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America’s future, Nancy’s stolen laptop and the markets: all are a mystery. For now, buy cybersecurity and virtual reality as real life is as bad as it gets

Investors may have a rough ride ahead with the transition of a US president stirring so much emotion and distrust in democracy. Hold on tight this week

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Supporters of US President Donald Trump outside the Capitol building in Washington. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 9:00am, 18 Jan 2021Updated: 9:01am, 18 Jan 2021

THE DEVIL WILL FIND WORK FOR IDLE HANDS TO DO

A friend of mine said to me on Monday: “you won’t be short of something to write this week!”. Not that I usually am, as I generally have an opinion, often unwanted, on most things. But last week was really something special, and that remark was the understatement of the year so far.

No matter how bizarre the news from around the world was last week, fake or otherwise, from reports of mass electricity blackouts in Italy, Pakistan and Iran – which the conspiracy theorists link to US election tampering – to the Pope supposedly being arrested during one of them, nothing could distract us from the political hysteria in the United States and one nation controlled by the media.

CAN YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF HYSTERIA?

The headlines in the US press were alarming, with the protesters inside the Capitol building now being likened to the attack on Pearl Harbor and 9-11. Fringe quarters even floated the idea that a smokescreen was created by the Washington demonstrators so that US Special Forces could steal a hysterical Nancy Pelosi’s laptop. At least there was some truth to the notion that an “unhinged” President Donald Trump would be impeached for a second time after being kicked off grubby social media platforms in disgrace.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Wouldn’t you be mad if someone stole your laptop? Photo: Reuters