Andrew Purcell

There has never been an epidemic of drug addiction like it in the United States of America. Prescription medication intended to treat acute pain is doing far more damage than crack cocaine or crystal meth or heroin alone ever has. Opiates have become a crutch, a high and a way of life for millions who need a fix to function.

WITHIN five days, Trumpcare could well be on the US statute books. It hasn't taken long to get there. The journey began on May 4, when the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives gathered to vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA). For seven years, they had promised to repeal Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement, but now they had control of both houses of Congress and the White House, they couldn’t agree on a replacement. To conservative hardliners, the bill was too timid. Moderates worried that supporting it could cost them their seats.

On Wednesday, hours after acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed a special counsel to investigate Russian electoral interference, Fox News host Sean Hannity opened his show by describing a vast conspiracy to bring down the president.

On October 13, 2016, facing electoral defeat, Donald Trump released an ambitious “action plan” for his first hundred days in office. A leaked audio tape had revealed him to be an unrepentant sexual predator, and new victims were coming forward daily. His 'Contract with the American Voter' was a bid to change the subject.

On July 27, 2016, in what would turn out to be his last press conference before Election Day, Donald Trump urged Russian hackers to go after Hillary Clinton, specifically the messages she deleted from the private server she used as Secretary of State. “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the thirty thousand emails that are missing,” he said.

On Wednesday night at the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Nashville, Donald Trump found respite from the strain of governing in the adulation of his fans. News channels don’t broadcast his whole speech live anymore, but he still appears happiest at the podium, riffing off-script, occasionally pausing to drink in the chants of “Trump! Trump! Trump!”

The day before half term, our seven-year-old son came home with a letter from school announcing that a boy in his class is becoming a girl. Nicholas, a “transgender student,” will henceforth be known as Nicole, and when term resumes tomorrow “will be fully integrated into our school community as a female student and will be entitled to use the girls’ restroom”.

In the first fortnight of Donald Trump’s presidency, his primary objective has been to concentrate power in the White House and undermine the democratic institutions that serve as checks on his authority. His executive orders fulfill campaign promises, excite his base, and test the limits of his power. So far it appears almost boundless.

IN her online avatar Marwa Abdelghani wears a hijab, an azure scarf, with a grey and black leopard-skin print covering her neck and head. On the streets of Los Angeles, her home town, she goes without. Better to be and feel safe, she thinks. Allah will understand.

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of the USA’s cities to protest against Donald Trump’s election. “Not My President” is their rallying cry, but he soon will be, no matter how many more votes Hillary Clinton turns out to have won.