Trump Completes Elephant in China Shop Foreign Trip in Helsinki. May's Chequers Brexit Plans Damaged

First, the good news, to quote one report - The President is returning from his foreign policy trip abroad. The bad news, he lent more credence to the statements of President Vladimir Putin than his own American security agencies and military and private advisers. Russian interference in the US elections, the invasion of Crimea, the poisoning of the Skripals and innocent civilians in the UK with Novichok, all appear to mean nothing in comparison to Mano a Mano male bonding of one world leader and a wannabee. Though now it is not clear who is who.

There must be serious considerations going on in European and Nato capitals about whether the US can really be trusted with their own security information anymore. Even some Republicans in the US are aghast at the elephant in a china shop approach of their president to foreign policy.

The Prime Minister had to accept several amendments to her Chequers Brexit plans that were submitted by brexiteers. Outrage in parliament. The amendments just squeeked through by a couple of votes. Brexiteers are crowing that they believe that this might have killed off the Chequers deal once it is presented to the EU.

The political excitement of the day barely served to rouse me from the apathy after a busy weekend (and a migraine). We took it easy as the hot summer continues.