Charges and Acquittal

slew of laws biggest Conservative victory since 1987
Withdrawal Agreement Bill first to be debated
urgently criminalise activity seek cross-party consensus

partisan debate the merits of the two charges
attempt to pressure, bargain on terms of proceedings
lawless partisan impeachment, reckless activities

abuse of power alleged, announce investigations
to pretend away facts threat to election’s integrity
acquittal expected at Senate trial

-- Clark Allison

What was in the post-election Queen's Speech?
Donald Trump is impeached and faces trial in the US Senate
Donald Trump impeached by House of Representatives in historic vote

Where Alternative Lacking

have after firing teargas and beaten residents
the whole protesting, violently deployed
like crazy dogs, where the law where morality

a high-functioning narcissistic sociopath
enlightened progressive dangerous to refuse Henry
little more than a scheming seductress

out of favour died divorced beheaded
digging and drilling to take advantage of possibilities
burning carbon-based fuels our war against nature

-- Clark Allison

Chinese riot police fire teargas and beat up protesters
Books of the month: From Dave Eggers to Hayley Nolan
World must stop ‘war against nature’, UN chief says

Refreshed Media Approach

denying doctored video, appearing to falter
had provided a full answer light-hearted satirical
confused and pausing for several seconds, no plan for Brexit

to curb fake asylum-seekers channel skilled foreign workers
win voters far-right, angry denunciations, grudging approval
a lot of hot air treading carefully without alienating

refreshed by statements from other key witnesses
scheme to use foreign policy to advance political interests
it is uncertain to not comply with impeachment inquiry

-- Clark Allison

Tory minister scrambles to defend doctored video
France to unveil new immigration quotas
Top US diplomat changes tune while giving evidence

Whose Political Idea

Election night Harrow 2017 a tense affair
Labour won with slim majority
occurred to me they might gain one.

The measure details how the inquiry will move on
The resolution sets out due process
rights for lawyers under the congressional inquiry.

replay
rhetorically
clear he was against rich media magnates

-- Clark Allison

It's voters, not pollsters, who will write the story of this election
Trump impeachment: House votes to formalise inquiry
General election 2019: Labour gambles on 'radical' strategy

The Bad Thing

The greenhouse is a positive environment
but we are all happier in the dark;
seek weekday treats with metered-dose of humour.

But why the sense of narcissism?
That fruit is rotten so don’t call me “they”!
For a fiver you could be immune to this.

There is a toughness to this anxiety;
a lunge of both mental and meat.
Who told you about the shame?

-- Rebecca Eddy

Narcissists are happier than the rest of us
Asthma inhalers as bad for the environment as eating meat
We know a thing or two about being told we’re useless at our job

Hard Exotica Flaws

portraying saying more about makers than subject
walked across Tokyo’s most crowded zebra crossing
in on the joke exotica born out of mistranslation

tears up measure without bothering to repeal it
win leads to ruinous hard Brexit before formal withdrawal
returned to square one craves a safe majority

messy world alert to racial social discrimination
if casting stones good people have flaws
circular firing squad straying from purity on the issues

-- Clark Allison

‘So alien! So other!’: how western TV gets Japanese culture wrong
The only reason we’re having an election is because of MPs’ cynicism
Barack Obama challenges 'woke' culture

Other Routes

harrowing footage
three-question referendum
the sensible thing to do

muddy the issue
poised to fail again
the sensible thing to do

scenes of chaos,
dying friends
the sensible thing to do

-- Rupert M Loydell

No 10 sources say UK edging closer to a December election
Tony Blair ridiculed after calling for second Brexit vote
Two people feared dead at homecoming party in Texas

Impact Delay Costs

using tear gas state of emergency turned violent
firebombed company headquarters anger rising living costs
repeated attacks peso devaluation rising cost of energy

likely to face a legal challenge will not negotiate delay
not daunted or dismayed by defeat adopted an emollient tone
implored to throw weight behind shared crashing out destiny

host the event at his own resort, find a venue
800-acre 643-room facility appropriate federal
security vetting discuss all issues that impact us

-- Clark Allison

MPs put brakes on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal with rebel amendment
Chile imposes state of emergency after Santiago riots
Trump awarded the G7 to his resort in Doral

Such Arising Uncertainty

biting sanctions could provoke make desperate enough
can pose a serious threat strike on a land-based facility
no such thing limited strike deteriorating sanctions relief

fourth in two years named security negotiator
worked long and hard heightened tensions fresh uncertainty
helped win hostage release Yemen, Taliban halt peace talks

hearing appeals arising from separate challenges
the legality of Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament
heated debate political machinations outside fever bubble

-- Clark Allison

Whatever Iran’s role in the Saudi attack, the regional status quo is unsustainable
Hostage negotiator Robert O'Brien is Trump's new US national security adviser
Supreme Court judges urged to 'stand up for democracy' in Parliament suspension hearing

Sabotaged Establishment Record

that MPs stood in the way of mandate to leave EU
have done nothing to honour referendum result
to have sabotaged Brexit and by extension Britain

prorogue a populist move, leader of the people
to unite the Brexit-supporting, as remainers fracture
against hated establishment and ‘remainer elite’

working very hard on Amazon fires
this fake news campaign against sovereignty won’t work
spurned criticism of their environmental record

-- Clark Allison

Boris Johnson wants a ‘people v parliament’ election
Brexit payback: What did MPs expect?
Jair Bolsonaro demands Macron withdraw 'insults' 

Latest Release Procedure

to know which version the latest
ditch the naming scheme
Jellybean, Kitkat, Lollipop, 10

some telling patents and cryptic statements
on track for late release
mostly a quirky retro novelty

seize back control and seek more time
tough unending Brexit palpable
refuse to re-open Article 50 procedure

-- Clark Allison

Android ditches desserts as Q becomes 10
Folding Moto Razr Might Launch in December for $1,500
Emmanuel Macron now wants to force Britain out of the EU

Better Free Decision

neither side really knows who made a right decision
chance of stopping bad policies from the inside
the mythical creature his enemies painted him

condemned Macron’s foolishness, target energy companies
substantial reciprocal action, wine better than French
we have great wines, paying money to put into product

attack on residents by suspected gang members
sat ground free Hong Kong shocked travellers walked through
called violence peacefully and rationally life respect

-- Clark Allison

Inside and outside cabinet, there are Tories worrying if they’ve done the right thing
Trump threatens tariffs on French wine in response to Macron's 'digital tax'
Hong Kong airport staff stage protest against Yuen Long attack

Truth Contempt

The surge is fading
Please keep speaking up
without fear or favour

Demonstrate outside
speaking truth to power
Please keep speaking up

In the fallout from
the fight to succeed
please keep speaking up

-- Rupert M Loydell

Brexit Party surge is fading, new poll shows
Tommy Robinson fans set to target prison after former EDL leader jailed for contempt of court
Hunt exhorts UK envoys to 'speak truth to power' in coded rebuke to Johnson

Weird Declining Dusk

heart and soul plant investment boost car industry
industry-wide increase efficiency declining bad concern
electric vehicles low-emission target scrapped by budget

extraordinary economic success and dynamism
important to speak adapted national culture bought
apparent arrogance weird friends constituents neighbours

adhere patriotic themes stay true to our cause
unfolded occasional rain planned capped by aerobatics team
fireworks beginning at dusk summoning the tanks not a prop

-- Clark Allison

Jaguar Land Rover signal faith in electric revolution with £1bn factory
Boris Johnson: Too Many Areas In The UK Where English Is Not First Language
Trump hails ‘greatest political journey’ during Independence Day speech

Warning Protocol: Riots!

The creator is naked
when visiting the civilised;
aged in power, aged in will.

Another protest is drawn;
a wave, a wave, a wave,
then they all wave back.

The royal is a plant!
It is all unacceptable;
another wave and we break.

-- Rebecca Eddy

Chernobyl selfies lead to warning from show's writer
Prince Andrew breaks protocol, wades into Brexit row
Hong Kong extradition protests: Lam criticises 'organised riots'

All Sensible Democratic

more compelling attacks in the region
tanker carrying petrochemicals changed tack
oil embargo influence over all regional dossiers

a democratic way would not look like this
self-destructive act surpass diplomatic humiliation of Suez
descends into chaos acrimony offensive in every corner

proroguing the option of suspending parliament
a sensible grown-up debate can be cacophonous
my commitment will of the people get this Brexit thing done

-- Clark Allison

Gulf of Oman tanker attacks: What could be Iran's motive?
British people denied a voice in choosing prime minister
Conservative leadership field slims to six

Proof Algorithms Nonentities

gallery of rogues nonentities façade of elaborate civility
dully ineffective seriously clever
zealots of deregulation and free market

ferocity of debate a proof ideological stakes high
petition to disqualify entire season
the idea of narrative closure intolerable

video achieved from a single photo
convincing deepfake has huge misuse potential
algorithms trained on public 7000 images database

-- Clark Allison

Who should be the next Tory leader? Our panel responds
Game of Thrones Tapped Into Fears
Mona Lisa 'brought to life' with deepfake AI

Swallow Monopolistic Idea

accept significant supporting step month of little progress
come to terms with idea subject cross-party unless
show progress pull out with pressure resumed

would not swallow any bitter fruit
beef lamb fruit juice cooking oil tea coffee
impose bilateral tariffs denied consumers would pay

line-drawing not make a lot of sense
allegedly sets the stage adding a mandatory fee
monopolistic 30 percent commission

-- Clark Allison

Brexit: Cross-party deal must include new referendum
China hits back in trade war with US
Supreme Court says Apple will have to face App Store monopoly lawsuit

Harvesting Exit Horizon

please do not waste this time
option of leaving wanted to move exit date
could mean leadership contest

gates of hell at the end of space time
towards the event horizon when enough mass collapses
gravity field pulls light inside

data harvesting publishing processing information
resource extraction on massive scale the new oil
exponentially expand digital extraction opportunities

-- Clark Allison

Brexit: UK and EU agree delay to 31 October
Big Tech must pay for access to America’s ‘digital oil’
Black hole seen for first time in image showing matter being sucked into timeless oblivion

Towards Restructuring Limits

due the day
I fear we are reaching the limits of this process
rejected withdrawal agreement

rebranding part of a movement
towards becoming a new political party
furious about potential confusion caused

fend off moves to take control
restructuring and refinancing imminent
fall into hands make offer for rights issue

-- Clark Allison

Brexit: MPs reject May's EU withdrawal agreement
Change.org furious at Independent Group MPs
Debenhams completes £200m refinancing

Brexit Off Piste

So. How open does the EU seem
to a game of show-and-tell
in weather forecast terms?

Sitting down with a table full of
alternatives to the backstop
almost a week on from chaos,

one of the group may have
triggered the avalanche before
parliament narrowly voting in favour

-- Rupert M Loydell

Brexit: EU digs heels in over deal
Candid Kate! Duchess shares a family photo
British man among four killed during avalanche

Evolving Cultural Pull

forged cinema new wave publicist infection treatment
kitchen sink angry young man evolving screen
mixture of defiance and selfishness key extremely

secret slash taxes tariffs pull economy to tank
challenging divisive issue series flies told source
percolate through trading wearing pretty thin

many rights extending prayer division fracturing attended
love gaining women vote greatest strides
re-energise heading off a desperate cultural resistance

-- Clark Allison

Albert Finney, cinema's original 'angry young man', dies aged 82
Theresa May to hold talks as Labour issues ultimatum
Trump: One of America's greatest accomplishments is ‘abolition of civil rights’

Storm from Hell

This deepening area of pressure
Threatening, heavy, and powerful
Crashing as the last low hits

A “special place in hell”
A plan to carry it out
Sounds more like heaven to me

Social media helped kill her
Took graphic images of self-harm
And removed her from her life

-- Jennifer Grounds

Storm Erik to BATTER Britain with 70mph winds
Tusk: 'Special place in Hell' for Brexit promoters
Instagram vows to remove self-harm images from site

A Promising Leader

She set out her five demands
She held a plan to carry it out
Robust but constructive

Impasse.
A meeting for renegotiation
In a special place in hell

War.
It comes
PM warned not to end the World

-- Sam Tempest

France recalls ambassador to Italy as row deepens
Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit plan 'promising', Donald Tusk
Brexit deal may not be put to MPs until late March

Stand Amid Conviction

Most of the applause this week
Hit the headlines earlier after the crisis
Evidence perceived Roy’s death

Familiar friend wanted to kill
State of foreign threats published
Text sent throughout an interview

Two months later she was called
Rape, abortion, cuts border the rambling
Instructed only to the fault of her Independent

-- Justin C. Legions

Court upholds manslaughter conviction for Massachusetts woman
Democratic women in white stand out against Trump
Whoopi Goldberg defends Liam Neeson amid race row

The Garage Politician

A world-class mime,
even though he called it ‘desperate’
Spoke out in praise

Without speaking a word
In the ongoing battle
With rapid-fire robotic flow.

Performed in a cluttered garage
In a manner so sarcastic
Claimed he’d broken a world record.

-- Joseph Lotter

Pelosi turns clapping into a viral art form
"I'm the greatest Fortnite streamer": PewDiePie
‘I thought it was me’ – Eminem praises impression

Humans: no kindness

Student missing
Groping men
Species pushed toward extinction

Claims of toxins and sexual touching
Trapping, poaching and slaughter
Humans significant threats

Complaint: woman, men and nature threatened
Security informed, no kindness or support
Killing, loss, extinction, no decline

-- Rivie Penfold

Parents of Libby Squire ‘overwhelmed’ by support
Tory MP accused of groping men in Commons bar
Killing of large species is pushing them towards extinction

Another Woman Gone

A woman is injured again,
The death of another flame,
Broken, attacked and detained.

A desperate scream gets lost,
A story of yesterday still untold,
Attacked, alone, and gone.

A body found cold and battered,
Its miserable condition wreaked havoc,
A warning, a storm, an example.

-- Bonnie Bolt

Paris woman detained as 10 die in apartment fire
Neighbour tells of woman's ‘urgent and panicked’ scream
UK weather forecast: Heavy rain and 60mph gales

Water With Words

the flow of rivers is musical,
dancing a dramatic story of change,
singing songs with no words.

a lengthy novel written by the water.
the mind viewing the story,
even if we are expecting different.

it is a well-known landmark,
a stage for the musical.
we died for it to live.

-- Layla Cray

A third of Himalayan ice cap doomed, finds report
Differences between Les Misérables and new BBC TV series
Italy avalanche kills British and French skiers

Being Wrong Succeeded

past the jorts and the eyebrows and the extreme wonk
body clock conflicts
My mere existence seems to antagonize

universe banger: the best kind, and the rarest kind.
“morning” or “evening”
or, at least, so the received wisdom goes.

looked at 341 snippets of
a lovely unthreatening place to go
and therefore have decided not to

-- Eileen Walden

Five benefits of being an early riser
Which one of our reporters succeeded in Veganuary challenge?
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is so wrong it's right

Think of war

a man handles cold departure.
on a different morning,
war riots the underground.

a family is detained by armed suspicion.
in this crisis of unnamed war,
people think of scarring behaviour.

a person with terminal plans
issues an emergency evacuation
from the cold decade of civil existence.

-- Jess Henshall

Millennials' pay 'scarred' by the 2008 banking crisis
Heathrow: Armed police rush to reports of 'man with knife'
Queen to be evacuated if Brexit turns ugly – reports

Brexit Speaks Nuclear

Urgently trying to fight
the need to express
as options fall away.

The want to deliver
the people’s vote
violating the treaty.

Obligations, control, momentum has stalled
the doomed era of setbacks
the new Cold War.

-- Will Kevern

INF nuclear treaty: Russia follows US in suspending pact
Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks DIRECTLY to Express readers
Brexit: fight for 'people's vote' not over yet, say campaigners

Chaos of Fear

Morning of misery.
A string of issues with
a fresh amber warning

running risk of
breaking the day
with a very low tomorrow.

In abandoned conditions,
in fear of attention,
on Thursday was discovered.

-- Mae Gaynor

Snow causes chaos as temperatures hit lowest for seven years
Over 100 drivers stranded and forced to sleep in PUB
Newborn girl abandoned in east London park in freezing weather

Prepare for pressure

pressure on independence
amid fresh machinations
sustained and serious

carry a knife dipped in violence
relied upon, whilst the government fails
cold temperatures and votes ongoing

warnings issued
a bloody snap
prepare for legislation

-- Samuel Goward

Brexit: Labour MPs and TUC push back against No 10 bid
London gang speaks of violence in the capital
UK weather: Amber snow warning issue

A Late Phase

the repeating bursts were recorded
small flecks of blue radio
found from the mouth of an ancient whale

a chime's skeleton in lapis lazuli
a telescope's oceans feasting on her light
this mouth questions stones with religious intensity

advances the picture, gold as the small fish
buried in pigment
staining the books with unexplained signal

-- Glenn R. Frantz

Medieval skeleton found with rare, expensive blue ink embedded in teeth, could rewrite women's history
Scientists Discover The Remains of a Whale Inside a Bigger, Ancient Whale
Mysterious 'repeater' fast radio burst detected from faraway galaxy

Answer Values Divide

these briefings, day month, can end quickly
press secretary, erupt knowing laughs and groans
sacrosanct was, questions innermost accountability

wider political divide space race environmental degradation
bipartisanship dwindles to see what we never expected
more continuous spectrum political surprises polarised

after struggles and divisions how to disagree well
a spirit of openness what it means to be together
aim for common unity and peace vision values commitment

-- Clark Allison

The demise of the daily White House press briefing
Archbishop Justin Welby calls for 'spirit of openness' in 2019
Charts of the year: from polarised politics to damaging pollution