Dépêche

Trump Chickens Out Again in Iran

Donald ‘#TACO [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_Always_Chickens_Out]’ Trump has once again chickened out, backing down from his threats to erase Iran’s 2500-year-old civilisation last night [https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/history-iranian-civilization-trump-threat-ceasefire-13997991.html] if the Iranian government didn’t capitulate. Which of course, they didn’t, instead putting forward a ten-point peace plan to end the American-Iranian war that would amount to a complete and utter American capitulation, and would solidify Iran’s position as the regional hegemon. So, realising that once again his geopolitical skills are non-existent and you can’t just be a bully to a foreign state in quite the same way you can be to young or vulnerable individuals, Donald Trump has chickened out, and here we are. And as discussed in the Dépêche of the day, Donald Trump continues to reinforce the anti-American and illiberal order. Get full access to The French Dispatch at www.frenchdispatch.eu/subscribe [https://www.frenchdispatch.eu/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Viktor Orbans false flag has failed, but what happened?

With Hungary heading to the polls in six days, on Sunday, 12 April 2026, Viktor Orban is growing increasingly desperate as he faces an almost certain defeat to Péter Magyar. This election is teasing Europeans with the end of the autocratic regime that has enriched him, his oligarch friends, and Vladimir Putin, as well as promising a potential end to the Hungarian veto that has hamstrung the European Union and prevented us from ensuring our prosperity. With Anne Applebaum [https://substack.com/profile/2016344-anne-applebaum] having actively spread the concept of post-truth elections, we’re taking a look at Viktor Orban’s attempted false flag in Serbia. After the explosives were found on pipelines carrying Russian gas from Serbia into Hungary, Orban and his allies aggressively pointed the finger at Ukraine and attempted to undermine Magyar’s campaign, before Serbian intelligence killed the conspiracy with one small comment. And of course, as you can imagine, this is all because his party, Fidesz, is looking at the end of their dominance in Hungary. Get full access to The French Dispatch at www.frenchdispatch.eu/subscribe [https://www.frenchdispatch.eu/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

La Dépêche Announcement

So, for more than a few years now, I’ve been receiving regular requests to do more audio-visual content, more short-form content, and more briefs explaining the day-to-day politics in Europe, the United States, and the wider world. And so I’m happy to announce that a new project will be coming to The French Dispatch, featuring more regular, rapid, and brief content to keep you updated on what is happening in the world around us. Get full access to The French Dispatch at www.frenchdispatch.eu/subscribe [https://www.frenchdispatch.eu/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]