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, political editor Tom Gordon reports on what former Labour minister Brian Wilson thinks about Kezia Dugdale’s plan for a constitutional convention on federalism. 

The Times says there is “serious concern” in Downing Street that Nicola Sturgeon will call a second independence referendum next month when Article 50 is triggered. 

The Telegraph says the triggering of Article 50 will also coincide with Theresa May placing a curb on new EU migrants’ rights to stay in the UK. 

The National launches a six-part series on Scotland and a hard Brexit, with an introduction from Brexit Minister Michael Russell. 

“Exposed: BBC’s TV licence bullies” is the headline in the Mail, which has investigated tactics used by collection agency Capita.

The Guardian pictures the free screening of Asghar Farhadi’s The Salesman in London yesterday. The Iranian director did not go to the Oscars in protest at the Trump travel ban. See Five in Five Seconds, below. 

The Herald:

In the Evening Times, Connor McCann says Glaswegians could soon see electric buses on city streets.  

Camley’s cartoon

The Herald:

Camley finds Kezia Dugdale exercising flexibility on constitutional questions. 

FFS: Five in five seconds

What’s the story?

The #oscars so political ended in farce and recrimination. 

A Trump joke too far from host Jimmy Kimmel?

No, the Oscar for best picture was given to La La Land; it was meant to go to Moonlight. Cue beamers all round. 

There was an apology from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the firm meant to ensure the right envelopes are handed to the right people. The firm said: "We sincerely apologize to Moonlight, La La Land, Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Oscar viewers for the error that was made during the award announcement for Best Picture. The presenters had mistakenly been given the wrong category envelope and when discovered, was immediately corrected. We are currently investigating how this could have happened, and deeply regret that this occurred. We appreciate the grace with which the nominees, the Academy, ABC, and Jimmy Kimmel handled the situation."

Were Kimmel’s jokes hard hitting?

More like soft ball.  In his opening monologue, he said: “This broadcast is being watched live by millions of Americans and around the world in more than 225 countries that now hate us.” Two hours into the show, having had no response from the president on Twitter, Kimmel messaged: "U up?” followed by “Meryl says hi”, in reference to the Oscar-winner’s criticism of Mr Trump at the Golden Globes, and his counter-attack that she was over-rated. Kimmel invited the audience to give a round of applause to Streep, saying: “The highly overrated Meryl Streep everyone. Nice dress by the way - is that an Ivanka?” Seeing Mel Gibson in the audience, Kimmel said: “The country is divided right now. People have been telling me it's time to bring everyone together, you need to say something to unite us. I can't do that. There's only one Braveheart in this room and he's not going to unite us. Mel you look great, I think the Scientology is working.”

A damp squib then?

Not many fireworks from the paid comics, but the Oscars were quietly political in other ways. Mahershala Ali made Oscar history after becoming the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award. The 43-year-old American was named best supporting actor for his performance in coming-of-age drama Moonlight. The Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, who boycotted the ceremony over the Trump travel ban, won the best foreign film Oscar for The Salesman. Iranian astronaut Anousheh Ansari read out a statement on behalf of Farhadi. It read: “Dividing the world into the us and our enemies categories creates fear. A deceitful justification for aggression and war.” Also, White Helmets, about rescuers in the Syrian war, won the Oscar for best short. Finally, the best picture mix-up by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway led to some gags on Twitter about the presidential elections. 

Do tell?

One viewer tweeted: “I wish that happened on election night" while another, posted from a parody account of the House of Cards character Frank Underwood, mused: "Hillary called. She wants Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to review the ballots voters cast in Wisconsin and Michigan.” As for any gleeful reaction from the White House about Hollywood’s embarrassment, nothing yet ...

Afore Ye Go

The Herald:

“[We are] looking forward to the local elections in May, when voters across Scotland will have the chance to send a clear message to the SNP that they do not want a second independence.”

PM Theresa May, Holyrood magazine. The Times reports today that Mrs May believes Nicola Sturgeon will call indyref2 next month when Article 50 is triggered. Christopher Furlong - Pool/Getty Images

The Herald:

"There is already a cast-iron democratic mandate for an independence referendum - that was delivered in last year's Holyrood election, however much the Tories might try to deny it.”

An SNP spokesman responds

The Herald:

"There is no appetite for yet another referendum. To the SNP I say this: listen to the people and respect democracy. The Scottish people are telling you to get on with your job and start fixing the mess you have made.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the Scottish Labour conference in Perth. Elsewhere in his speech, Mr Corbyn seemed to have trouble telling his SNP and MSPs apart. Luckily, The Herald's Paul Hutcheon was there to catch the blooper:

Earlier, Mr Corbyn was exasperated by Sky News' questions about his leadership:

The Herald:

“Apple is criticizing Trump after he overturned the rule that lets transgender students use the bathroom of their choice. Apple says that regardless of your gender, everyone should be able to drop an iPhone into whichever toilet they want.”

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Thanks to Nick Bilton of Vanity Fair, and thanks for reading. Twitter: @alisonmrowat