"Before our eyes, a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts and tired divisions of the past..."

"... and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos; where it exports technology, not terrorism; and where people of different nations, religions, and creeds are building cities together — not bombing each other out of existence. (Watch) This great transformation has not come from Western interventionists… giving you lectures on how to live or how to govern your own affairs. No, the gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called ‘nation-builders,’ ‘neo-cons,’ or ‘liberal non-profits,’ like those who spent trillions failing to develop Kabul and Baghdad, so many other cities. Instead, the birth of a modern Middle East has been brought about by the people of the region themselves … developing your own sovereign countries, pursuing your own unique visions, and charting your own destinies. (Watch) In the end, the so-called ‘nation-builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built — and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves. (Watch)..."

From President Trump's speech in Riyadh.

Here's how the NYT covered the tremendously important speech: "Trump’s Pledge to the Middle East: No More ‘Lectures on How to Live’/In Saudi Arabia, the president denounced Western intervention and nation-building, garnering both praise and eye rolls." (Yes, the speech garnered.) Excerpt:

"The Village People song, a Trump rally staple, has become a symbol of the vexing incongruities of MAGA."

"While liberals have attempted to point out the irony of Trump’s use of what is historically considered a gay anthem... [but] the men in this room observed no such irony in the first place. To them Trump is not only pro-gay but a gay icon unto himself, a champion of masculinity in both its traditional and campy forms, as lovable for his flamboyant excess as for his red-meat invective against the left. 'The makeup, the hair, the sharp tongue, the cattiness,' [said Adam Ewer, copresident of the New York City chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans]. 'He’s the gayest president we’ve ever had.'... A gay publicist who only agreed to speak to me anonymously suggested that one reason some gays are drawn to the right wing is that it’s simply more fun. Democrats are the 'most killjoy people on earth,' he said, whereas there’s something 'actually quite gay' about MAGA. 'It’s masculine, but it’s also campy and bitchy.' And in its embrace of trash entertainment and penchant for offense it may have more in common with gay culture than the liberal mainstream, which in the publicist’s view has become 'painfully' middle-class. 'I’ve always liked opera and Jerry Springer, and I feel like Trump—that’s kind of his taste. It’s very high-low.'"

From "My Afternoon With the ‘Normal Gay Guys’ Who Voted for Trump/Gay MAGA is hypermasculine and anti-woke—and it wants a break from the LGBTQ+ movement" by Daniel Lefferts (GQ).

"A dramatic political realignment of the two major parties on foreign and economic policy has Republicans leading the charge on a variety of issue stances that Sanders-style progressives and labor unions continue to support..."

"... even as corporatist Democratic voters abandon them. These include Mr. Trump’s skepticism of free trade and open borders—which may help account for the 10% of Democratic voters who told Monmouth University pollsters last month that they’re optimistic about a second Trump term."

Writes the political cartoonist Ted Rall, in "Optimism About Trump on the Left/His opposition to war and skepticism about corporations and markets make him appealing to some progressives" (Wall Street Journal).

"Throughout Monday afternoon, Trump raged at Graham in post after post on the social media platform after Graham said he 'respectfully' disagreed with Trump’s conclusions about abortion policy."

"Graham, in posts shared on X, argued that the court’s ruling on Roe 'does not require that conclusion legally.' 'The states’ rights only rationale today runs contrary to an American consensus that would limit late-term abortions and will age about as well as the Dred Scott decision,' Graham said. 'The science is clear — a child at fifteen weeks is well-developed and is capable of feeling pain.' Graham has been a staunch proponent of federal limits on abortions. Most recently, he has pushed for a ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy....  'The Democrats are thrilled with Lindsey, because they want this issue to simmer for as long a period of time as possible,' Trump said. In another post, Trump argued that by allowing states to make their own abortion laws, 'we have taken the Abortion Issue largely out of play.' 'We cannot let our Country suffer any further damage by losing Elections on an issue that should always have been decided by the States, and now will be,' Trump said...."

From "Trump rages against [Lindsey] Graham on abortion in rare break between allies/The posts from the former president came after the senator said he ‘respectfully’ disagreed with Trump’s stance on abortion Monday" (WaPo).

Graham's support for a federal statute limiting abortion undercuts an argument that abortion opponents will want to make if Congress ever creates a right to abortion in the form of a federal statute. But if protecting the life of the unborn is your highest priority, that's where you go as a matter of principle. The idea of leaving it to the states seems like a pragmatic compromise.

"I think it’s absolutely fine. I think that’s something that perhaps some people will have a problem with. I have no problem with it whatsoever. I think it’s good."

Said Donald Trump, when asked — in an interview, by Fox News’ Steve Hilton — what he thought about Pete Buttigieg's running for President while being openly gay and standing on stages with his husband onstage.