The conspiracy theorist in me thinks this is all a grand play by a master manipulator. And when the big reveal comes, with no fire despite the illusion of smoke, he will stand back, arms open, vindicated and saying ‘I told you so’, reclaim the love of his supporters and stoke their loathing of the ‘fake press’.

The alternative, that this level of incompetent subterfuge is rife in the most powerful administration in the world just leaves one in jaw dropping disbelief.

But Emmanuel Brown, in either instance, I do believe you are quite correct. This will fade away until the next micro drama and the next and the next.

Rather like a poorly scripted soap opera or reality TV show.

Now there’s a coincidence…