NeptuneCafe

Are Fox and Trump Heading for Divorce?

Last week numerous media reports pointed out the absurdity of Trump’s “peace deal.” Only hosts at Fox News praised Trump with comments like “President Trump is a master at coercive diplomacy.” However, some of Fox’s high-profile celebrities have recently broken with Trump, putting some cracks in the Fox-Trump alliance of the past ten years.

Fox News began shaping the US political dialogue on October 7, 1996 when it began broadcasting at 6:00 am. The horoscope set for this founding moment reveals the powerful forces at play as well as the various scandals, conspiracy theories, and criticisms about its objectivity. Mercury conjunct the Libra Ascendant characterizes Fox as a self-proclaimed “fair and balanced” news network.

Saturn in Aries sits on the 7th house cusp of “others” or the “general public.” Saturn’s symbolism here is naturally associated with Fox’s relatively conservative and older demographic. And Saturn has a critical side, which is regularly manifested as complaints about Fox’s lack of objectivity. Many refer to Fox News as the GOP’s propaganda arm.

Fox News has a melodramatic Moon-Mars conjunction in Leo which has shaped its presentation from Day One. It uses glossy news programming, flashy graphics, and celebrity-like personalities to bring the news. Imminent conflict brought by shady liberal politicians completes their entertaining news segments. The entertainment side over-stepped when it falsely claimed that Dominion Voting Systems was committing fraud in the November 2020 election. Dominion filed a $1.6 billion lawsuit and in April 2023 Fox settled for $787 million.

Despite the lawsuits and its apparent lack of objectivity, Fox News continues to be the leading cable news channel. Its influence over American politics can be seen when comparing this chart to the US horoscope. For example, Mercury at 27º Virgo is precisely trine the US Pluto, the ruler of the Scorpio Rising chart. The Moon-Mars conjunction at 16º Leo falls right on the US Midheaven at 16º Leo. Neptune at 24º Capricorn is exactly opposite the US Mercury at 24º Cancer, suggesting the slanted news.

Fox’s Libra Sun indicates the news network’s interest in partnering with politicians who can influence American political institutions. Transiting Saturn is now in the 7th house of partners and will turn retrograde in July at 14º Aries where it directly challenges Fox’s Libra Sun, a doubled message concerning the Fox-Trump alliance.

Some Fox opinion-makers are now openly declaring their frustration with Trump. For example, Fox News host Mark Levin commented about the Iran peace deal: “I have asked for days, why can't we, the people, see the damn MOU [memo of understanding]? Honestly, I've never seen anything like this. If it is a great outcome for peace, then release it.”

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full story here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

Elon Musk, the World’s First Trillionaire

SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk in 2002 with his ideas about reducing the costs of space launches and eventually pioneering a self-sustaining colony on Mars. Since then, SpaceX has diversified its income sources by launching the Starlink satellites, working with the US military to create Starshield, and entering the AI boom by merging with Musk’s xAI business. After last Friday’s IPO (initial public offering) of SpaceX, Musk officially became the world’s first trillionaire.

Musk’s birth time of 7:30 am puts his Mercury at 14º Cancer right on his Cancer Ascendant. Mercury’s closest aspect is a square to Uranus in the 3rd house, which suggests his interest in new technologies related to communication and travel. This configuration closely describes his business interests, especially the electric car company Tesla, OpenAI to advance artificial intelligence, and SpaceX to get to Mars. One might also include Twitter, the social media platform that he rebranded as X.

The tightest aspect in Musk’s chart is his Sun at 5º Cancer forming a trioctile (sesquiquadrate or 135º) to his Mars at 20º Aquarius. This high-energy combination keeps him fully active with his various business projects, his love life (with 14 children to date), and his political interests. Mars in Aquarius is a networker and team player, and it’s worth noting that the SpaceX IPO not only enriches Musk but also makes millionaires out of 4,400 of the company’s employees. And 400 of these will make $100 million or more.

SpaceX was founded on March 14, 2002 when transiting Jupiter was precisely conjunct his Sun and bringing him this huge opportunity. Also, his progressed Midheaven (business status) was at 27º Ta**us and exactly aligned with his powerful Jupiter-sextile-Pluto. Then on June 12, when the IPO made him a trillionaire, his progressed Midheaven was at 20º Gemini and exactly trine his Mars (orb: 0º01’). Plus, his progressed Sun at 28º Leo is in the 2nd house of personal wealth and making a precise trine to his Midheaven (status) at 28º Aries.

Relocating Musk’s chart to his current residence in Boca Chica, Texas (near SpaceX’s launch pad) shows an unusually prominent Mars. His relocated Midheaven at 21º Sagittarius is perfectly in line with the US Mars at 21º Gemini. His natal Mars at 20º Aquarius forms a harmonious sextile to the relocated Midheaven. He’s serious about wanting to colonize Mars with SpaceX and he’s got NASA and Pentagon contracts to finance the way. And what are the odds? The Sun in SPCX’s IPO chart is at 21º Gemini — conjunct the US Mars.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

The Finger of Fate in Trump’s Solar Return

A popular technique in the astrologer’s toolbox is the Solar Return. The highest priority is given to the most angular placements, the tightest aspects, and links to other relevant charts. This Return features Saturn at 13º Aries, which is exactly square the US Sun at 13º Cancer (as described here last week). In fact, when the minutes of a degree are added in, the orb is only 0º02’ and marks a clear and serious challenge to his presidency.

The most angular placement in Trump’s Solar Return is Uranus at 2º Gemini — only two degrees from the Descendant. Uranus in the house of “others,” and especially when it’s angular, makes partners and allies unreliable, unpredictable, and capable of unexpected or unwelcome changes. Uranus is associated with independence, which is not something Trump’s MAGA movement needs to advance their agenda.

Two aspects in this chart have an orb of 0º00’ and they thereby set the tone for the coming year. The first one is Mars at 19º Ta**us octile (semisquare) Neptune at 4º Aries. Mars is located in the 6th house, which we generally associate with health and one’s daily work activities. This action planet is slowed down, spaced out, and pre-occupied by its octile to Neptune.

The health side of this placement is emphasized by the other 0º00’ orb aspect, which is Black Moon Lilith at 19º Sagittarius quincunx Hygeia at 19º Cancer. Although these placements are not yet widely utilized by most astrologers, their precise quincunx and Lilith’s location in the first house make them relevant.

Hygeia is the fourth largest asteroid and naturally associated with the health profile. Lilith’s influence suggests the hidden health problems that lurk under the surface and that belie Trump’s claim that his health is “perfect.” Hygeia is only two degrees from conjoining Mercury in Cancer, so mental health enters the picture. And these three are all closely aspecting Mars in the 6th house, underscoring Mars’s association with health.

Altogether, with Mars sextile Hygeia and Mercury, and these three quincunx Lilith rising, we have a Yod, an unstable configuration that influences Trump’s health in immediate circumstances and over the coming year. Lilith is at the apex of this uneasy shape, often referred to as the Finger of Fate. In Sagittarius, Lilith advances or regresses according to one’s moral actions.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

Saturn Pressures Trump and the US Sun

Recent polls indicate that over half of Americans doubt whether Trump has the physical and mental health needed to function as president. As the natural ruler of the aging process, Saturn is the key planet to monitor, especially when it makes challenging transits to the natal horoscope. And as it turns out, this is exactly what is shaping up over the next several months.

Due to its retrograde cycle, transiting Saturn will be spending an unusual amount of time at 13º and 14º Aries. It’s beginning to slow down now and will come to a full stop at 14º Aries on July 26. Then it retrogrades backwards until it turns direct at 8º Aries on December 10. This passage puts transiting Saturn at 13º and 14º Aries from June through the first week of September. At these degrees, Saturn hits critical placements in both the US national chart and Trump’s personal chart.

The key placements in Trump’s chart that are under Saturn’s influence over the next several months are his progressed Mercury at 28º Leo and his natal Ascendant at 29º Leo. Transiting Saturn forms the trioctile (135º aspect) to these two now and through early September. Mercury is associated with his mental state, how he communicates, and how he processes information. These essential functions become severely tested under transiting Saturn’s pressure.

While the trioctile aspect is not easy to spot, transiting Saturn’s aspects to the US national chart are immediately evident. As the nation undergoes its 250th anniversary, transiting Saturn squares the US Sun at 13º Cancer and opposes the US Saturn at 14º Libra. The US’s Sun-Saturn square represents the country’s leadership (Sun) and the institutions (Saturn) that get the president elected along with the corresponding political structure.

Transiting Saturn squaring the US Sun in June and September might be directly associated with Trump’s standing in office, perhaps related to his declining mental or physical health. His standing is becoming further weakened by growing disappointment from Republican senators and congressmen, and even Fox News. Saturn’s first eventful square to the US Sun is exact on June 13, just one day before Trump’s 80th birthday and the massive No Kings 4.0 protest.

Saturn’s retrograde station on July 26 is another high-value turning point since it’s only 0º11’ from trioctile to Trump’s Leo Ascendant. And it’s exactly opposite the US Saturn (orb: 0º04’), likely marking an historic transition date for Trump and the nation.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

June’s Top Five Astro-Events

2. New Moon in Gemini arrives on the 14th (10:55 pm EDT). The pervasive vibe during the few days leading up to this New Moon is one of restlessness, feeling a need for travel, and talking or texting with someone who actually listens and understands. Those under the influence of this New Moon will feel comfortable multitasking but may get bored quickly. Venus in Leo is particularly well placed at this time, which suggests that romantic interests are heightened and meeting new people can evolve into a longer-term friendship or relationship. This New Moon is especially important in the geopolitical realm since Saturn is at 13º Aries where it squares the US Sun at 13º Cancer. With the concurrent Lilith-Pluto astro-event in play, US leadership comes under intense scrutiny for corruption and other hidden or unconstitutional activities. Saturn suggests a weeding out process of unfit authority figures.

The above is an excerpt from this week's NewsScope. You can read about the rest of June's top astro-events here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

AI Booms with Uranus in Gemini

A widely recognized cycle in American political astrology is the correspondence of Uranus in Gemini with major wars. Uranus’s 84-year cycle has regularly and violently brought us the Revolutionary War in the 1770s, the Civil War beginning in 1861, and World War II in the 1940s. A concurrent pattern of technological revolution is also evident when Uranus is in Gemini, especially concerning Gemini’s associated fields of communication and transportation.

Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are re-shaping our world as corporations invest $billions in research. Depending on how AI is developed and deployed, some will benefit while others will lose out. This week, META (formerly known as Facebook, Inc.) will begin one of the largest workforce cuts of the year by laying off 8,000 employees in a restructuring plan that relies more on AI. In the past two weeks, three other high-tech firms have announced similar plans.

AI is revolutionary, for sure, and its roots can be traced back to the previous Uranus in Gemini cycle. That’s when Alan Turing introduced a thinking machine which was the model for the modern computer. His background in codebreaking during World War II led to his invention of electromagnetic machines that could decipher the Nazis’ secret messages. He’s also credited with introducing the core ideas of AI in 1947 when he proposed that computers could learn from experience and alter their own instructions.

In 1860, one Uranus cycle before the Turing machine changed the world, the internal combustion engine was invented. That eventually brought the necessity for huge amounts of oil and gas to fuel the various machines that ran on this engine, and the consequent global oil monopolies that continue to run our political and financial world. Railroad networks for the first time linked major cities, uniting the nation’s peoples as never before. But then, they also exposed the extreme cultural diversity that fueled the Civil War.

In the 1770s, when Uranus was previously in Gemini, the invention of the steam engine and electric telegraph made similar revolutionary changes in how Americans connect with each other. These highlighted the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and allowed the thirteen colonies to compete with the British empire. This ultimately transformed the US into the world’s largest and most influential economic power.

Yes, the Uranus in Gemini cycle marks major wars in American history, but also major technological revolutions. Bernie Sanders, who was born in 1941 with Saturn conjunct Uranus in Gemini, urges caution. He views AI as “the most consequential technology in the history of humanity.” His Saturn is advocating careful consideration of AI’s implications for society, democracy, and the economy.

There's more in this week's NewsScope, which you can fdin here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

Trump, Leo XIV, and 27º Capricorn

In today’s world — militarily, economically, and politically dominated by the US — the most powerful point in the zodiac is 27º Capricorn. This is the location of the US Pluto, which becomes the nation’s ruling planet in the July 4, 1776 Scorpio Rising chart. Pluto in Capricorn represents the power structure and its administration. Major transits, progressions, and natal placements in tight aspect to this Pluto bring the leading people and events that create historic changes.

Trump’s war on Iran is an ideal example. It was initiated on February 28 when transiting Uranus was at 27º Ta**us and only three degrees past his Ta**us Midheaven. He gave the “go ahead” the day before when transiting Mars was at 27º Aquarius and exactly squaring transiting Uranus. These two created an explosive, violent T-square with Trump’s progressed Mercury, which was at 27º Leo and less than one degree past his natal Mars at 26º Leo.

Although Trump may not know why he started this “skirmish,” the confluence of planets at 27º at that time makes it seem inevitable, especially considering the doubled Mars factor. Of course, the tighter the orbs to the US Pluto, the more immediate and intense the action. The US Pluto is at 27º33’ and transiting Uranus at that time was at 27º41’, making an orb of only 0º08’. Trump’s progressed Mercury was at 27º26’ Leo, or only 0º07’ from being quincunx to the US Pluto.

The selection of Pope Leo XIV one year ago provides a calculated counterpoint to Trump’s geopolitical influence. Born as Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago on September 14, 1955 (time unknown), the first American pope has only one placement at 27º of any sign: his Pluto is located at 27º Leo. Being a power point, it’s small wonder that he named himself Leo when the cardinals appointed him.

US nationality had traditionally been considered a drawback for any papal candidate due to the widespread unease of enhancing US geopolitical power. However, Prevost had long voiced a political worldview that ran in strong contrast to Trump’s. Natally, his Ceres — the nurturing, caregiving asteroid — is located at 11º Capricorn. It forms a tight trine to his Mars at 11º Virgo, suggesting that his active interest in serving within the Catholic organization is strongly shaped by kindness and consideration of others.

The Vatican conclave was being held just a few months after Trump was elected, by which time ICE had become a major domestic force. As the conclave considered the candidates to replace Pope Francis, transiting Saturn had arrived at 27º Pisces. This happened to be sextile Prevost’s progressed Ceres at 27º Capricorn, which was exactly conjunct the US Pluto. This made natural and precise interconnections between the Vatican, the US, and Cardinal Prevost.

On May 8, 2025, the white smoke went up at 8:07 pm Rome time (CEST), signaling that a new pope had been elected. At the time, transiting Ceres at 27º Pisces had joined transiting Saturn, suggesting an official (Saturn) pick of an empathetic soul (Ceres in Pisces). More pointedly, transiting Mercury was at 27º Aries where it formed an aggressive square to the US Pluto. Pope Leo XIV became the chosen counterpoint to Trump’s geopolitical shenanigans.

Pope Leo has consistently expressed criticism of armed conflict and the treatment of immigrants in the US, especially in facilities operated by ICE. Shortly after the Iran war started, Pope Leo obliquely criticized Trump by posting on the social media platform X that a “delusion of omnipotence” was fueling the war. At the time, transiting Mars was at 27º Pisces.

Trump responded on X on April 12: “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy." Then the pope responded, "I have no fear of the Trump administration." And this past week, with Trump’s progressed Moon at 27º Scorpio squaring his progressed Mercury, he reconsidered his harsh words to the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion baptized Catholics. He sent his Catholic emissary Marco Rubio to Rome to mend fences.

Stephen Colbert’s Ending and New Beginning

Stephen Colbert will likely be a major news item over the coming three weeks as he heads into the final episode of CBS’s The Late Show on May 21. The backstory here is that CBS was bought by Paramount which was sued for $20 billion by the Trump administration over a 60 Minutes segment that favored Kamala Harris. Paramount settled the lawsuit for a mere $16 million on condition that Colbert be fired.

As described last year* when Colbert’s firing was first announced, his birth time is set for 10:02 pm which gives him 16º Sagittarius Rising and 5º Libra at the Midheaven. The Midheaven, as naturally associated with his professional standing, is under major activation now as his long-standing job as late-night comedian comes to an end.

The primary indicator is transiting Saturn. The Saturn cycle is a well known, predictable cycle among astrology enthusiasts. Professional peaks arrive when transiting Saturn is near the Midheaven, while professional endings and new beginnings correspond to Saturn’s arrival at the nadir, the 4th house cusp. Over the past year, transiting Saturn has gone back and forth across his 4th house cusp as it opposed his Midheaven.

However, he’s not going out without major national attention and an unknown number of proposals for his next gig. This is evident with transiting Pluto’s station at 5º Aquarius, which forms a very favorable trine to his Midheaven. And then this coming September, transiting Uranus reaches 5º Gemini and turns retrograde, also making a rare exact trine to his Midheaven.

In fact, transiting Uranus and Pluto trine each other over the next two years while simultaneously trine his Libra Midheaven. This makes an auspicious Air Grand Trine, suggesting he will be doing a lot more with his comedic talents than co-authoring a film sequel to The Lord of the Rings. Uranus and Pluto, as outer planets, keep one interacting with the collective in some way.

Colbert doesn’t openly criticize Paramount’s executives since he’s thankful for the 21 years he’s spent with CBS. He says he’s looking forward to regrouping from the grueling fast pace of producing a nightly show. However, the tension between him and Trump is evident when viewing recent developments in his horoscope.

The 7th house represents “other people” which can be partners or open enemies. Colbert has his Moon in that house at 24º Gemini, which happens to be closely conjunct Trump’s Gemini Sun. Then note the importance of Venus, which gains significance by being the ruler of his Ta**us Sun and Libra Midheaven. Natally, Venus is also in the 7th house, but by secondary progression it’s been retrograding through Gemini.

That all changed in October 2022 when his progressed Venus stopped at 20º Gemini and began slowly moving forward. Normally, we think of Venus as a beneficial placement, but in the 7th house, and due to its proximity to Trump’s Sun-Uranus conjunction, it readily symbolizes Trump as a target for his jokes.

Colbert was born with Black Moon Lilith at 13º Sagittarius and only three degrees from conjoining his Ascendant. This Lilith is what gives Colbert the comedian’s edge of referring to hidden or dark truths without actually voicing them. The reference makes us squirm uncomfortably until we recognize the irony, the hypocrisy, and laugh to release the tension.

By secondary progression, as Colbert stages his last monologue, Black Moon Lilith will be at 20º Sagittarius, or exactly opposite his progressed Venus. That puts his progressed Venus under immense stress, something that has been building up ever since Trump was re-elected. So Trump got him fired. But don’t be concerned about Colbert’s next performance. He’s got an Air Grand Trine to inspire and move him.

* see NewsScope: https://www.neptunecafe.com/nsc081125

May’s Top Five Astro-Events

1. Ceres is very favorably sextile to Jupiter on the 2nd, making a healing, helpful duo from the 1st through 5th. Often referred to as the Great Mother, Ceres in stable, reliable Ta**us gets more supportive, nurturing, helpful, kind, and generous when linked to Jupiter.

2. Pluto at 5º Aquarius turns retrograde on the 6th. Those with their Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or other prominent placement at 4º to 6º of the fixed signs (Ta**us, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) are already feeling the deep changes brought by this retrograde station, with the transformational process lasting a year or more.

3. The New Moon in Ta**us conjoins Ceres on the 16th, putting the spotlight on the Great Mother asteroid. The New Moon with Ceres suggests a new beginning in the parent-child relationship, financial planning and implementation, a growing concern about environmental issues, and turning to healthy food to nourish body and soul.

4. Ceres octiles (semisquares) Hygeia on the 23rd, but this healthy combination can be effective from the 14th through month’s end. Saturn is also involved since Hygeia squares Saturn. Those who come under the influence of this alignment will recognize the need to make lifestyle changes to improve whatever health issue arises at this time.

5. Mars in Ta**us squares Pluto in Aquarius on the 26th, which is probably the most anger-inducing, potentially violent, and accident-prone planetary combination. The most intense phase is from the 23rd through 26th as Mercury in Gemini makes hard aspects to Mars and Pluto. Then verbal challenges may be the main instrument of expressing one’s will.

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get a deeper look here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope

Transiting Pluto’s Square to Melania’s Sun

Melania Trump’s April 9 formal statement at the White House was completely out of character and caught most everyone by surprise. She just doesn’t voluntarily bring up the one scandal that her husband’s team has been obsessively trying to bury. A look at Melania’s horoscope may shed some light on what’s happening here. A 7:10 pm birth time makes good astrological sense since it puts her Sun-Saturn conjunction in Ta**us right on the 7th house cusp of partners.

This business-first combination describes her marriage as a negotiated partnership based on a mutually rewarding pre-nuptial agreement. It also describes her personal identity (Sun) as completely wrapped up in her husband’s ambition and professional role. Yet her Sun is also closely quincunx (150º) Uranus, which drives her toward complete personal freedom and independence. Her conscious ego is then faced with the responsibilities and obligations to Donald pitted against her interest in doing her own thing, in having her own lifestyle.

Currently, the lead astro-event is transiting Pluto heading into a square to Melania’s Sun in Ta**us. Before making the exact square, Pluto turns retrograde when it stations on May 5 at 5º30’ Aquarius. This is only 0º02’ from the trine to natal Uranus. Still, the orb of the square to her Sun is tight and she obviously already feels it. Transiting Pluto squaring a 7th house Sun is bound to be highly disruptive to her personal relationships — and especially to her marriage.

Pluto turns direct this coming October and then will be squaring her Sun off and on through December 2028. Quite possibly, her marriage will unravel during this interval, which lasts through the end of Donald’s term in office. Also, this transit may be projected onto her husband and mark his unraveling in office. A seventh house Sun-Saturn conjunction can play out in her partner’s life, which she then experiences vicariously.

Apparently, at the center of Melania’s discomfort is the former model, Amanda Ungaro. Stay tuned for this developing scandal….

The above is an excerpt from this week’s NewsScope. Get the full picture here:
https://www.neptunecafe.com/newsscope