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Anthony Barnett’s Diary: A frog eat frog world, progress in American politics, and Zelensky’s comic timing

I’m confident that Ukrainians will liberate their country: a state that has undergone a national revolution cannot be defeated. 

By Anthony Barnett

I’ve recently returned from six weeks crossing the US, including a week filming progressive politicians and activists in Washington DC, with Aaron White, openDemocracy’s North America editor.

Back in Blighty I was delighted to find plentiful frog spawn in our new pond. Now there are myriads of small tadpoles under the algae I’m battling to control. Last year, a neighbour’s daughter had gently shared their surfeit and as the growing tadpoles become carnivores I feed them raw liver to stop them eating each other. Soon the froglets will begin – and slugs beware! It’s a bewitching metamorphosis.

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