On the charges against France's Marine Le Pen.

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Alex and George discuss some main stories from the past month. After the death of Pope Francis, what's behind left-wing sympathy for the late Pope – and more widespread appreciation for Catholicism? Why do we want a progressive Pope, and would a reactionary one be better for us? Why is the US deporting people to Nayib Bukele's Salvadorian prisons, and what makes this so dystopian?

Then Alex calls up Jacobin's Europe editor David Broder to understand the charges against Marine Le Pen.

Is Marine Le Pen a victim of lawfare, or has she been hoist by her own petard?

What are the consequences for the Rassemblement National, and for French politics?

What has the European radical right's response been to Trump II so far?

And we respond to your questions and comments from the past month on:

Holding politicians to account on free speech

Listening to poetry

Redistribution as the obvious solution to the crisis

Clientelism and hyperpolitics