Much is said about Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020. He is running to be president again in 2024. , who is running to be the USAThe United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million. 's next president - again. But this week, people are talking about another person too: Laura Loomer.

Loomer is known in American politics for spreading conspiracy theoriesTheories that explain world events by blaming shady groups of powerful people operating in secret. Some conspiracy theories have a basis in fact, but many more of them are completely invented. What is more, they often play on dangerous prejudices such as antisemitism. It's worth being especially cautious and critical when you come across accounts that ascribe enormous agency to small and secretive groups.. She is often seen with Donald Trump, and she seems to influenceHave an effect on something else, and especially persuade them to act in your favour. him.

In ShakespeareAn English playwright and poet who is often called the greatest writer in the English language. 's play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is seen as an ambitiousShowing a strong will to succeed. woman who pushes her husband to behave terribly. Laura Loomer may not be married to Trump, but she seems to have power.

In the past, Loomer has called Islam "a cancer". She recently posted that if Kamala HarrisUS Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate. If elected, she will be the first female vice president of the USA., who is partly Indian, won the US presidential electionA vote in which someone is chosen to represent a group of people. , the White HouseThe official residence of the US president, in Washington DC. Burnt by British troops in 1814, it was rebuilt and painted white to hide the smoke stains. would "smell like curry".

None of this seems to worry Donald Trump. Loomer travelled with him on his private plane to his recent debateA discussion about a subject in which people explain or argue their different points of view. against Harris.

Many people in the Republican partyAlso known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum. are against Loomer. One well-known politician called Loomer "a crazy conspiracy theorist who regularly uttersSays. disgusting garbageRubbish".

But we may be underestimatingNot believing that someone is as talented as they really are. her. In his new book Fair of Foul: The Lady Macbeth Guide to Ambition, Stefan Stern notes that Lady Macbeth is sometimes thought of as only evil.

But, he argues, "she is much more interesting than that" He says she has a greater understanding of human natureThe feelings and behaviours of humankind, that almost everyone shares. than most people believe.

Is ambition a curse?

Yes! Nothing will ever be good enough for people with huge amounts of ambition. It can drive people to do bad things - or make them unhappy.

No! We need ambition to push us forward. Without it, we would do nothing. There is no point being talented alone.