glad to see the EUISS director's office (*) is as gold-tastic as the French president's.

(*I know, I know)

it's a good policy. for any other vendor, it would be unthinkable that the employee procuring the product would get to enjoy said product for personal use. the IT guy who buys 200 Dell computers doesn't get a free laptop for personal use.

if you assume some discretion in travel (i.e. does the employee get to decide if they go on a trip, which is often the case) this is a policy that is ripe for abuse.

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...

Like when Tucker Carlson discovered how shopping trolleys work in Russia.

I mean, it's fine yeah. Perfectly good column, do we really need to get carried away Gavin tho?

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/...

Last month in The Onion:

If any publication would cover this, it's The Economist

How does this article demonstrate your point about Krastev pushing Putinist narratives *at all*? It is about normalising PiS, which for all its many flaws is just about the most Putin-hating party in Europe.

Krastev called Orban the right-wing Castro, which I think is exactly right: the leader of a small relatively insignificant country, that nevertheless became the ideological lodestar for a global movement after being propped up by russia

Podcast would be good. Cage fight would be better.

Ah the old VINO trade - Vance Incompetently Nukes Orban

oh snap

Markets no like

The FT's bosses knew that when the paper reported on a major hedge-funder that litigation would ensue. You have to be brave to face the possibility of a £79m lawsuit and shelling out over £10m in costs. The FT's confidence in its excellent reporting paid off. Well done. www.ft.com/content/6966...

A final favour Macron could do for France A gracefully timed exit would reset France’s awkward electoral calendar

There is a final favour Macron could do for France—to resign early.

Leaving the Elysée a few months short of his mandate would reset France’s awkward electoral calendar. The aim: to avoid new presidents starting their rule at the height of summer.

My Charlemagne: www.economist.com/europe/2026/...

TACO TIME yum yum 🌮🌮

See you in two weeks for another helping of Tehran Tacos.

I think both vaccines & joint debt would have been tense but manageable. I don't see Britain vetoing NGEU (easy to say it would have, harder in practice on day 5 of negotiations tying up 28 EU leaders). But perhaps the wider EU budget would look different. Also the approach to "strategic autonomy".

Marmalade to be rebranded in post-Brexit food deal The breakfast favourite will be legally renamed when Britain aligns with new EU labelling rules.

One of the very few benefits of Brexit was the end of these BRUSSELS GONNA DO THIS ONE THING THAT WILL ENRAGE DAILY MAIL READERS stories.

Now we get Brexit *and* the bendy bananas bullshit. Worst of both worlds.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Down with long school summer breaks More time studying is better for children, parents and society

On top of which the summer break in most US school districts is far too long. Danish kids get six weeks off in summer, which is better for learning, for their parents' sanity and social mobility
www.economist.com/europe/2022/...

Aya-Toll come-in-ye

World’s oldest tortoise caught in viral crypto death scam Fake X account posing as his vet sparked global false reports of Jonathan’s death while soliciting crypto donations

10/10, no notes www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Dealing with a small child does tend to make people tired. And that's just the one making speeches in Washington.

Without wanting to make Trump's speech sound like a Deliveroo order, as far as Europe is concerned the main takeaway is TACO.

A final favour Macron could do for France A gracefully timed exit would reset France’s awkward electoral calendar

There is a final favour Macron could do for France—to resign early.

Leaving the Elysée a few months short of his mandate would reset France’s awkward electoral calendar. The aim: to avoid new presidents starting their rule at the height of summer.

My Charlemagne: www.economist.com/europe/2026/...

Is China covering up a violent attack at a Beijing market? News outlets put a premium on making the country seem harmonious

Curious story of censorship in China, where something terrible seems to have happened in a Beijing market but you'll never know about it www.economist.com/china/2026/0...

Another punchy The Economist cover this week

to be fair it's not "UK ambassadors" that need to fight back disinformation about London, it's one single ambassador in one single embassy in one single country.

"Aucun risque de rupture" : la porte-parole du gouvernement, Maud Bregeon, rassure sur l'approvisionnement des stations-service en carburant Moins de 10% des stations sont "en rupture totale ou partielle" selon la ministre.

Today in how not to do economic policy:
The French govt leaned on TotalEnergies to cap petrol prices under €2.
This caused a rush to their filling stations
Which caused some filling stations to run out of petrol
Now everyone is worried there is a general shortage

www.franceinfo.fr/economie/aut...