Senior Correspondent for @the-independent.com, writing about foreign policy, politics, extremism, Americana, and everything in between. Former Beirut correspondent.https://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lslsmvjblk22Much like Wile E. Coyote, Trump appears to believe that if the bombs are big enough, then they can't possibly fail to achieve their goal. But questions about the success of the mission to strike Iran's nuclear program persist, and Hegseth didn't answer them. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-media-coverage-nuclear-strike-b2778313.html27 Jun 2025 14:03 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lslsmvjblk22https://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lrtrtcd5uc2hIs this Trump’s WMD moment? He rejected U.S. intel that found Iran was not close to building a bomb and was not seeking to build one. This is a man who rose to power railing against people who lied about WMDs, now he's accused of doing the same. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-israel-attack-war-b2771848.html18 Jun 2025 00:45 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrtrtcd5uc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lppgkj7yak2gTrump channels a conspiracy theory-loving uncle with bizarre Oval Office ambush https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-south-african-president-meeting-ambush-b2755510.html21 May 2025 20:22 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lppgkj7yak2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lo2bponfjk2vTrump's deportations are turning immigrant communities into ghost towns. We visited three neighbourhoods across the country and found people scared to leave their homes over fears of being detained and deported by ICE. Read the dispatches here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-deportation-immigrant-community-b2738822.html30 Apr 2025 17:05 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lo2bponfjk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lmkfncdjb22nDonald Quixote and the stock market meltdown: Inside Trump’s failed tariff gamble https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-tariffs-stock-market-b2731711.html11 Apr 2025 16:07 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmkfncdjb22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lmg4fdxdsc2jI spoke to several small business owners today who are already getting hammered by Trump’s tariffs. And the pause will do nothing to help them. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-tariffs-small-business-stocks-b2730518.html09 Apr 2025 23:11 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmg4fdxdsc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lmdcyunapk2mMs Rachel on her support for Gaza’s children: “I couldn’t look away.” https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ms-rachel-interview-youtube-gaza-children-b2690048.html08 Apr 2025 20:31 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmdcyunapk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3llz2qqkyi22jTrump’s Yemen bombing campaign could cost $1bn by next week, with little to show for it beyond a higher civilian death toll. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-signal-chat-yemen-bombing-b2727662.html04 Apr 2025 18:37 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3llz2qqkyi22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3llozywss3c2wElon Musk pours money into key elections across the country as he rants about Soros’ influence https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-george-soros-elections-b2724766.html31 Mar 2025 18:57 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3llozywss3c2whttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lkvfo2xvc222It is not unusual for Bernie and AOC to hold events together, but coming at a time of crisis for the Democrats, when its leadership is facing anger over its inability to oppose Trump, and amid calls for a new direction, their message feels pointed. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/bernie-sanders-aoc-rally-oligarchy-b2719118.html21 Mar 2025 14:16 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkvfo2xvc222https://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lkc2eec3nk2iIt is perhaps the first time in modern history that a leader has threatened to annex a country for aesthetic reasons. “This would be the most incredible country visually,” Trump said of the new land he would create from the ashes. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-canada-annex-greenland-b2714806.html13 Mar 2025 21:34 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkc2eec3nk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3ljbhtvjqwc24My recap: Trump's meltdown should remove any doubt that the US has switched sides in this war, and in the wider struggle between autocracy and democracy. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-zelensky-vance-ukraine-fight-b2706954.html28 Feb 2025 22:37 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljbhtvjqwc24https://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3ljahaxvci22wMy sketch of yesterday's Starmer-Trump meeting. Trump seemed very pleased to receive an invitation from the King of Canada, but both leaders dodged The Independent's questions about the president's plans to annex part of his kingdom. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-canada-uk-king-invite-starmer-b2706237.html28 Feb 2025 12:54 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljahaxvci22whttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lipwhozgek2d‘Deadbeat dad’: Elon Musk under fire for apparently ignoring pleas from Grimes to help his sick child, instead taking to the stage at CPAC to wave around a chainsaw. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-grimes-child-sick-b2702570.html21 Feb 2025 23:11 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lipwhozgek2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3liow472c222bWhy The Independent will not be silent in the face of Trump’s assault on truth and democracy. Today's editorial calls out Trump's enablers in politics and the press for staying silent while "the petulant baby is in the White House" sides with tyranny. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/donald-trump-zelensky-ukraine-war-misinformation-b2702183.html21 Feb 2025 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3liow472c222bhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lia4ao5qls2cIs it time for America’s judges to go on strike? https://www.salon.com/2025/02/15/is-it-time-for-americas-to-go-on-strike/15 Feb 2025 16:12 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lia4ao5qls2chttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3li7zg3ovas2lQuebec Vasquez is a DACA dreamer who came to the US from Mexico when she was just 7 years old. She barely remembers anything about the country where she was born, but she's grown so fearful of Trump's crackdown that she has decided to 'self-deport.' https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-deportations-ice-raids-mexico-b2696431.html15 Feb 2025 15:21 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3li7zg3ovas2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lhtmq4pnvc2yThe White House is going to great lengths to publicize ICE arrests and deportation flights. But who exactly is being rounded up? I spoke to one family whose life has been turned upside down after a father of five was arrested on the way to work. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ice-deportation-raids-trump-immigration-b2694373.html10 Feb 2025 17:02 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhtmq4pnvc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lhhmkjrupk26Donald Trump has imperial ambitions. Why won't anyone take him seriously? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-gaza-greenland-canada-b2692969.html05 Feb 2025 22:27 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhhmkjrupk26https://bsky.app/profile/richardhalljourno.bsky.social/post/3lhhezhkpi223Me trying to help journalist colleagues who are covering a Trump admin for the first time.05 Feb 2025 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:uddiwcsf4fymfx6tug3bre2v/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhhezhkpi223