"The natal chart is like a seed and progressions are the unfolding in time of that into the plant it is to become. Transits, are like a daily weather report. In political astrology, these three factors have to be taken into account!"
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NewsScope has been published continually since 1997. Links to NewsScope articles from September 2015 through December 2017 can be found in the Menu. Back copies dating from 2009 through 2015 are at
For NewsScope blogs dating from October 25, 1999 through March 31, 2009, visit StarIQ/NewsScope.
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Unless otherwise stated, all data is rated A or AA from AstroDataBank
Recent NewsScopes
Jan. 1, 2018 - Trump’s 2018 prospects; Protests break out in Iran; Gordon Ramsay, Celebrity Chef.
Jan. 8, 2018 - Trump’s 12th House Pluto; Saturn Opposite the U.S. Venus; Wolff’s “Fire and Fury”
Jan. 15, 2018 - Astro-Anatomy of a Comment; Total Super Blue Moon Eclipse; Stormy Daniels
Jan. 22, 2018 - Saturn opposes the U.S. Venus; Laurence Fink Touts CEO responsibility; Tom Petty
Jan.29, 2018 - Fake News and the Uranus-Neptune Cycle; Top 5 Astro-Evenys for Feb; Wynn Takes a Hit
Feb. 5, 2018 - Rosenstein, FBI Deputy Director under Fire; Millennials Embrace Astrology; The NYSE
Feb. 12, 2018 - Rachel Brand Heads for Walmart; The Pentagon; Kim Yo Jong’s Historic Visit
Feb. 19, 2018 - Mueller’s Indictment of Russian Meddlers; The Nov. election; Melania Trump’s Juno
Feb. 26, 2018 - March for our Lives; March’s Top Five Astro-Events; The NRA’s Saturn Return
March 5, 2018 - Washington Chaos Going Global; “Trade Wars are Good”; Hope Hicks’ White House Diary
March 12, 2018 - Trump’s Chart in Pyongyang; Stormy Daniels Sues Trump; Oprah Winfrey in 2020?
March 19, 2018 - Stormy Daniels’ Birth Time; Trump and Black Moon Lilith; Stephen Hawking is Smiling.
March 26, 2018 - China Counter-Attacks in Growing Trade War; Top 5 Astro-Events for April; John Bolton
April 2, 2018 - Health Care Industry; Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream; the astrology of Royal Weddings
April 9, 2018 - The NYSE and Trade War; Mark Zuckerberg goes to DC; Kate Hudson’s Love Life
April 23, 2018 - Kim Jong Un, Peacemaker; Michael Avenetti, Stormy’s attorney; Allison Mack arrested.
April 30, 2018 - Trump’s High-Risk Style; May’s Top Five AstroEvents; Paris Hilton’s Online Fame
May 7, 2018 - Trump’s New Lawyer, Rudy Giuliani; NASA’s Mars Mission; Cheryl Burke’s Venus-Pluto.
May 14, 2018 - Strong and Proud, Israel at Seventy; Viktor Vekselberg; Hawaii’s Kilauea and asteroid Pele
May 21, 2018 - Trump’s 2018 Solar Return; Michael Avenatti Update; Meghan Markle's Part of Fortune.
May 28, 2018 - Kim Jong Un Makes Nice; June's Top 5 Astro-Events; Meghan Markle and the Great Mother
June 4, 2018 - Mars Rx in Aquarius; SpaceX Becomes Profitable; Roseanne Barr’s 12th House Mars
June 11, 2018 - Saturn-Pluto Culture Wars; Ambas-sador Dennis Rodman; Spade and Bourdain
June 18, 2018 - Trump on the Offensive; July 12 Solar Eclipse; Cristiano Ronaldo, the best soccer player
June 25, 2018 - Immigration Crisis; China Imposes $50b Tariffs; Atul Gawande, Healing the Health System
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July 2, 2018 - Mexico has a new President; July’s Top Five; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Upset Victory.
July 9, 2018 - The Trump-Putin Summit; Jefferson and Adams Validate the U.S. Horoscope; Mr. Rogers.
July 16, 2018 - Louise Hay, th Queen of the New Age, how thoughts become reality with Mercury-Chiron.
July 23, 2018 - The Lunar Eclipse as Mercury Rx; Roe v. Wade Re-Visited; Maria Butina, the Kremlin link
July 30, 2018 - Astro-Event #6: the Uranus Station; August’s Top Five Astro-Events; Tech Takes a Dive
Aug. 06, 2018 - Neptune Conjoining the U.S. Prog. Sun; Hemingway’s Over-Active Mars.
Aug. 13, 2018 - Trump Declares Economic War on Turkey; Women Politicians Trending Up; Omarosa
Aug. 20, 2018 - Mercury in Trump’s 12th House; The Trump Taj Mahal; Brennan: “Trump is Drunk on Power”
Aug. 27, 2018 - Trump’s Midheaven Eclipsed; Mike Pence, Waiting in the Wings; September’s Top Five
Sept. 03, 2018 - Election Day Astrology; SA-PL and Neo-Nazis on the Rise;
Pope Francis Under Fire
Sept. 10, 2018 - Crazytown, USA; Canopy Growth, Weed Stocks Soaring; Jocelyn Bell Burnell recognized.
Sept. 17, 2018 - The Astrology of U.S. Disasters; Hurricane Florence; Willie Nelson Gets Political
Sept. 24, 2018 - Echoes of Anita Hill; October’s Top Five Astro-Events; Chris Hedges on Totalitarian Capitalism
Oct. 01, 2018 - Senator Flake Moved by Venus; Brett Kavanaugh’s Mercury-Neptune; Elon Musk's tweets
Oct. 08, 2018 - The #MeToo Movement advances; October’s Astro-Event #6; Is it Art? The Banksy Effect
Oct. 15, 2018 - Jamal Khashoggi’s Silence is Deafening; Market Sell-Off; Two Stars are Re-Born
Oct. 22, 2018 - Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman; Post-Election Developments; Elizabeth Warren in 2020
Oct. 29, 2018 - Mars in the U.S. 4th House; Top Five for November; Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s Next President
Nov. 5, 2018 - Mueller’s Mercury-Uranus Config; The Migrant Caravan; Gwyneth Paltrow and Madame Ovary
Nov. 12, 2018 - Matthew Whitaker’s App't; Florida Re-Count; Somalian Ilhan Omar Elected to Congress.
Nov. 19, 2018 - California’s Uranus Return; To Brexit or Not to Brexit; The 2020 Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction
Nov. 26, 2018 - Top 5 Astro-Events for Dec; Trump fights for the Wall; Nancy Pelosi Fights for Leadership
Dec.03, 2018 - Mercury Direct Energizes Mueller; George H. W. Bush, the 41st President; Barbara Bush,
Dec.10, 2018 - Echoes from the Watergate; NYSE Update; Ariana Grande’s Generational Influence
Dec. 17, 2018 - Top Five for Trump in 2019; Chief Mick Mulvaney; Loesser's "Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
Dec. 24, 2018 - The Jan. 5 Solar Eclipse Lilith Derails the Markets; Trump Signs Farm Bill, legalizes hemp.
Dec. 31, 2018 - January’s Top Five; Mitch McConnell, GOP Leader; Joe Biden, the Leading Dem. candidate.
re: Bush - In a published biography of GHWB, he actually had a long time affair with a widow --I believe the couple had been friends of both George and Barbara, and after the husband died 41 had a long ‘relationship’ with the widow. Barbara was aware of the affair, published in well regarded biography —name escapes me at the moment. The important point is that George and Barbara stayed together and supported each other until the end. Also, the biography implied that the relationship was well known but kept quiet in high Republican circles.
re: Bush - Your birth time of 10:30am is INCORRECT for Bush, SR. Isaac Starkman, official rectifier for ASTRODATABANK using 52 events has rectified his time of birth to 11:31:18 AM, Ascendant 8Virgo30, with Mercury, ruler 1st and 10th conjunct his MH. There’s a reason why Starkman is Astrodatabank’s official rectifier. Please submit another article with the correct birth time.
A. I'm using the time and chart provided by ADB and Starkman is not mentioned at all in the source notes, although 11:38 am is mentioned as a possible time. See for yourself: astro- databank/Bush,George_H._W.
If what you're looking for is not listed
on the page, try using this:
Recent NewsScopes
Jan. 7, 2019 - Trump Threatens lengthy; China’s Slowdown; Merc. Rx on Election Day 2020.
Jan. 14, 2019 - Gov't Shut downs; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Social Media Star; Aquarius Beckoning
Jan. 21, 2019 - Michael Cohen Timeline, with his 15º Cap.Ascendant; Lauren Sanchez, the Other Woman
Jan.28, 2019 - Roger Stone, the Dirty Trickster; Feb.sTop 5 Astro-Events; Tom Brady’s Swan Song
Feb. 4, 2019 - Kamala Harris in 2020; Russia under Pluto spell; Evan Rachel Wood’s Bout with PTSD
Feb. 11, 2019 - AOC’s Green New Deal; Ceres: Co-sponsor; Virginia’s Black Moon Lilith Problem
Feb. 18, 2019 - The U.S. Pluto Return; The 2020 Saturn-Pluto Conjunction; The 2020 Election
Feb. 25, 2019 - March's Top 5 Astro-Events; Nicolas Maduro, Ven.Dictator; Zion Williamson's shoe
March 04, 2019 - Allen Weisselberg, Trump’s CFO; Jupiter-Saturn in Aquarius; The U.S. Pluto Return, 2
March 11, 2019 - Ilhan Omar and Eris; Trump’s Progressed Moon; Kane Tanaka, Oldest Person
March 18, 2019 - Saturn-Pluto and Big Oil; Big Oil’s Horoscope; Greta Thunberg Leads Global Movement
March 25, 2019 - Pluto on the South Node; April’s Top Five; Anthony William, Medical Medium celery juice
April 1, 2019 - Adam Schiff Leads Trump Investigation; Boeing’s 737 MAX 8; Jussie Smollett’s Hoax
re: AOC birth time - Here is an article with the birth time for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
from the NCGR Newsletter: <snip> “Before we get to the astrology, a shout-out to Anne Ortelee and her student, Arthur Lipp-Bonewits, for contacting AOC's office and getting her birth time. She was born October 13, 1989, 11:50 a.m., in Bronx, New York.”
A. That’s great! Thanks for the data. We’ll have an update on her chart soon.
Re: Buttigieg - Like many, I just read the WP article on this young man from South Bend,
Indiana: Pete Buttigieg. What say the stars? I'm hoping they're more than hopeful. Thanks for your Monday morning enlightenment.
re: Pelosi - What do you think of the fight between Godzilla/ Pelosi and Trump/ KingKong...how do these two find a wayout of this standoff... not really asking about the government shutdown(yes part of it) but more how these two tough peopleever get out of the mud and move things forward and even work together inthe future as it is still awhile till the next election in 2020.... concerning.Look forward to your thoughts
A. As I noted when I looked at Pelosi's chart a few weeks ago, his Mars squares her Mars. It's a classic ego conflict being played out on the national stage... But another look or perhaps deeper look is in order.
re: Pelosi - I was looking for some glimmer of hope over time concerning the Pelosi-Trump standoff and I feel sadly this could be ...the long wait. Thanks for all you do with the great articles... really love them!
re: Gov’t Shutdown - The shutdown in 1995 presaged the fall of Newt Gingrich well before Clinton. Newt was out of the House speakership in late 1998, and out of the House in Jan 1999, all due to his own behaviors. He even took out the next speaker before he ever started, also because of affairs. Clinton, however, did finish his term. And even had positive polling approval after the impeachment.
re: Pelosi - If Trump is ousted, and Pence with him, the leadership will fall to the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Does she have the "right stuff" to connect with the US chart to become President?
Thanks for your thoughts. Always enjoy your Monday morning insights.
re: Ms. Wood - I meant to write the minute I read your article on Ms. Wood. It gave me goosebumps to read it: what she experienced, the astrology correlated with it. Thank you for the work you do, the world is a richer place because of it.
re: Trump/Russia - Trump acts like Putin’s puppy. Russia’s destiny drives Trump. I’m not suggesting/don’t know that Trump is knowingly a Russian agent – but he is undoubtedly a Russian tool – Putin’s useful idiot. Where’s that weak spot in Trump’s synastry?
Thinking out loud: It would make an utterly unforgettable historic study if you could now use that Russian chart to show the connections between Russia’s “big transits/progressions’ and Trump’s pro-Russian decisions. If you could “front run” that analysis before Mueller publishes his report - and send it ahead of time to your contacts @ the NYTimes, Washington Post et al… well. That might be the best astrological prediction/analysis ever. Certainly for this century. And I think you’d be the right person to do this. The moment is now.
A. Thx for the suggestion. I've tried contacting both the NYTimes and WaPo in the past, and a few other reputable papers. They're of one mind in thinking that astrology is for entertainment purposes only, and they won't consider a more serious piece. In any case, the explanation for the Trump-Russia connection would be beyond mainstream readers' comprehension.
re: rapper - Have you profiled Chance the Rapper (Chancellor Jonathan Bennett, born April 16, 1993 per Wikipedia) yet on Neptune Cafe? He’s such a talented rapper but also a social justice warrior. He donated $1M to the Chicago school system and started a Twitter campaign to stop gun violence for 48 hours. His father worked for the Obama administration and some have called on Chance to enter politics. Do you see anything in his chart to indicate how he will grow in political stature and what role he might take? Thanks so much for giving me something to look forward to reading every week! I so appreciate you!
re: candidates - Thanks for printing Ms. Harris' and Ms. Woods' time of birth. About the Kamala Harris article, you wrote: "Most significantly, her Gemini Ascendant conjoins the North Node at 25º Gemini, which is the only link she has to the U.S. Moon at 25º Aquarius." IMO, most astrologers would say her Saturn at 28+ AQ is conjunct the US Moon at 25+ AQ. Your insights into people, nations and events are always valued. Thank you.
A. Thx for the feedback. I use a tight orb of less than one degree to consider whether a candidate is resonating with the US Moon as a symbol for connecting with the American people and their needs. Greater than one degree doesn't make the cut, and this guideline can separate the wannabes from the real contenders, the winning candidates. It's a definitive way of differentiating between the Scorpio Rising and Sagittarius Rising national horoscopes.
re: Pelosi - I'm increasingly believing that if another shutdown is to be averted, and/or anything gets done in DC, like holding the government together and forestalling Trump's worst foreign policy blunders, it will depend on Pelosi and McConnell achieving it through Congress. I know you've done reviews on each of them recently, but what about A) a comparison of their leadership styles, and/or B) a relationship chart for working together? Thanks as always for your insights.
re: Pluto Return - Thanks for all you write. Ever since you said Hillary would not be President (in spite of my most fervent wishes and all those polls saying she was ahead) I totally trust your political assessments. Your column on the Pluto return is sobering to be sure. But there is another strain of conservatism that might need to be recognized. That of the government institutions, and the press, which are still doing their jobs, for the most part. One thing for sure, the American Empire (not that I really love that term) is going into eclipse, if not by being outstripped by the likes of China, India, or Europe, but because we haven't gotten our own house in order, and have let our worst characteristics run amok.
re: Pluto Return - After reading a disgruntled reader's comments, I feel the need to offer my own.
I read your column every Monday, and send it along to several friends, including one who lives in France. We all appreciate the information coming through you from the configuration of the stars. I value the information you so generously pass along to us. The stars say it all and I appreciate you being the messenger. Many, many thanks and great gratitude,
re: Pluto Return – I’m not fond of the term “American Empire”, but doesn’t the 6th house refer to the military? I think I would classify that as one of the institutions that might still be conservative in the institutional sense, not wanting to be over-extended or sent out on a fool's mission, as our history has too often done. But then we always need to be vigilant for military adventurism.
A. American Empire is a useful term, though I don't often bring it up. Yes, don't forget that the US has by far the most powerful military presence in history, with a budget that outspends the next top 12 to 17 nations (depending on who's reporting), and with troops in 170 nations on our planet. Yes, let's hope the institutional framework can hold strong against the various shenanigans perpetuated by both parties....
re: Pluto Return - I respect your position as I do others who feel the same as you. I am sorry I was angry with you last week and I apologize. I had a feeling you would respond to my grumpiness through your weekly column in some fashion. This Pluto transit has been enlightening. It just makes me sad that the situation is what it is today at dinner tables all across America. Like Michael Lutin said in his various stories since 2007-2008 - it's the individual we elect in 2024
A. Thanks for your kind comments, they're much appreciated...
re: Pluto Return - Thank you, once again for an informative morning read. Question: Is there any other candidate with as strong an astrological standing as Trump for the 2020 election; someone whose basket would deserve all the opposition's eggs? Also, regarding Pluto's return: Although we cannot see from past US "returns" what would have manifested with this event, are there instances in other countries/governments that may give us an idea of how this may be reflected in the US's future? You wrote "But major Pluto transits can bring horrific catastrophes, sending the nation back to its core values for the re-birth phase. What form will this Plutonian collapse take?" Could this be a new Revolution--the rise of the proletariat (pitch forks) against the wealthy? Or would the catastrophes be more physical than philosophical?
re: Trump - After you wrote about Trump's progressed Moon moving on top of his natal Mars, I noticed Trump's recent threat, "I got the cops and the military and Bikers for Trump..." What a fascist!. When I heard that, I thought of his progressed Moon
A. Yes, that braggadocio is a clear manifestation of his martial self-promotion.
re: NewsScope – I’ve been reading NewsScope for ten years, every Monday. Can’t wait til the next issue, thanks.
NewsScope for April 8, 2019
By Michael Wolfstar
Joe Biden’s Touchy-Feely Problem
Although Biden hasn’t yet said he’s running for president in 2020, he leads the polls in a packed field. However, several women have come forward saying that his overly familiar style of touching made them feel uncomfortable. Biden says he gets it, that social norms have begun to change regarding personal space. Is it too late? Is Biden a relic from the past?
Biden was born with a Sun-Venus conjunction in Scorpio (November 20, 1942; 8:30 am; Scranton, PA), a combination that naturally feels warm and fuzzy, and enjoys pressing the flesh in political campaigns. With the marriage asteroid Juno in his first house, and the parenting asteroid Ceres on the 4th house cusp, Biden has remained true to his wife and their children for many decades. The Moon in traditional Taurus confirms.
Biden is only one month away for his progressed New Moon, a 29-year cycle that generally marks a major ending and new beginning. The previous progressed New Moon took place in 1989 when he was recovering from two aneurysms that knocked him out of his first bid for the presidency in 1988. His progressed Midheaven was squaring Pluto as he went through this serious life-or-death situation.
This time his progressed Midheaven is trine Pluto, giving him a clear opportunity it seek the highest office. Transiting Saturn supports his ambition by trining his Midheaven. However, it’s in his second house and heading for the nadir, which is generally not auspicious. It’s in a closure phase, suggesting that many Democrats will see him as being past his prime, of being out of touch. If he does throw his hat in, he likely won’t be able to beat other Democrat candidates, much less Trump.
Makenzie’s Venus-Saturn conjunction in Taurus represents her personal drive for financial security. It’s especially resourceful in the American capitalist system since her Saturn at 8º Taurus is exactly aligned with the U.S. Ascendant at 8º Scorpio. One may expect that her life will be completely electrified, fully awakened, when transiting Uranus conjoins her Saturn next year, and her settlement comes in.
Mackenzie was born with her Sun in energetic Aries where it trines Black Moon Lilith (April 7, 1970; San Francisco, CA; time unknown), giving her self-confidence and a willingness to take the lead. In fact she asked Jeff out for their first date back in 1993 when they worked in adjacent offices. They married six months later when her progressed Mercury and transiting Pluto were perfectly aligned with her Mars in Taurus.
Mackenzie’s Mars is closely trine Jeff’s Sun in Capricorn, emphasizing how he personifies her Mars as well as how well they work together to secure their financial and professional success. She also has her Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn in Taurus – all trine Jeff’s several placements in Capricorn. This Taurus-Capricorn link may be the strongest possible astrological indicator for a long-term marriage based on mutual support.
Mackenzie Bezos, the Fourth Richest
Woman in the World
Last week, Jeff and Mackenzie Bezos amicably ended their marriage with Mackenzie getting 4% of Amazon stock and Jeff getting control of The Washington Post and 75% of their combined shares of Amazon stock. Her share is worth $35 billion, making her the fourth richest woman on the planet. Mackenzie tweeted that she’s grateful for the past with Jeff and looking forward to the future.
The U.S. Scorpio Rising Horoscope
When I first began studying “mundane astrology”, the preferred Ascendant for the U.S. was Gemini, with a vocal minority preferring the so-called Sibley chart, with Sagittarius Rising. Since then, the Gemini variants have gone out of favor and the majority has shifted to Sagittarius Rising. The Scorpio Rising chart is gaining in popularity. Originally derived from Marc Penfield’s work, it’s strongly supported by my research and articles.
Here are a few counterpoints to the most common argument for the “Sibley” chart, namely, that the transiting Saturn-Pluto opposition on 9/11 in Gemini/Sagittarius confirms a Sagittarius Ascendant. Certainly transiting Pluto is an important factor, especially when one uses the Scorpio Ascendant. Consider that on 9/11 transiting Pluto was at 12º38’ Sagittarius, and precisely octile (semi-square) natal Pluto, the ruler of the Scorpio Rising horoscope (orb: 0º05’).
And if you progress the Scorpio Rising chart to 9/11 you'll get a powerful and telling configuration: the progressed Ascendant squared progressed Mars in the 12th house, which was conjoined by the progressed Part of Fortune. When progressed Mars in the 12th is activated, it shows the potential for sabotage, dangerous hidden enemy action. The progressed Ascendant showed that the symbols of national identity - the Pentagon and the World Trade Center - were the targets.
Was 9/11 more explosive and consequential than the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941? At that time, transiting Pluto was conjunct the progressed Part of Fortune and the natal North Node, with all three squaring the Scorpio Ascendant. There was no Saturn-Pluto aspect in effect at the time, or any outer planet configuration activating the Sibley Ascendant.
Also consider that transiting Pluto opposed the US Scorpio Ascendant at the beginning of the Civil War while progressed Mars was exactly on the Midheaven. The nation fought itself when the ruling planet opposed its own Ascendant. In my opinion, transits by themselves don’t lead to major events. Consider using progressions for more accuracy in forecasting.
