LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS – FEBRUARY 19, 2026 PREVIEW

LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS: The latest issue features Seamus Perry: Pluralism and Poetry; James Wolcott: Updike Reconsidered; James Meek on Romania’s Far Right;

Seamus Perry · Pluralism and the Modern Poet: Pluralism and Poetry

‘Art arises,’ Auden writes, ‘out of our desire for both beauty and truth and our knowledge that they are not identical.’ We want things two ways, which analysis says we cannot have; but for a moment a poem lets us, in a way that discursive prose, for instance, cannot.

Jonathan RéeKojève v. Hegel

Alexandre Kojève described his book on Hegel as ‘very bad’, and he had a point. His take on The Phenomenology of Spirit is not only misleading but slapdash, dogmatic, frivolous and flamboyant. The characters he filled it with, from the Master and Slave to the Sensualist and the Sage, sound rather like Mr Worldly Wiseman, Madam Bubble and Mr Sagacity in Pilgrim’s Progress.

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE – FEBRUARY 16 & 23, 2026

Eustace Tilley and his tall hat obscure the view of the screen in a movie theater.

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE: The latest issue features The Anniversary Issue: Dhruv Khullar on Ozempic, David Remnick on Joe Rogan, Ava Kofman on a surrogacy scandal, and more.

Is There a Remedy for Presidential Profiteering?

Until now, Trump always seemed unembarrassed to crow about his side hustles. But, if the Emirati payment was kept secret, what else might be? By David D. Kirkpatrick

Can Ozempic Cure Addiction?

GLP-1 drugs, which have helped some people curb drug and alcohol use, may unlock a pathway to moderation. By Dhruv Khullar

What Is Claude? Anthropic Doesn’t Know, Either

Researchers at the company are trying to understand their A.I. system’s mind—examining its neurons, running it through psychology experiments, and putting it on the therapy couch. By Gideon Lewis-Kraus

THE NEW YORK TIMES – MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026

Epstein’s Longtime Companion Refuses to Answer Lawmakers’ Questions

Ghislaine Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment right in response to every question asked during a deposition before the House Oversight Committee.

Billionaire Called Epstein a ‘Blessing’ as They Made Deals

Andrew Farkas has played down ties to Jeffrey Epstein. But they swapped business favors, and in nearly 2,000 emails, expressed admiration for each other.

A Raid in a Small Town Brings Trump’s Deportations to Deep-Red Idaho

Wilder, Idaho, prided itself on comity. Then federal agents stormed a racetrack outside of town, and the reverberations are still shaking the community.

Bad Bunny’s Halftime History Lesson

The superstar showcased Puerto Rican pride during a 13-minute set that turned a global opportunity into an intimate, personal performance, our critic writes.

Trump Criticizes Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar who has denounced ICE, celebrated Latino heritage in his largely Spanish-language performance.

Seahawks’ Super Bowl Victory Highlights a New Way of Winning in the N.F.L.

Quarterbacks have ruled for decades, but opportunistic general managers are increasingly the key to success, a columnist for The Athletic writes.

A Teary-Eyed Ending to Drake Maye’s Breakout Sophomore Season

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2026

Donors to Group Promoting America’s 250th Birthday Are Offered Access to Trump

A new organization blessed by President Trump is raising money for events and projects that will put a Trumpian spin on the country’s semiquincentennial.

Reaction to Trump’s Racist Post Shows He Is Not Always Immune to Politics

With the midterm elections nearing, President Trump has found himself in the uncomfortable position of backtracking, even if only by degrees, at key moments.

Epstein Files Reveal Scope of Ghislaine Maxwell’s Role in Clinton Circle

Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion helped advise on the kickoff of the Clinton Global Initiative and arranged for $1 million in funding for it, emails show.

Files Detail Epstein’s Dealings With Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick

Washington Post C.E.O. Will Lewis Steps Down After Stormy Tenure

Mr. Lewis, who was also the publisher, is leaving days after the organization laid off more than 300 journalists. The company announced an interim replacement.

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE- FEBRUARY 8, 2026

Current cover

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE: The 2.8.26 Issue features Charles Homans on Minneapolis under siege; Dan Kaufman on Trump’s war on federal workers; Hugo Lindgren on the intersection of Wall Street strategies and golf; and more.

Watching America Unravel in Minneapolis

What I saw, as federal agents stormed the city and residents banded together to protect themselves, was a dark, dystopian future becoming reality. By Charles Homans and Philip Montgomery

‘The Biggest Act of Union-Busting in U.S. History’: Trump’s War on Federal Workers

With 300,000 employees gone and collective-bargaining rights eliminated, the administration has hobbled organized labor. Did it also start a movement? By Dan Kaufman

Rev. James Martin on Our Moral Duty in Turbulent Times

The author and Jesuit priest discusses human dignity, political divides and how he sees the role of the Catholic Church. By Lulu Garcia-Navarro

BARRON’S MAGAZINE – FEBRUARY 9, 2026

The Robot Revolution Is Real. Tesla, Hyundai, and More Stocks to Play It.

BARRON’S MAGAZINE: The latest issue features ‘Robots Get Real’ – The can walk, talk, and even think. Here’s how to invest in the new wave of humanlike robots.

The Robot Revolution Is Real. Tesla, Hyundai, and More Stocks to Play It.

Once the purview of science fiction, automatons are getting closer to reality.

How the Software Panic Hit BDC Stocks—and Why Some Might Be Worth Buying

If marquee, public companies like Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Workday are getting hammered by concerns about AI, what is the outlook for the dozens of smaller, highly leveraged companies?

Commission-Free Annuities Are on the March. When They Make Sense.

The new annuities can save you money, but they are sold through advisors charging their own fees.

Netflix-Warner Bros. Is a Marriage Made in Competition Heaven

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2026

Why Trump’s Calls to ‘Nationalize’ Voting Have Raised Midterm Fears

President Trump has escalated his language as his administration has taken steps to involve itself more in election matters.

Prosecutors Began Investigating Renee Good’s Killing. Washington Told Them to Stop.

Several career federal prosecutors in Minnesota balked at a new approach, which they viewed as legally dubious. Many left the office in protest.

Mexican Cartels Overwhelm Police With Ammunition Made for the U.S. Military

Drug syndicates have used .50-caliber ammunition, produced at a plant owned by the U.S. and smuggled across the border, in attacks on Mexican civilians and the police.

‘I Didn’t Make a Mistake’: Trump Declines to Apologize for Racist Video of Obamas

The video clip that President Trump posted in a late-night flurry of social media activity caused an unusually strong and public outcry from members of his own party.

WASHINGTON EXAMINER MAGAZINE – FEB. 11-18, 2026

Washington Examiner – Conservative News, Politics & Policy

WASHINGTON EXAMINER MAGAZINE: ‘This Is National Security’ – A moment for American Power’….

American credibility: Why Trump must enforce his ‘red line’ in Iran

by Hugo Gurdon

✪ What the Trump national security strategy gets right

by Mackubin Owens

✪ Billy Bob’s boomtown: Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Landman’ and the triumph of traditional values

by Daniel Ross Goodman

✪ Politics without restraint: A generational shift toward violence and radicalism is taking place

by Samuel J. Abrams

THE NEW YORK TIMES – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2026

Iran Is at Work on Missile and Nuclear Sites, Satellite Images Show

Repairs at key missile sites began soon after they were hit by Israeli and U.S. strikes last year, but work at Iran’s nuclear facilities has been slower.

U.S. and Iran Prepare for Talks in Oman

The Dark Side of A.I. Weighs on the Stock Market

The prospect of disruptions from A.I. has hung over the U.S. economy for years. But this week, advances in tools precipitated a sell-off on Wall Street.

The Olympics Are a Show of Global Harmony. The World Is Anything But.

The Winter Games, which officially open in Italy on Friday, are rooted in international cooperation. That feels out of place to some in a world where old rules no longer apply.

Senators Clash Over Immigration Enforcement, Risking a D.H.S. Shutdown

With eight days until a deadline to keep the Department of Homeland Security running, bipartisan talks on reining in immigration agents’ tactics appeared to sputter.

Uber Is Found Liable for Rape by Driver, Setting Stage for Thousands of Cases

In a federal bellwether case, the jury ordered the ride-hailing giant to pay $8.5 million to Jaylynn Dean, who said an Uber driver assaulted her in 2023.

THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE – FEBRUARY 7, 2026 PREVIEW

THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE: The latest issue features The dangerous dollar‘…

The age of a treacherous, falling dollar

Those holding American assets will have to get used to it

As global press freedom dwindles, corrupt politicians rejoice

Less scrutiny, more booty

How to think about new risks of nuclear proliferation

In a might-makes-right world, many countries may conclude that only nukes can keep them safe

The new Bangladesh is only half built

Whoever wins the coming election has a lot to do

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