digress = abschweifen, vom Thema abweichen

Before I propose specifics, LET ME DIGRESS a bit and talk about how Saudi Arabia keeps their crime rate to near nonexistent and has no problem with over-crowded prisons.(from an internet political blog)---His comments were irrelevant and his manner crude and rude – but he was the president and he got a pass. BUT I DIGRESS because that had nothing to do with his capacity to lead or not lead the Federal Reserve.(Forbes magazine)