Anthony Zurcher
@zurch.bsky.social
BBC North America correspondent. A Texan who explains US politics to Brits, UK politics to Americans & Canadian politics to everyone. Views expressed ≠ BBC's
Trump golfed, Democrats blinked and this shutdown may be drawing to a close, But shutdown politics is here to stay. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bipartisan US shutdown deal will sharpen divisions among Democrats
Key takeaways after a Senate breakthrough heralds a possible end in sight to the longest shutdown in US history.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Trump golfed, Democrats blinked and this shutdown may be drawing to a close, But shutdown politics is here to stay. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Always risky reading too much into Supreme Court oral arguments, but … Trump’s tariffs may be on shaky ground. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Supreme Court justices sharply question Trump tariffs in hearing
If the court rules against Trump's tariffs, it could force the US to refund some of the billions it has collected.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Always risky reading too much into Supreme Court oral arguments, but … Trump’s tariffs may be on shaky ground. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Dick Cheney championed an expansive presidential authority and built today's American security state. Trump is taking those tools and bending them to his will. www.bbc.com/news/article...
What Trump took from Dick Cheney's political playbook
There was no lost love between the two Republicans, but there are parallels in how both expanded presidential power.
www.bbc.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Dick Cheney championed an expansive presidential authority and built today's American security state. Trump is taking those tools and bending them to his will. www.bbc.com/news/article...
The ecclesiastical way of subtweeting
October 31, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The ecclesiastical way of subtweeting
I was with Trump on his Asia swing - and I saw a lot of personal accommodations that bordered on the obsequious. But his face-to-face with Chinese leader Xi Jinping was all business, no fanfare. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump's Asia tour sees deals, knee-bending and a revealing Xi meeting
His five-day tour displayed the power of his presidency - but also, at times, that power's limitations.
www.bbc.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I was with Trump on his Asia swing - and I saw a lot of personal accommodations that bordered on the obsequious. But his face-to-face with Chinese leader Xi Jinping was all business, no fanfare. www.bbc.com/news/article...
This is one policy option. Another is for tech giants to voluntarily contribute hundreds of millions to a massive government vanity project favored by the regime that is considering how to regulate them. www.politico.eu/article/fren...
French lawmakers vote to hike tax on American tech giants
President Donald Trump has warned he would retaliate against any move that targets U.S. companies.
www.politico.eu
October 24, 2025 at 12:57 AM
This is one policy option. Another is for tech giants to voluntarily contribute hundreds of millions to a massive government vanity project favored by the regime that is considering how to regulate them. www.politico.eu/article/fren...
Meanwhile, at the White House... www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
White House begins demolishing East Wing facade to build Trump’s ballroom
The president had claimed construction of the $250 million ballroom wouldn’t ‘interfere’ with the existing White House structure.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Meanwhile, at the White House... www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Millions of Americans turned out for the No Kings rally this weekend. Can Democrats turn that energy into ballot box success? The first test comes next month. www.bbc.com/news/article...
'No Kings' protests: where does Democratic opposition go next?
Millions of Americans joined anti-Trump protests, but Democrats are less popular than the president and divided over how to fight back.
www.bbc.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Millions of Americans turned out for the No Kings rally this weekend. Can Democrats turn that energy into ballot box success? The first test comes next month. www.bbc.com/news/article...
The Supreme Court weighs doing away with the requirement that states draw congressional districts to give black voters representation roughly equal to their population share. Doing so could let conservative southern states flip more than a dozen seats to the Republicans. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Supreme Court weighs 'earthquake' ruling on Voting Rights Act
The court's decision could lead to the redrawing of congressional districts across the US south.
www.bbc.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The Supreme Court weighs doing away with the requirement that states draw congressional districts to give black voters representation roughly equal to their population share. Doing so could let conservative southern states flip more than a dozen seats to the Republicans. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Anthony Zurcher
The subtext of this comment is that the Mayor of Boston is Asian-American, whereas the Mayor of Chicago (like almost everyone else that Trump refers to as “a low IQ person”) is Black.
Trump: "Boston had a bad mayor who at least is a reasonable IQ person. Most of them are low IQ. I mean, what's going on in Chicago ... "
October 15, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The subtext of this comment is that the Mayor of Boston is Asian-American, whereas the Mayor of Chicago (like almost everyone else that Trump refers to as “a low IQ person”) is Black.
Trump has the advantage of personal relationships with Netanyahu and key Arab leaders. He has an unconventional approach that yielded conventional success. But in the end, Netanyahu may have decided that his military objectives had all been accomplished. www.bbc.com/news/article...
How Trump secured a Gaza breakthrough which eluded Biden
Trump's unique style and his relationships with key players helped but there were also factors beyond his control.
www.bbc.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Trump has the advantage of personal relationships with Netanyahu and key Arab leaders. He has an unconventional approach that yielded conventional success. But in the end, Netanyahu may have decided that his military objectives had all been accomplished. www.bbc.com/news/article...
I watched five hours of Pam Bondi Senate testimony today... Here's what we learned - and what we didn't. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Five takeaways from Pam Bondi's tense, partisan Senate testimony
Nerves were raw in a hearing that covered much ground, and saw Trump's attorney general go on the attack.
www.bbc.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:47 PM
I watched five hours of Pam Bondi Senate testimony today... Here's what we learned - and what we didn't. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Happy first day of the new Supreme Court session, for those who celebrate. It's shaping up to be a pivotal one for defining the breadth of presidential authority. www.bbc.com/news/article...
New Supreme Court term will reshape Trump's powers
Legal challenges have slowed Trump's momentum on a number of fronts. Now the highest US court is going to weigh in.
www.bbc.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Happy first day of the new Supreme Court session, for those who celebrate. It's shaping up to be a pivotal one for defining the breadth of presidential authority. www.bbc.com/news/article...
After distancing himself from Project 2025 last year, Trump is now citing it - and co-author Russ Vought - to threaten Democrats. Is this a bluff or another step in a budget-slashing plan? www.bbc.com/news/article...
Russell Vought - from Project 2025 to Trump's shutdown enforcer
The Office of Management and Budget boss may not be a household name, but he's a key figure in Washington's shutdown.
www.bbc.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
After distancing himself from Project 2025 last year, Trump is now citing it - and co-author Russ Vought - to threaten Democrats. Is this a bluff or another step in a budget-slashing plan? www.bbc.com/news/article...
So how does this shutdown end? I tick through four possibilities - three of which aren’t great for the Democrats. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Four ways the US government shutdown could end
At some point, public pressure and political pain will see one side yield to bring this latest US government shutdown to an end.
www.bbc.com
October 2, 2025 at 12:36 AM
So how does this shutdown end? I tick through four possibilities - three of which aren’t great for the Democrats. www.bbc.com/news/article...
At this point, a government shutdown at midnight tonight seems certain. And while both sides have plans for how it might play out to their advantage, there are no guarantees. www.bbc.com/news/article...
US shutdown looms as Trump and Democrats end meeting without a deal
Democrats say there are still "very large differences" between the two sides, while Republicans have accused them of "not doing the right thing".
www.bbc.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:24 PM
At this point, a government shutdown at midnight tonight seems certain. And while both sides have plans for how it might play out to their advantage, there are no guarantees. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Last yeear, Trump said, "Sometimes revenge can be justified." Back in the White House, he is now punishing his critics and adversaries. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump promised retribution - how far will he go?
As the US president pushes a crackdown on left-wing groups and openly targets political foes, critics ask where he's taking America
www.bbc.com
September 27, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Last yeear, Trump said, "Sometimes revenge can be justified." Back in the White House, he is now punishing his critics and adversaries. www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Clear and Present Danger" - but instead of covert CIA operations, they just come right out and say what they're going to do.
U.S. preparing options for military strikes on drug targets inside Venezuela, sources say www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
U.S. preparing options for military strikes on drug targets inside Venezuela, sources say
President Donald Trump has not approved any action yet, and the U.S. and Venezuela are talking through Middle Eastern intermediaries, sources told NBC News.
www.nbcnews.com
September 27, 2025 at 3:14 AM
"Clear and Present Danger" - but instead of covert CIA operations, they just come right out and say what they're going to do.
The president asks, and he shall receive... www.bbc.com/news/article...
Comey indictment escalates Trump's promise of political retribution
The criminal case against Comey fulfils the president's desire to seek retribution and further raises concerns about abuse of power.
www.bbc.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:40 AM
The president asks, and he shall receive... www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Your heroes will be ..." <spins wheel> "... John Bolton, James Comey and the Man Show guy."
September 26, 2025 at 2:20 AM
"Your heroes will be ..." <spins wheel> "... John Bolton, James Comey and the Man Show guy."
If there is a sense that no one is safe – that public life itself has become a blood sport – it will have its own corrosive effect on American politics. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Campus killing lays bare America's bloody and broken politics
Charlie Kirk's killing is another episode of gun violence in America and the latest in a line of recent political violence.
www.bbc.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:14 AM
If there is a sense that no one is safe – that public life itself has become a blood sport – it will have its own corrosive effect on American politics. www.bbc.com/news/article...
The birthday note Trump purportedly wrote to Epstein is a fragment of a larger mosaic of Epstein’s life - a story of sex, crime and proximity to power. And that’s why it is not the “dead issue” that Trump wishes it to be. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump is used to shaking off criticism. The Epstein saga is different
While there is no suggestion of criminal wrongdoing by Trump, the political consequences of the Epstein saga on the US president are very real
www.bbc.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The birthday note Trump purportedly wrote to Epstein is a fragment of a larger mosaic of Epstein’s life - a story of sex, crime and proximity to power. And that’s why it is not the “dead issue” that Trump wishes it to be. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Anthony Zurcher
What Epstein records have not been made public?
September 6, 2025 at 12:18 PM
What Epstein records have not been made public?
The press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday put Epstein's victims front and centre - with an added promise that they would not be silenced. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Three ways Epstein scandal could go for Trump
This week the victims of Epstein's crimes came forward to demand more information, piling pressure on the White House.
www.bbc.com
September 6, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday put Epstein's victims front and centre - with an added promise that they would not be silenced. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Anthony Zurcher
