The Art Of Politics: June — Well, That All Escalated…
by Richard Bruton
June, yet another month where the massed ranks of the world’s political cartoonists outdid themselves in bringing truth to power. And there was an awful lot of truth to be bringing. Yes, it’s the Art of Politics…
Well, wasn’t that a bit of a month? Oh, I wonder where we will start this month’s Art of Politics… oh, who am I kidding, it’s the same as pretty much every month, as the Prez of the good ol’ US of A takes us deeper and deeper into chaos and calamity…
Here’s Ella Baron summing up a rather scary month…
And Michael de Adder doing the same…
Now, as far as things went this month, it just seemed to be a series of escalating conflicts, all beginning with the falling out that we knew was coming and ending the month with the continuing threat of the Middle East really blowing up…
ROUND 1 – ELON VS TRUMP…
Well, it probably lasted longer than most of us thought it was, but June saw the end to the Trump-Musk bromance, as cut rate Tony Stark was shown the door and bad things were said, not the least of which was Musk giving a pretty big hint about the Epstein tapes…
… followed by a rather embarrassing climb-down by Musk… Ben Jennings on that one…
KAL on the same…
And here’s KAL from last November, predicting just how it would happen…
ROUND 2 – TRUMP VS LA…
Things inevitably boiled over in California, as ICE raids brought people out onto the streets in (mostly) peaceful protest, leading Trump to bring in the National Guard, against the wishes of everyone in charge in California.
Morten Morland on the increased militarisation against protest and the media…
ROUND 3 – ISRAEL-IRAN…
Well, after a bit of a personal thing with Trump-Elon and a bit of a state thing with Trump-LA, things went a big bigger and a lot more serious, as Israel decided they’d had enough of bombing the crap out of Gaza and turned their attention to Iran, all about stopping Iran getting nuclear capabilities – right?
Ella Baron with yet another powerful cartoon on just how the Israel-Iran conflict has diverted eyes from what’s happening still in Gaza…
As for Trump’s response – he first gave things two weeks before he was going to do anything, then, two days later, hitting the Iranian nuclear sites with a multi-multi-multi-million Dollar offensive that may (or may not) have actually destroyed the facilities. Although, the Iranian leadership claimed they’d moved everything out of the facilities weeks ago anyway.
Ben Jennings on that…
And Martin Rowson on Trump’s delays…
And more from Martin Rowson…
MEANWHILE, THE BODIES OF INNOCENTS KEEP MOUNTING UP IN GAZA…
Yes, while the world concentrated on the escalation between Israel and Iran, the bombs kept falling on Gaza and the bodycount kept rising…
AND THEN THERE WAS THE PARADE… THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL PARADE…
Celebrating Flag Day, the 250th anniversary of the US Army, but also, completely coincidentally I’m sure, happening on Trump’s birthday, we had a big military parade. You know, the sort of big military parade we see in those lovely peace-loving countries like North Korea and Russia. Although, it has to be said, when they do it, they make it look bloody impressive. The US parade? Well, it barely looked like the military could be bothered marching in step.
Here’s Martin Rowson on that…
And KAL..
NOW, OVER IN NOT SO GREAT BRITAIN…
Well, we’re a whole year into the Prime Ministership of Keir Starmer. And, well, it hasn’t exactly gone to plan, has it? We’ve got a Labout government leaning hard into so many Conservative policies that there’s no more than a cigarette paper between them at times. And for most of the country, it feels like we’re now in year, I don’t know, 20? 30? of austerity with no signs of anything getting any better.
There was a small bit of good news for Keir, as Trump’s tariffs were held off – well, for a while at least. Ben Jennings on that…
But after that, it was all bad… as everyone (well, except the rich, the rich always get richer) found life in Britain just that little harder.
Nicola Jennings on Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s difficult spending review…
Rebecca Hendin on a major Labour U-turn, pointing out that the winter fuel payments issue is just one small problem in a country beset by hardship…
Oh, but of course, there’s also defence spending available… here’s Nicola Jennings…
And finally for the UK, a really rather beautifully poignant and incisive Ben Jennings piece on Labour’s first year in charge…
