A ses difficultés financières s’ajoute le poids des jugements dédaigneux. Parce que dans un pays bercé par l’illusion que « si tu veux tu peux », et que « en travaillant, on peut tous réussir », les pauvres sont forcément coupables de paresse. Cette humiliation, Stephanie Land la subit quotidiennement, au supermarché quand elle paie avec ses bons alimentaires, chez le pédiatre qui trouve qu’elle pourrait faire mieux pour sa fille et jusque dans sa propre famille qui persiste à la croire responsable de son sort.

Aujourd’hui quadragénaire, mariée et mère de quatre enfants, Stephanie Land a réussi son pari: en 2010, elle a obtenu un diplôme en écriture créative et elle est devenue écrivaine. Salué par la presse américaine à sa sortie, en 2019, « Maid » est en cours d’adaptation en série par Netflix.

^{« Maid » de Stephanie Land, traduit en français par Christel Paris, Editions du Globe.}

The scandals surrounding President Donald Trump are metastasizing rapidly, much more than anyone would have thought just a few months ago.

The investigation by Robert Mueller, now 11 months in duration, has been accumulating evidence of possible Russian collusion, obstruction of justice, abuse of power, violation of the emoluments clause of the Constitution, and the corruption surrounding many members of the Trump circle, including his own children and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

But then the Stormy Daniels scandal, and other related shameful episodes involving other women became part of the equation, and the business dealings of Donald Trump in New York State were added to the complicated situation. And now, the seizure of materials and records of Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen raises the ante on the troubles and turmoil surrounding Donald Trump. At the same time, Trump is without stable advice from his cabinet or others, due to the chaotic nature of a constantly changing set of advisers, and his tendency to “shoot from the hip” not only in tweets, but in constantly evolving views on domestic and foreign policy challenges.

With the midterm congressional elections now less than seven months away, and with the Republicans running scared about potential massive losses, and with more criticism emerging from not only respectable conservatives, but also from some of his own loyalists, Donald Trump’s time in the Presidency seems rapidly coming toward a sudden end.

While Republican members of Congress look unlikely to abandon him before the midterm elections, it could still happen if Donald Trump fires Robert Muller, Rod Rosenstein, Jeff Sessions, and others, a constant threat. New indictments by Mueller, and the possibility of such action by the New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman could be in the offing very soon. And if Trump family members were to be indicted, it could put Trump under such pressure that possible resignation, through some form of arranged “deal,” is not beyond imagination. If the Democrats win control of the House of Representatives in November, impeachment action seems highly likely in 2019, although conviction in the US Senate would be nearly impossible.

However, there is a scheduled meeting of right-wing Evangelical leaders with President Trump on June 19, to consider strategy for the midterm elections, as this group is alarmed at the thought that the Trump scandals could cost them the advancement of their religious agenda. It could be, two months from now, that gloom and doom will set in, and cause these pastors and ministers and their allies to consider Trump’s resignation as preferable, as it would bring a “true believer,” Vice President Mike Pence, to the Presidency.

One would think behind the scenes that many congressional Republicans and conservatives would clearly prefer Pence, who is religiously devout, and does not have the drama and controversy that Donald Trump constantly presents. With Pence, the right-wing would not lose, but instead gain a great deal of comfort. This makes it conceivable that we’ll see a repeat of history. When Richard Nixon proved toxic in July 1974 a delegation of congressional Republicans marched to the White House to let him know his base of support on Capitol Hill had collapsed.

No matter what the future scenario, America is in a constitutional crisis of greater proportions than Watergate, and with the attendant danger of a Great Recession or a third World War, caused by a mentally unstable and highly stressed President. So while it now seems likely that Trump will outlast the 492 days of President Zachary Taylor, to be reached on May 27, 2018, once thought by this scholar to be the end point of the Trump Presidency, it seems evident that Trump will leave office before the 4th shortest Presidency, that of Warren G. Harding from 1921-1923, a total of 881 days. This would be Thursday, June 20, 2019.

So with 15 months down in the Trump Presidency, the chance of his leaving in the next 14 months at the most is on the horizon.

Neuf jours de musique, et neuf jours de soleil aussi, avec pour son week-end de clôture «des températures au-dessus des normales de saison», comme aiment le souligner les météorologues: le 36e Cully Jazz, qui s’est achevé samedi soir sur une prestation de la Malienne Fatoumata Diawara, affiche un bilan record. Avec 15 000 billets vendus pour 17 concerts complets, soit un taux de remplissage de 86%, le festival in a été largement plébiscité, preuve de l’excellence d’une programmation où le jazz le plus aventureux côtoie avec panache ses déclinaisons soul, gospel, world et pop.

Le festival off et sa centaine de concerts gratuits ont lui aussi attiré les foules – les organisateurs avancent un total de 70 000 visiteurs. Au moment du bilan, le codirecteur Jean-Yves Cavin se réjouit de la curiosité du public, en relevant par exemple le concert d’un duo saxophone-contrebasse suivi, le premier week-end en fin d’après-midi, par 500 à 600 personnes. «Nous ne faisons pas de l’animation musicale, nous défendons tant dans l’offre payante que gratuite une programmation à laquelle nous croyons», note le Vaudois, pour qui le off est indéniablement une porte d’entrée vers le in.