The blue wave

Two years ago, when Donald Trump won the presidential race and Republicans took over both houses of the US parliament, it seemed the American political arena would be dominated by right-wing agenda for many years. In 2024 Democrats ran a lacklustre, dead-end campaign and suffered a well-deserved swingeing defeat. In the first months of 2025 there were focused on licking wounds, while MAGA rocked the boat. In terms of coming up with a clear agenda how to move America forward and offer an alternative to MAGA concept, they have not got their act together. 

The aid came from the incumbent president and his administration. They screwed it all up so perfectly in domestic and international politics, which badly hit wallets of ordinary Americans, that Democrats had to do little do regain support. The agenda "we are the opposite of Trump" was absolutely sufficient to win the mid-term election and score a majority of seats in both the senate and the congress. I would argue the very right-wing agenda has not gone bankrupt, but its pursuit by Mr Trump was so distorted that many voters had turned their backs on MAGA.

The 2026 mid-term election would go down in history as an excellent example of how rivals on their knees might run you a campaign and bring you a victory without you lifting a little finger. Such was the case (though not to such extent) in Poland in 2023 parliamentary election.

I pin hopes in the Democrats’ majority in terms of resuming deliveries of weapon and military equipment to Ukraine. Resolutions taken by the congress might be blocked or their pursuit hindered by Trump's administration, but a clear shift towards not succumbing to Russia and not trying to strike deals with Putin will put pressure on the president and his cronies, especially given many Republicans believe Ukraine ought to be supported. Sadly, by the time this happens, Ukraine might not resist to all-out attacks on utilities and critical infrastructure. Lack of heating, electricity, water and sewerage in major cities in late autumn or winter might coerce the country to put up a white flag to avert an utter humanitarian disaster, bringing a nearly five-year valiant defence to a bitter end.

All Saints' Day weather stats

All Saints’ Day (1 November) is the day when Poles traditionally roam around cemeteries to visit graves of their nearest and dearest. The day when the deceased are commemorated is deliberately celebrated in advanced autumn when trees shedding leaves symbolise human who pass away. As a weather freak I have taken the trouble of analysing what the weather should be like on that day in Warsaw and what the extremes were.

Judging by long-term average (1991 – 2020), first day of November should bring day-time high of +9C, day-time low of +3C and little or no rainfall. Thus this year’s All Saints’ Day falls close to what is considered typical.

The highest temperatures measured on 1 November were witnessed in:
- 2001: +18.6C, within my lifetime, yet I don’t recall it,
- 1968: +18.2C, well ahead of my lifetime,
- 2008: +16.7C, remember that spell of warmth quite well, two days earlier temperature hit +20C,
- 2010: +16.2C, while on 14 November a high of +17.2C was measured, an all-time record for the second decade of November.

The coldest All Saints’ Days (in terms of maximum temperature too, as cemeteries are visited during the day), with only one was within my lifetime, but I was aged 3 then:
- 1979: –1.4C,
- 1991: –0.4C,
- 1966: +0.3C,
- 1980: +0.6C.

1 November 1966 was the only incidence of snow lying on the ground on All Saints’ Day and sleet during the day in Warsaw, which squares with memories of my parents of a wintery first day of November in their teenage years.

The above is a testimony of ongoing climate change. Pre-wintry scenery at the beginning of November is the thing of the past, while double-digit highs were quite frequent in recent years. As of today, enjoy the autumnal weather, as early winter assault is in the offing.

The land of milk and honey?

Just finished reading Król by Szczepan Twardoch and setting out to read Królestwo by the same author. The former book is a bleak depiction of Warsaw in 1937, contrasts diving the city and co-existence of Poles and Jews and how the latter already were persecuted.

After 123 years of being wiped off the map, the very independence of Poland was a virtue itself. The beginnings of the statehood were turbulent, especially as the soviet invasion was miraculously fended off in 1920.

Democratic institutions did not last long and since May 1926 the country’s regime was authoritarian. In the meantime, a communist empire to the east was rising, while the great depression brought to power fascist governments in western Europe and solidified communism, seemingly resilient to economic downturn.

The independent Poland in place between November 1918 and September 1939 has done little to improve quality of institutions, crack down on illiteracy, facilitate social advancement or industrialise its economy (attempts in late 1930s were in vain). Elites were spoilt and entrenched in their bubbles, separated from ordinary people plunging into penury. On top of this, disgrace was compounded widespread antisemitism and growing popularity of fascist organisations. Political prisoners were facing tortures worse than those imprisoned for standing up against communism after 1956.

Anything to yearn for? The independence was better than being wiped off the map. Did the country deserve to be invaded in September 1939? Definitely not. Were all elites killed by nazis and soviets spoilt? Also definitely not. Authoritarian regimes in Poland between 1926 and 1939, as well as between 1956 and 1989 had different shameful characteristics. Both periods are idealised by some, but from today's perspective we should be glad to live in contemporary Poland. Hope this glee will not be cut in by a war, which though not in form of full-scale military assault, is hanging in the air.

A try at translation (Objazdowe nieme kino)

English used to be passion several years ago. With time, my focus on its usage evolved into purely practical. Time to go back to basics and check out how I can crack down on song lyrics.

A reminder for those unaware: English is my second language, with my command thereof honed mostly on my own (I have never lived in a country where English is an official language).

Nie pytaj mnie, wiem tyle co i ty / Don't ask me now, I know as much as you
Poganiam dzień i nie śni mi się nic / I pass the time and let my dreams fall through
Już siebie znam, znam z bliska słowo lęk / I know my fears, they drift throughout my mind
Wiem, że ja sam chcę dać oszukać się / I'll let them fool, I'll let them fool me hard.

Piekący ból rozwierca każdą myśl / A searing pain is killing me inside
Ja będę zdrów z pewnością lecz nie dziś / I will pull through, far later than tonight
Skurczony świat, nie większy niż ta pięść / The world has shrunk, no larger than my fist
Na piersiach siadł i oddech mi się rwie / Laid on my breast and does not let me breathe

Zamykam strach na niewidzialny klucz / The fear locked up, the key invisible
I moja twarz jest niewidzialna już / While my own face gets unapproachable
Gdy wchodzę w tłum, pułapka szczerzy kły / Walk in the crowd, a trap is scaring me
I z ust do ust nie frunie żaden krzyk / While lips to lips, no scream flies in between

Śmiertelny mur skutecznie dzieli nas / A dreadful wall is tearing us apart
Ja mam swój mózg, ty też swój rozum masz / I've got my wits, wisdom is all you've got
Nie pytaj mnie, wiem tyle co i ty / Don't ask me now, I know as much as you
Poganiam dzień i nie śni mi się nic / I pass the time and let my dreams fall through

Zostańmy tak, ja tutaj, a ty tam / Our worlds apart, no spark, no chilling thrill
Tak długo jak to nieme kino trwa / Until the end of poignant silent film
Nie proście nas, by wam do tańca grać / No song and dance, our spirits barely weep
Już czas, już czas myć zęby i iść spać / The time is up, wash teeth and fall asleep

Oddly enough, I did the above within 40 minutes, while riding an underground train and (needless to say) not aided by AI, nor even any dictionary.

The original song can be listened here: