The Hedgehog Review – Spring 2026 Preview
THE NEW YORK TIMES – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2026
The U.S. Birthrate Is Plunging. Here’s Why Some Say That’s a Good Thing.
The political class is worried about the historic drop. But the biggest change is among the youngest women, who are the least ready to have children.
Trump’s Foreign Policy: Resurrecting Empire
President Trump’s approach is a revival of the mission of empire — acquiring the territories and resources of sovereign peoples.
In Trump’s Case for War With Iran, a Series of False or Unproven Claims
Key elements of the Trump administration’s arguments this week for another military campaign against Iran do not hold up.
A Call From Trump Ignited a Bitter Feud Between Two U.S. Allies
A request made to President Trump about the war in Sudan is at the heart of a diplomatic dispute between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE – FEBRUARY 28, 2026 PREVIEW
THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE: The latest issue features ‘Digging for victory’…
America’s dangerous pursuit of critical-mineral dominance
With a more focused approach, it could break China’s chokehold
Donald Trump is at risk of launching a war without purpose
A conflict with Iran without a clear objective would be recklessly dangerous
The right response to private-market dangers
Was a Blue Owl fund mismanaged, or did it reveal fundamental problems about the industry?
America’s states should beware of copying Europe too much
Welfare is rightly becoming more generous. But regulatory fragmentation is a problem
Heathrow’s third runway is turning into another infrastructure fiasco
The government must step in
THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY – FEBRUARY 27, 2026 PREVIEW
THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY: The latest issue features ‘Can Britain’s Monarchy Survive the Andrew Crisis?’…
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor last week, after allegations he had shared confidential information with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sent shock waves around the world.
What happens next is unclear, but the ramifications will go far beyond the former prince, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein. It was one of the most consequential days for Britain’s monarchy in generations, shattering the traditional aura of royal mystique and raising questions of accountability, deference and whether the royal family should have acted sooner.
In a powerful essay for our big story this week, Stephen Bates asks whether the royal family can survive the unfolding scandal.
Spotlight | The limits to the supreme court’s assent
Last week’s declaration by the conservative-heavy court that Trump’s sweeping tariffs are unlawful is a major setback for the president, writes Ed Pilkington
Health | Why big pharma stands to gain from weight-loss pills
Oral tablets could bring obesity treatment into the mainstream, with the sector predicted to be worth $200bn by the end of the decade. Julia Kollewe reports
Special report | The road to war in Ukraine
In a remarkably detailed piece drawing on more than 100 interviews with senior intelligence officials and other insiders, Shaun Walker explains how the CIA and MI6 got hold of Putin’s Ukraine plans – and why nobody believed them
Opinion | A degree? A trade? Every rung for young people is a trap
Is it to be a degree and heavy debt when graduate jobs are shrinking? Or forgoing a degree, knowing society still worships them? Confused, angry: who wouldn’t be, asks Jason Okundaye
Culture | Big in Beijing (but less so in Blackpool)
James Balmont’s band, Swim Deep, plays to crowds of hundreds across the UK – but in China, they perform in front of tens of thousands. And they’re not the only ones
THE NEW YORK TIMES – THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2026
For Trump, Military Strike in Iran Could Serve a Dual Purpose
Administration officials said it would allow President Trump to claim a military win. But top officials also hope it would drive Iran to give up its nuclear enrichment program.
How Israelis Feel About Another Potential War With Iran
The national mood is somewhere between anxiety, resignation and anticipation as President Trump considers whether to attack Iran.
Trump’s Push for Election Power Raises Fears He Will ‘Subvert’ Midterms
President Trump appears to be undermining Americans’ faith in the outcome, at a moment when Republicans face an uphill climb to keep control of Congress.
New A.C.A. Plans Could Increase Family Deductibles to $31,000
The Trump administration is proposing Obamacare plans that it says will lower health insurance premiums. But critics warn they would make care unaffordable.
Epstein Files Are Missing Records About Woman Who Made Claim Against Trump
A woman’s unverified accusation that Donald Trump assaulted her when she was a minor is in the files. But several memos related to her account are noT.
For Hillary Clinton, an Epstein Deposition Is the Latest ‘Stand by Your Man’ Moment
The former secretary of state had no dealings with Jeffrey Epstein but today she is once again under pressure to answer for her husband’s actions.
MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW – MARCH/APRIL 2026 PREVIEW
AI is already making online crimes easier. It could get much worse.
Some cybersecurity researchers say it’s too early to worry about AI-orchestrated cyberattacks. Others say it could already be happening.
Welcome to the dark side of crypto’s permissionless dream
Jean-Paul Thorbjornsen is a leader of THORChain, a blockchain that is not supposed to have any leaders—and is reeling from a series of expensive controversies.
How uncrewed narco subs could transform the Colombian drug trade
Fast, stealthy, and cheap—autonomous, semisubmersible drone boats carrying tons of cocaine could be international law enforcement’s nightmare scenario. A big one just came ashore.
Hackers made death threats against this security researcher. Big mistake.
Allison Nixon had helped arrest dozens of members of the Com, a loose affiliation of online groups responsible for violence and hacking campaigns. Then she became a target.
THE NEW YORK TIMES – WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2026
Trump’s State of the Union: Rosy Predictions and Angry Attacks
President Puts On a Show, Casting Democrats as the Villains
On the defensive as the midterms approach, President Trump made clear in his State of the Union address that his strategy was to paint Democrats as unpatriotic.
Inside Nicolás Maduro’s Last Days in Power
The Venezuelan leader overestimated his strength and misread his exchange with President Trump in the decisive weeks before his capture by U.S. forces.
Thanks, Ukrainians Say, but Please Stop Calling Us Resilient
Ukraine must project strength to secure continued Western support. But its people want the world to know they are not superhuman.
In Windsor, Some See Family Drama in the Andrew Accusations
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s fall from grace drew strong reactions from some residents. Others said they just did not care.
THE NEW YORK TIMES – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026
The Looming Taiwan Chip Disaster That Silicon Valley Has Long Ignored
If China invades Taiwan and cuts off its chip exports to American companies, the tech industry and the U.S. economy would be crippled.
Meta Announces Major Chips-for-Stock Deal With AMD
The multibillion-dollar deal is AMD’s latest move to catch up to Nvidia in the lucrative world of selling artificial intelligence chips.
China Amps Up Pressure on Japan With Export Bans
How Russia Put Its Future at Risk by Remaking Its Economy for War
About half of the country’s federal budget goes toward the fight in Ukraine, money that does little to support its long-term development.
Mexican Forces Say They Tracked Cartel Boss to Cabin by Following His Lover
Top security officials revealed details of the operation that led to the death of Mexico’s most wanted drug cartel leader.
LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS – MARCH 5, 2026 PREVIEW
THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE – MARCH 2, 2026 PREVIEW
Ian McKellen Swings from Shakespeare to Gandalf to Virtual Reality
On a visit to New York, the actor reflected on mortality and coming out, and unleashed an Elizabethan anti-ICE monologue on “Colbert” that went viral. By Henry Alford
James Talarico Puts His Faith in Texas Voters
The Senate candidate believes that Democrats can win by appealing to higher values. Can he succeed in the age of Trump? By Tad Friend
Why the World Cup Can Feel Like War
Soccer stadiums can be dominated by violence, tribalism, chauvinism, and near-religious fervor‚ animated by the memory of old hostilities and the power of ritual. By Ian Buruma
The Trial of Gisèle Pelicot’s Rapists United France and Fractured Her Family
After fifty-one men were convicted, Pelicot became a feminist hero. But additional accusations left her children struggling to accept her new role. By Rachel Aviv
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