Meloni praised by Italian far-right press
After Giorgia Meloni publicly defied Trump, even Italy's far-right press ran banner headlines supporting her, showing her domestic popularity surged.
Snapshot · The Rest Is Politics: US
198. Trump's War On Europe: No Way Back?
Explore episode
Jun 22, 2026
Where this was said
You Can Only Rent Trump — Lessons from Giorgia Meloni
At 12:50 · chapter starts 12:40
Scarborough's most quotable line lands with precision: 'You can't buy Donald Trump, you can only rent him, and sometimes you can only rent him for 15 minutes' [1] — Joe Scarborough "No leader can truly secure Trump's loyalty. Scarborough's razor-sharp summary: you can't buy Donald Trump, you can only rent him — and some…" 12:00 . It is a perfect summary of the futility of appeasement strategies, from Paul Ryan to Keir Starmer. But the counter-example is Meloni. Kay notes the extraordinary spectacle of Italy's right-wing press running banner headlines calling Trump an asshole — a sign that Meloni's defiance has brought her natural allies back onside [2] — Katty Kay "Giorgia Meloni was supposed to be Trump's most devoted European ally. When she pushed back publicly, Italy's far-right press ran banner hea…" 12:40 . When your far-right base is celebrating you for standing up to a right-wing American president, you've found a political gift. Scarborough argues this is proof of the rule: Trump will be far more likely to have a good working relationship with Meloni for fighting back than he would if she had bowed down. The contrast with Starmer — who went the extra mile with the state visit offer — is implicit but devastating.
Meloni Proves Defiance Works
Giorgia Meloni was supposed to be Trump's most devoted European ally. When she pushed back publicly, Italy's far-right press ran banner headlines calling Trump an asshole — and her poll numbers soared. Defiance delivered what deference never could.
Europe Holds the Cards — But Won't Play Them
The EU plus UK has a GDP roughly equal to the United States — around $26–27 trillion. Russia's GDP is $1.4 trillion, smaller than Texas. The numbers make Trump's pro-Russia, anti-Europe posture look economically insane. Europe has the leverage; it just needs the nerve to use it.
Mark Carney's Playbook: Head Down, Move Forward
Mark Carney came in on the thinnest of margins. A year in, people talk about what a forceful leader he's become. The secret: tough without being gratuitously insulting. Trump's taunts are the taunts of a 5-year-old — the correct response is to ignore them and move.
Similar snapshots
Media: 90% negative coverage 10 years ago
Kalanick estimates that a decade ago, 90% of media coverage of tech business was negative, treating companies like political targets.
Largest crime drop since 1937
2024–2025 marked the single largest decrease in violent crime and murder in the US since 1937.
Violent crime down 9% in 2024–25
From 2024 to 2025, violent crime decreased 9%, property crime decreased 12.4%, and motor vehicle theft decreased 23%.
Ebony Alert went into effect January 1, 2024
California's Ebony Alert Program, designed for the swift recovery of missing Black youth and women, officially went into effect on January 1, 2024.
UK tourist ETA costs $20 to apply
Andrew Santino discovered that American tourists now need to pay $20 to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK, starting January 2025.
Kay Classman, 28, posed as a 16-year-old student
Kay Classman, a 28-year-old woman, was arrested for repeatedly enrolling in a Bronx high school posing as a 16-year-old student across multiple school districts.
16% of Americans: 9/11 inside job
A poll around 2011 found that 16% of Americans believed 9/11 was an inside job, illustrating how viral misinformation had already embedded itself in public opinion before social media peaked.
$300K debate offer to Candace Owens
Andrew Wilson offered Candace Owens $300,000 to debate her Charlie Kirk conspiracy theory, but she refused.
Only 11 killed by Israeli pager bombs
According to the podcast, only 11 people were killed by the coordinated Israeli pager attack on Hezbollah operatives, despite widespread detonations.
