I hadn’t fully taken on board the American right’s demonisation of George Soros, until I attended a Republican Party rally in Nevada last month. I asked one of the women organising it whether she was one of those people who believe that Obama was not born in America. “Oh no”, she said, “but I think he’s controlled by foreigners.” Like who, I asked. “George Soros”, was the reply.

Now a new level of Soros hatred has been reached with a long attack on the billionaire financier on Fox Television by Glenn Beck, who is probably now the most powerful right-wing pundit in the United States. Watch it here. It’s staggering. Read more