the ransom paid for us, but—honestly—who would not accept a hand extended to them in an extreme crisis? And the outcome of our fate in eternity is a situation of considerable importance.’
‘We have already seen that Hungary’s living standards have increased enormously in recent years. Unlike Ireland, however, Hungary remains a culturally conservative country. Nevertheless, there is reason to think that this might change in the future—at least, if careful measures are not taken to ensure that it does not.’
‘Society thrives as a partnership across generations, with intact families of mothers and fathers raising children as its cornerstone. Post-liberalism taps this spirit and spurns individualism’s drift for a natalism that rebuilds us all. Data screams crisis; incentives like tax credits and vouchers answer it…Hungary’s incentives and Florida’s successes offer a starting point.’
‘Technology is rapidly revolutionizing warfare, fundamentally changing the circumstances in which conflicts unfold. With modern drones and artificial intelligence, a paradigm shift is taking place that fundamentally rewrites our concepts of war. The battlefield no longer necessarily requires human presence…The era of self-sacrificing captains is disappearing, if not already gone.’
With the CDU–SPD coalition agreement presented on Wednesday, it has become clear that the new government, under the leadership of Friedrich Merz, will prioritize Ukraine’s interests over those of Germany and its people. Having failed to deliver on his own campaign promises, Merz is already paying the price for his political betrayal: Alice Weidel’s AfD has overtaken the CDU, becoming the largest party in Germany by a margin of one percentage point.
‘President Donald Trump, on his self-proclaimed “liberation day”, imposed sweeping tariffs of at least 10 per cent on almost every product that enters the U.S. from almost every country…with the aim of keeping jobs within the American homeland. What the president has done is reverting to the American “protectionism” of the 19th century, which economists call the Hamiltonian Statecraft.’
‘How does Hungary manage to stay on good terms with both Washington and Beijing, despite their growing rivalry?…Many observers explain this dual alignment as mere pragmatism—ideological kinship with the American right, economic opportunism with China. But that tells only part of the story.’
‘Russia occupies a unique…position in Huntington’s system of civilizations and in a broader sense in global geopolitics as well: it is simultaneously Western and non-Western, European yet distinct from Europe. This duality is not merely a philosophical or cultural curiosity but is…seemingly used as a strategic tool that some Russian regimes actively exploit in their international positioning.’
‘If we look at the crises that have damaged the EU in recent years, and evaluate them through the lens of the EU’s real interests, it becomes increasingly clear that Viktor Orbán is not the EU’s greatest threat—but its most pro-EU leader. In fact, he might be the only one.’
‘The UN, unlike the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is a collective security system; the latter is an alliance, which deals with a specific and specified threat and has military forces to address these threats. The UN is juridically neutral, and it is coerced to wait for a threat to emerge before it can consider action.’
‘It’s high time we tell our stories: paint them, etch them, carve them, and turn them into stained glass. The Palace of Culture in Marosvásárhely is a signal of triumph—a beautiful window into the culture of Transylvania and of Hungary. We need a shot of that cultural self-awareness and self-confidence on our side of the pond. We need some stained-glass ballads of our own…’
‘To suggest swapping Hungary for Ukraine simply because the Hungarian government does not fall in line on critical issues and instead maintains a consistent, principled position is not only impossible but reckless. It would trigger a series of developments that could ultimately lead to the EU’s collapse—a risk that already looms large.’
‘Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation…34 years ago, on this day, was the death of a Catholic churchman who not only helped build Christendom in the then French-speaking part of Africa, but who was also an apostle against modernism and a champion for traditional Catholicism, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.’
‘Likud joining forces with PfE shook the liberal establishment. This can be measured by the intensity of their rhetoric. Patriots ought to look out for such signals from mainstream media: wherever they try to undermine you, it means you have done something right. This is the signal to close ranks and pursue whichever course of action caused this reaction in the first place.’
Is the EU capable of defending itself against the Russian threat? Why is the US turning away from Europe? Is there fear in an atheist’s heart of meeting Jesus after death? How well-founded are our strongly held beliefs? We asked the American philosopher in Budapest.
‘The defence of democracy, human rights, and sovereignty cannot be contingent on political expediency or the geopolitical convenience of targeting smaller or less powerful states. A genuinely united Europe must demonstrate a consistent and impartial commitment to its principles, respecting the agency of all member states.’
‘One of the main consequences of falling birth rates is labour shortages, which hamper economic growth and the sustainability of pension systems. In a paradoxical twist, regional inequality is deepened by the depopulation of rural areas, while in urban areas, the increase of real estate prices still hinders young people from starting new families. Digitalization…could be a solution to these problems.’
‘Western media is…in a frenzy about an impending electoral upset in Hungary. Péter Magyar is being touted by some as “the biggest threat Hungary’s Viktor Orbán has faced in 15 years”. Much of this assessment is based on polling for the upcoming 2026 election…Yet when we look at the polling closely, we see that there are major discrepancies which lead one to seriously question its accuracy.’
‘Increasingly, shops have delayed exit timers on their automatic doors to trap the thieves who steal with impunity otherwise. And in common with the rest of London, the plague of mobile phone theft is unavoidable. Foolish the person who walks around device in hand—it won’t remain there for long.’
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has reignited debates over historical authenticity, representation, and creative liberty in gaming. The controversy stems from its inclusion of a Black samurai protagonist, inspired by the 16th-century figure Yasuke. While some praise this as an overdue exploration of marginalized history, others argue it distorts Japan’s feudal past to fit modern diversity narratives.
As the Trump administration reshapes transatlantic relations, Hungary has a unique opportunity to position itself as a key player in the new order.
‘There is a historic chance for US–Hungary relations to peak, and it depends in no small part on the two leading players. Even though Hungary is a member of the EU and NATO, in the last two decades, American Democratic administrations have been explicitly hostile towards it…With the US president behind him, Orbán could be much more effective in strengthening his conservative agenda in Brussels, which until now has been an uphill struggle.’