Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere. 

Front pages

The Herald:

In The Herald, Kate Devlin and Michael Settle report FM Nicola Sturgeon’s call for President Trump’s state visit to be postponed unless he rescinds his refugee travel ban.

The demonstrations in Scotland, London and elsewhere dominate the front pages. "Scotland stands up to Trump", says The National. The Times leads on a former Foreign Office official, Lord Ricketts, saying the Queen has been placed in a “very difficult position” by Theresa May and the visit should be downgraded. 

The Mirror takes a peek inside Mr Trump’s five star hotel in Washington DC and finds that his slogan might be “buy American, hire American”, but most of his furnishings are made abroad. It brands him “President Hypocrite”. 

The Guardian reports on Barack Obama’s warning that “American values are at stake” over the ban. 

The Herald:

Exclusive: in the Evening Times, Stewart Paterson reports on cuts to Glasgow's sheltered housing budget. 

The Telegraph says that the Tories are fearful of an “ambush” as the Article 50 debate begins today. 

The Mail splashes on "Sturgeon's ultimatum on Brexit", raising the possibility of another indyref on way. 

The Express warns of a “killer Arctic blast” coming. 

Camley’s cartoon

The Herald:

Camley foresees PM May having some travel ban ideas of her own. 

FFS: Five in five seconds

What’s the story? Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames earned a rebuke from the Speaker for barking at SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh. 

Come again? Ms Ahmed-Sheikh had been speaking in the Commons, criticising the UK Government for going ahead with Donald Trump’s state visit despite his travel ban on refugees. As she finished, Sir Nicholas could be heard making “woof woof” noises. Later, the SNP MP drew his behaviour to the attention of the Speaker, saying she found it  “extremely disrespectful”. The speaker agreed. 

Sir Nicholas’s response? He apologised, saying: “I thought that in her question to the Foreign Secretary, she snapped at him a bit at the end so I offered her a friendly canine salute in return. No offence was intended and I apologise to her if she was offended.”

A "friendly canine salute"? How was that received?

By Ms Ahmed-Sheikh’s colleagues, not well. See below. Speaker John Bercow said: “It is discourteous and that expression should not have been used but that said Sir Nicholas has apologised with considerable grace and very succinctly and I think for today we should most certainly leave it there.”

Sir Nicholas’s position today? In the doghouse. 

Afore Ye Go

The Herald: Prime Minister Theresa May chairs a Joint Ministerial Committee at Cardiff City Hall. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday January 30, 2017. Mrs May has made it clear the devolved administrations will not be given a decisive role in the UK's

"I'll do what needs to be done to protect Scotland's position. We are running out of time for this process. It can't go on indefinitely and it won't go on indefinitely.”

FM Nicola Sturgeon, after the Joint Ministerial Committee with PM Theresa May yesterday in Cardiff, ups the ante on indyref2. Ben Birchall/PA Wire

The Herald:

“Are you going to be holding Nicola Sturgeon’s hand, Prime Minister?”

A question shouted from the press pack as Theresa May arrived for the talks in Cardiff, calling to mind a scene from the PM’s meeting with Donald Trump last Friday when they were pictured hand-in-hand. 

Some of the banners from last night's protests in Scotland and elsewhere:

The Herald:

BBC Radio 4’s Today has a new editor: London Evening Standard editor Sarah Sands. She will become the second woman to edit the current affairs programme, following Dame Jenny Abramsky. Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Look who's dropping in to Scot Squad tonight.

Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat