The Signal

Jan. 14, 2025 | Michael Bluhm & Vali Nasr

Waking up alone

Where does the fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad leave Iran? Vali Nasr on the swift and unexpected transformation of power in the Middle East.

12 minute read

Jan. 07, 2025 | Dennis Culhane & Gustav Jönsson

Mother of exiles

A year after record increases in American homelessness, it’s now gone up even more—why? Dennis Culhane on the immigration crisis playing out in U.S. cities.

7 minute read

Dec. 17, 2024 | Michael Bluhm & Martin Wolf

Tale of two economies

Why is Europe falling so far behind the U.S.? Martin Wolf on diverging histories of investment, innovation, and confidence.

11 minute read

Dec. 12, 2024 | Victoria Barnes & Gustav Jönsson

Dear customer

Have banks really started closing people’s accounts because of their political views? Victoria Barnes on the dynamics of debanking.

8 minute read

Dec. 10, 2024 | Michael Bluhm & Peter Ganong

Too damn high

Why does everything in the U.S. seem so expensive? Peter Ganong on the pandemic, a broken construction sector, and a steep decline in American social mobility.

10 minute read

Dec. 05, 2024 | Gustav Jönsson & Adam Tooze

Mutually assured

Why is the United States building up so much military capability? Adam Tooze on how America’s great-power rivalries with China and Russia are transforming U.S. priorities.

11 minute read

Dec. 03, 2024 | Tobias S. Harris & Oliver Mills

Future blues

Why has Japan’s longtime ruling party lost its majority? Tobias S. Harris on political scandals, economic struggles, and a deep loss of public confidence in the country’s institutions.

10 minute read

Nov. 26, 2024 | Gustav Jönsson & Adolph Reed

Racecraft

What does it mean that more non-white Americans voted for Donald Trump in this year’s U.S. presidential election than in the previous two? Adolph Reed on the limits of identity politics.

9 minute read

Stay tuned …