Category Archives: Politics

News: New Syria President, Myanmar Junta Extends Its State Of Emergency

MONOCLE RADIO (January 31, 2025): Ahmed al-Sharaa has been tapped to be Syria’s transitional president. What does his consolidation of power mean for the country? Plus: Myanmar’s junta prepares for elections and we head to Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. Then: Andrew Mueller tells us what he learned this week.

The New York Times – Friday, January 31, 2025

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Washington Crash Renews Concerns About Air Safety Lapses

Clues emerging from the moments before an Army helicopter collided with a passenger jet suggest breakdowns in the system meant to help aircraft land safely at the busy Reagan National Airport.

Trump Kicks Congress to the Curb, With Little Protest From Republicans

The administration is showing it doesn’t view the House and Senate as equal partners. So far, Republicans, who hold both majorities, are accepting their new status.

Patel Works to Persuade Senators His Loyalty to Trump Is Not Absolute

Testifying in a confirmation hearing, Kash Patel, who is nominated to lead the F.B.I., also sought to allay fears about his fitness to serve.

Israel Frees Palestinian Prisoners After Chaotic Hostage Handover

Hamas freed three Israelis and five Thai nationals in exchange for more than 100 Palestinians. But the militant group struggled to control crowds, prompting a delay.

Prospect Magazine – March 2025 Preview

Prospect Magazine - Britain's leading monthly current affairs magazine

PROSPECT MAGAZINE (January 29, 2025): The latest issue features ‘Labour vs Reform’ ; In Defense of Angela Merkel; Is Elon Musk the new Henry Ford…

Labour vs. Reform: the fight for our future

Faragism and Starmerism are fronts in a global struggle between insurgent nationalism and cautious defenders of the old political order. For British democracy to triumph, the prime minister must find his voice

The press lobby is going feral—ignore it

Given the pressures of 24-hour news, lobby journalists cannot plausibly understand policy detail. Their skillset is to nose around and cause trouble

Inside the supply chain: my week on a container ship

Vessels like the Timca are the unnoticed worker ants of our global economy, bringing us the cheap food, clothes and household items we

The Progressive Magazine – February/March 2025

The Progressive Magazine - Reporting the truth since 1909. - Progressive.org

THE PROGRESSIVE MAGAZINE (January 29, 2025): The latest issue features ‘Defending Immigrants’; The Colony Problem; Indigenous Behind Bars and Universal Basic Income….

Better Gun Storage Can Prevent Tragedies

Right now, only eight states have laws explicitly requiring safe storage for guns. If we want to save lives, we need an immediate prevention plan. Read more

News: Trump’s Funding Freeze, Arctic Frontiers Conference, Thailand

MONOCLE RADIO (January 29, 2025); We assess president Donald Trump’s attempted halt of federal funding, pop into the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø and assess Thailand’s image crisis as large numbers of tourists from mainland China cancel trips for this week’s Chinese New Year. Then: Pew’s latest survey on religion and politics across 36 countries. Plus: Monocle’s chairman, Tyler Brûlé, joins the show.

The New York Times – Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025

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Judge Stays Trump’s Federal Funding Freeze, but Disruption to Medicaid Sows Fear

Federal health researchers, nonprofits and programs for early childhood education reported that their access to federal funds had gone down, raising alarms about access to jobs, health care services, reduced-price meals and more.

Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Immigration, Drugs and Greenland

The president is increasingly threatening other countries with tariffs for issues that have little to do with trade.

What It’s Like to Be a Kid After a Fire Took Almost Everything

Ten children talked about losing their homes, their schools and their neighborhoods in the Los Angeles fires. They discussed what they’re worried about and what’s cheering them up.

Rwanda, the West’s ‘Donor Darling,’ Seizes an Opportunity in Congo

News: 80th Anniversary Of Auschwitz Liberation, Gaza Ceasefire Next Steps

MONOCLE RADIO (January 28, 2025): As the world marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, Sudha David-Wilp and Stuart Dowell join Emma Nelson to discuss the Polish and German perspectives. Plus, Israel moves to shut down Unrwa, Ukraine’s drone-only military ops and highlights from the Jeddah Islamic Art Biennale.

The New York Times – Tuesday, January 28, 2025

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In Exacting Retribution, Trump Aims at the Future as Well as the Past

The president made good on promises to seek revenge against enemies during his first week back in power, signaling in the process that anyone who crosses him in the future could also suffer.

Behind the Colombia Blowup: Mapping Trump’s Rapid-Escalation Tactics

There were no Situation Room meetings and no quiet calls to de-escalate a dispute with an ally. Just threats, counterthreats, surrender and an indication of the president’s approach to Greenland and Panama.

At Auschwitz, a Solemn Ceremony at a Time of Rising Nationalism

World leaders and a dwindling group of survivors joined in a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp by the Red Army.

As Trump and Putin Circle Each Other, an Agenda Beyond Ukraine Emerges

President Trump jabs at the Russian leader with threats; Vladimir Putin responds with flattery. But there are notable signals in their jousting, including a revived discussion about nuclear arms control.

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE – FEBRUARY 3, 2025 PREVIEW

A woman stands on a roof as pigeons take flight around her.

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE (January 27, 2025): The latest issue features Kadir Nelson’s “Messenger” – The city’s ubiquitous winged creatures can be an unexpected source of inspiration.

Trump’s Attempt to Redefine America

The effect of the President’s executive orders was to convey an open season, in which virtually nothing—including who gets to be an American citizen—is guaranteed. By Benjamin Wallace-Wells

Inside the Fight Against a Los Angeles Inferno

A reporter embeds with wildland firefighters during one of the deadliest blazes in California history. By M. R. O’Connor

A Witness in Assad’s Dungeons

Mazen al-Hamada fled Syria to reveal the regime’s crimes. Then, mysteriously, he went back. By Jon Lee Anderson

News: Lukashenko Wins Belarus Presidency, More Hostages Released In Gaza

MONOCLE RADIO (January 27, 2025): As the election in Belarus is labelled a “sham”, Hanna Liubakova joins Emma Nelson to discuss what lies ahead for Alexander Lukashenko and the country. Plus: more captives are released in Gaza and Israel; and the iconic French dance soon to be enshrined on the country’s cultural-heritage list.