I'm a broken record on this but the radicalisation and brain rot of Gen X/boomers is a massively under-appreciated problem

This was fascinating to do. You should see the spreadsheet of responses we got to a reader callout on the issue of boomer radicalisation. This piece is based on a half-dozen followup interviews, as well as the insight of various experts. Needs a lot more research.

Let it grow — the new Frozen-inspired fantasyland at the heart of Disneyland Paris An escapist extravaganza featuring princesses, palaces and animatronic snowmen is the centrepiece of a €2bn transformation

Took my kids to World of Frozen, a new attraction at Disneyland Paris, a place described at its launch in 1992 as a “cultural Chernobyl”. www.ft.com/content/2aa6...

On the trail of ancient art, deep in the Sahara [FREE TO READ] The discovery of an old landing strip in Chad’s far north opens the door for an adventure in search of mysterious rock paintings

This is a fascinating piece, a journey into the Chadian desert to find ancient rock art, with evocative photos by the author as.ft.com/r/d4c82ca9-f...

likewise! And longer for you. I can still remember the feats desk lols during your Shitterton epic

Argh, this means I've been freelancing for 10 years, during which I've filed just shy of a million words, some in a reasonable order, to 47 outlets and aged approx 28 years. At least we all get to retire early, right.

‘It’s just a bomb’ [FREE TO READ] The true story of two strangers and an extraordinary act of courage

If you didn't read this amazing piece in december then here's another chance today as the extraordinary Nathan Newby receives the UK's high gallantry honour, the George Medal as.ft.com/r/57d73632-e...

Six days in the Suez Canal: The inside story of a maritime catastrophe As the Iran conflict throttles global trade via the Strait of Hormuz, five years ago a stranded cargo ship revealed a frail transport system

Remember that massive ship that blocked the Suez Canal? Five years on, my long read includes testimony from the British pastor who found terrified crew on board, and the insurer who did battle with Egypt over a $1bn claim from his home office in Gloucestershire www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/6c182c1...

Just replaced our Henry’s broken trunk and was reminded of my time meeting its inventor, the Somerset vacuum tycoon Chris Duncan. www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Reminder, if you're in the UK, that the excellent, now Oscar-winning documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin is free to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Hereditary peer Lord Mancroft: ‘They don’t care about fox hunting. It’s about us’ [FREE TO READ] The Conservative politician and former master of hounds on House of Lords reform, the pros and cons of privilege — and his numerous tattoos

I don't really know how to describe this, but it was great fun as.ft.com/r/8f9937cc-9...

I've been unemployed for a few months. I now set myself pretend jobs to prevent the rot setting in. My son thinks this guy is funny, which is a good enough excuse to make something. Any requests?

To be worn at the small chain of French burger joints www.rosaparks.fr/restaurants/...

my fav melted cheese spot since circa '94

Great stuff. I was at the Cabane last week and they were asking after you (in a good way)

‘It’s just a bomb’ [FREE TO READ] The true story of two strangers and an extraordinary act of courage

Two strangers sit on a bench outside a Leeds hospital. One is carrying a homemade bomb in a bag. He plans to set it off inside. The other makes the extraordinary decision to try to talk him out of it. A brilliant, brilliant piece by Ravi Somaiya, edited by Neil O’Sullivan as.ft.com/r/153da9db-e...

**FT GRAD SCHEME**

applications are now open. Incredible opportunity for young wannabe hacks. Spread the word:

job-boards.greenhouse.io/financialtim...

Why Zipcar gave up on London The car-sharing scheme was hit by rapidly increased costs, a new congestion charge, and a lack of support from councils.

@londoncentric.media has the answers www.londoncentric.media/p/zipcar-lon...

How Britain’s shoplifting epidemic is forcing supermarkets to fight back Metal barriers, digital locks, facial recognition and hi-tech innovations are being rolled out in an attempt to halt severe losses

Wrote about the supermarket crimewave, and how the big players are (maybe) turning the tide. From live facial recognition, to changes in the law - and those new plastic guards that make grabbing a bag of coffee awkward www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/e536d64...

Comeback King: a new hotel for the man behind the fallen Birch Chris King’s Birch brand was hailed as ‘the future of the British hotel’ — then swiftly went bust. As he launches Crafted, a new retreat in East Sussex, he tells Simon Usborne what went wrong

Remember the Birch hotels? Big splash, critical acclaim, multiple awards... then the whole thing blew up. I met co-founder Chris King at his new gaff in Sussex to talk about the failure and his comeback www.ft.com/content/54b0...

😬

You'll never see a better use of a before/after photo slider than in this v nice piece about balding by @rhodri.biz www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11...

The inside story of Winter Wonderland It's one of the biggest events in the capital — but what goes on away from the public's eyes?

The always great @londoncentric.media asked me to explore the madness of Winter Wonderland. It got interesting when some former workers told me about goings on behind the Avalanche waltzer (plus the fact its operators have manslaughter convictions) open.substack.com/pub/londonce...

It's mindblowing what they're having to do there - retrieve radioactive waste from giant concrete silos that were never designed to be emptied. This one was built in the 50s. Retrievals started in 2023.

Went to Sellafield to look at how robots - including those mad dogs - are increasingly joining the nuclear decommissioning race. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11...

Huh. I confess I didn’t know his story when he pulled me aside after an Everest talk I’d chaired at the FT weekend festival two months ago. He was cagey when I said we should do an interview and I understood why when googling him on the way home… fascinating guy

A good day to share one's own worst mistake (xref the de Blasio balls-up). See last paragraph, and the mea culpa: simonusborne.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/w... #wankyballs

I'm publishing the weirdest story I've ever written tomorrow, for London Centric members only.

So here's an one-off offer. Sign up for a year before midnight today and I'll give you 33% off. If the story doesn't live up to expectations, I'll refund you tomorrow. www.londoncentric.media/a21e85e7

STUDENTS! You can subscribe to the Guardian for just £9 a year: theguardian.com/studentoffer. Spread the word.