It’s happened enough times now that I’ve noticed a pattern. You might even recognise it yourself. Friends might get in touch after a little time away. “Sorry,” they’ll say, “but I’ve been in a bad place. I’ve been avoiding the news. It’s all so depressing. I don’t even want to talk about… the situation…”
“The situation” is a relatively new codeword for Donald Trump, whose second term has provoked what at times feels like a worldwide allergic response.