In 1946, only a year after the end of World War II, George Orwell wrote, “To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.” Almost 80 years later, it’s no less true. But what’s the struggle with? For Orwell, it’s the corruption of language; it’s propaganda and the manipulation of history; it’s the pressures to conform, outwardly and inwardly, that can come from political or ideological identity—or sometimes just the economic exigency of keeping a job. All of which has the power to suppress not only our ability to see what’s in front of our noses, but our ability to think about it for ourselves, fully in tune with our deepest convictions—if we don’t struggle against it. Now, though, that struggle is being transformed by an increasingly omnipresent digital environment built for screen addiction. It’s something we’re going to need help with.
Welcome back to The Signal.
—John Jamesen Gould
This week:
Developments
The fallout from last week’s haywire meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents spreads; Arab leaders plan to make a plan for the future of Gaza; discontent in the Serbian streets leads to a brawl in the Serbian parliament; and a familiar face changes the dynamics of the New York City mayoral race. + Türkiye plans to build a wall on its border with Greece to curb illegal migration; a South Korean court orders the country’s impeached president released from jail; and a private lunar lander dies on the moon.
Connections
Can Europe defend Ukraine?
Exchanges
What’s going on with “debanking” in the United States? What about Trump’s tariffs? + Should Kyiv and Washington sign a Ukrainian mineral deal?
Features
Why has U.S. public opinion turned against immigration? Mara Ostfeld on how Americans’ perceptions are shifting along with changes in political leadership, in the media environment, and on the ground. + Why does France seem to be falling apart? Marc Weitzmann on immigration, regulation, and the end of a political era.
Books
Why does the pro-democratic resistance to Alyaksandr Lukashenka seem so resigned? A look at Paul Hansbury’s Belarus in Crisis: From Domestic Unrest to the Russia-Ukraine War.
Music
From Darkside, Mdou Moctar, Liam Dutton, Andy Bell, and Two Shell.
Weather report
Ofunato, Japan …
Developments
The world in brief, February 28-March 7
The U.S. vs. Ukraine
The shape of Western support for Ukraine has changed dramatically over the past week. The first turning point was on Friday, February 28, at the White House, where a televised meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump—along with other top officials from both countries—ended in shocking rancor. Zelenskyy wound up leaving the White House early, without any trade or security agreements signed. On Monday, the U.S. administration announced it was halting military aid to Ukraine.
