I’ve got about half a dozen posts sitting unfinished in my draft folder, because here’s what keeps happening to me. The day begins with news of Episode X of the Trump Presidency. I spend hours reading about it, trying to understand what really happen, trying to figure out who really said or did what and why, trying to separate fact from rumor. When finally I think I understand, I spend an afternoon writing a post about it, and in the end, I’m quite proud: I’ve got Episode X all sorted out!

Right before I press “publish,” though, I check the news to see if there have been any further developments in the story, just to be sure it’s up to date, and … Oh, no! Episode X is ancient history! The world has moved on to Episode Y! I missed Episode Y completely, I was too busy thinking about Episode X. So I end up feeling like Rip van Winkle, stunned and blinking in the sunlight, and can’t bring myself to press “publish,” because it will look as if I’ve been sleeping under a rock.

I had lots of thoughts about Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and his speech, but they’ve already got that OTE flavor. So to heck with it. Today, I’ve decided to beat this problem by writing about Trump’s visit to Israel as it actually happens. You can watch it with me. 

So here’s what I know so far:

The president landed about an hour ago. I have no idea what he’s about to do or say. (No, I don’t know what that photo is: I found it on Twitter. No more careful sourcing and fact-checking for me: I’m in a hurry.)

So far: Masada speech cancelled, delegation dinner cancelled. The flight was late. The ministers were impatient. The ministers are being forced to attend the reception. There a freakout about trying to match the Saudis in ceremonial bling. Something was decided at the last minute, but I’m not sure what.

The officials at Yad Vashem have been trying to figure out how to compress the story of the Holocaust to fifteen minutes.

Trump’s request to see Masada by helicopter were turned down for fear it would damage the antiquities.

MK Oren Hazan seems to have caused a national embarrassment at Trump’s reception by trying to take a selfie with him.

And that’s all I know so far: I’m going to hit “post” before checking the news, lest this, too becomes yesterday’s news.

Are you watching the visit? How do you think it’s going so far? 

Oh!  Trump is apparently going to propose the ultimate peace deal, details to be announced.