I am once again begging American conservatives who have Big Thoughts on how European leaders should tackle populists to pay attention to what is *actually happening* on migration policy, rather than meme themselves into seeing US '23 conditions everywhere all the time
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/o...

Sounds bad for Mandelson. Maybe he can find a job at the North American Treaty Organization.

Magyar needs the EU but the EU needs Magyar, too. And in this mutual dependency, neither should lose sight of the rule of law. That's what I'm arguing in this @financialtimes.com op ed www.ft.com/content/8800...

🙏

Orban-proofing the EU How the leader of a small, poor country held such sway over the bloc

I steped briefly back into Charlemagne's robes this week (@spignal.bsky.social is on holiday) to explain why, amid all the Magyar-mania, the EU risks ignoring some important lessons it ought to take from its long Orban nightmare. www.economist.com/europe/2026/...

What a bizarre take on the ejection of a prime minister who just served 16 years in office!

North Rhine-Westphalia 2010, in all seriousness.

have been making may way through them with interest!

Am gratefully accepting reading/podcast/whatever recommendations on all matters Hungary and Europe, including Ukraine aid, RRF funds, Article 7 RoL stuff, the whole kaboodle. Here or DM.

Most Syrians in Germany are here to stay. My piece this week. www.economist.com/europe/2026/...

Nightmail [London 14.09.2019] YouTube video by Aphex Twin - Topic

Also provides the source material for this Aphex banger www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2t2...

He is Risen

A revolution is coming for Germany’s intelligence services Derided at home and abroad, Germany’s spooks are about to get sweeping new powers

I have a piece in the new edition on the coming Zeitenwende for the BND, Germany's foreign intelligence service. www.economist.com/europe/2026/...

Short piece from me on the SPD's electoral disaster and its leader's decent reform pitch yesterday.

The Revolutionary Guards are taking over Iran They now appear to run both the state and the war

This is a phenomenal piece of journalism by my colleagues at @economist.com - deep reported detail on how Iran is now being run that I haven't seen anywhere else: www.economist.com/middle-east-...

war_iran_final-blow_v1.pdf

war_iran_final-final-blow-v2.pdf

war_iran_final-blow-no edits.pdf

war_iran_final-blow-no edits (1).pdf

war_iran_final-blow-no edits (1) APPROVED.pdf

IRANWARPLANSFINALFINALFINAL.pdf

IRANWARPLANSFINALFINALFINAL (1).pdf

We're so back

Naturally I wore these while writing

Why one of Germany’s richest regions is gripped with anxiety Baden-Württemberg’s election is overshadowed by worries over deindustrialisation

Baden-Württemberg is not about to become one giant Detroit. But ahead of what looks like a nail-biting election on Sunday, The Länd is certainly consumed with economic anxiety. My report from Stuttgart and Hohenlohe.
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...

The worst thing about working at the Economist is the appalling clickbait headlines

Can't wait for Janan's nuclear take on this

OK we get it, Trump contradicts himself. He is large, he contains multitudes

Don't start this war with me Stan. You won't win.

I knew you'd all come round in the end.

Maybe they learned he was "liberal" and something got lost in transatlantic translation

The Migrants in the Ancient Forest Five years ago, Belarus began enabling people from high-conflict countries to migrate into Europe. Despite high walls and backlash, they’re still coming.

From www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

The American mind cannot comprehend a country where neither the leading party nor its chief rival sit on the left

Bet he thought no one would notice this act of recycling tho

Good Economist piece on Merz tough China trip.

"For not only has China’s market begun to dry up for Germany, big chunks of German industry now regard China as a direct threat to their interests.."

With a favourite chart of Setser and mine. China's net car exports now dwarf even peak Germany.

1/

"The central front of our China policy is at home in Europe".

Excellent piece by @tomnuttall.bsky.social ahead of German chancellor's first China trip.