Nick Cohen
@nickcohen.bsky.social
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British journalist and author Read me on Substack
https://nickcohen.substack.com/
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Writing from London | Nick Cohen | Substack
Politics and culture from the UK and beyond by Nick Cohen. Click to read Writing from London, by Nick Cohen, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
https://nickcohen.substack.com
6 months ago
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David Henig
about 8 hours ago
We better hope that this emerging consensus on Burnham doesn't turn out to be correct because UK politics needs the change that was promised and not delivered.
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Jana Zikmundova
about 15 hours ago
"...the shocks caused by Trump and Elon Muskâs attack on the USAID development agency receive nothing like the coverage they deserve."đ
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The defence of Big Tech and of fake news require the hungry and sick to suffer in Africa and the far-right to prosper in Europe â piece from me on the paranoid fantasies of Musk and Trump
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Trump and Muskâs attack on aid is an attack on democracy
The poor worldâs problems are all our problems
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/trump-and-musks-attack-on-aid-is?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
1 day ago
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George Sinnott
1 day ago
Nick is always worth reading and his sub stack is worth every penny.
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The defence of Big Tech and of fake news require the hungry and sick to suffer in Africa and the far-right to prosper in Europe â piece from me on the paranoid fantasies of Musk and Trump
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Trump and Muskâs attack on aid is an attack on democracy
The poor worldâs problems are all our problems
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/trump-and-musks-attack-on-aid-is?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
1 day ago
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The same arguments Trump and Musk used to destroy help for the worldâs poor will be used to attack liberal democracy in Europe Piece from me on how the rich world isnât exempt
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Trump and Muskâs attack on aid is an attack on democracy
The poor worldâs problems are all our problems
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/trump-and-musks-attack-on-aid-is?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
1 day ago
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The same arguments Trump and Musk used to destroy help for the worldâs poor will be used to attack liberal democracy in Europe Piece from me on how the rich world isnât exempt
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Trump and Muskâs attack on aid is an attack on democracy
The poor worldâs problems are all our problems
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/trump-and-musks-attack-on-aid-is?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
1 day ago
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Peter Walker
1 day ago
In other news: The defence secretary, John Healey, has urged Nigel Farage to provide transparency about the ÂŁ5m gift he received from a billionaire businessman, in particular over whether any of the sum could have been linked to Russia-connected profits.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
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Healey asks Farage if any of ÂŁ5m gift may have come from Russia-linked profits
Defence secretary also asks if billionaireâs company may have benefited from Iran war, which Reform leader initially supported
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/22/john-healey-asks-nigel-farage-if-any-of-gift-may-have-come-from-russia-linked-profits
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1 day ago
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wOD...
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Conservatives Loved 'A Man for All Seasons'⊠Until the Test Came | Mona Charen Show
YouTube video by The Bulwark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wOD7eHnLYs
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Tuffy
4 days ago
Feels like a good time to reup this
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"The radical right devours moderate conservatism" Allegedly ârespectableâ conservatives embrace extremists. How the Makerfield by-election is another step in the funeral march of the moderate centre right. Piece from me
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The radical right devours moderate conservatism
The UK turns American
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/the-radical-right-devours-moderate?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
4 days ago
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Alexander Clarkson
5 days ago
Brexit increasingly resembles a form of necropolitics through which the will of the living is outweighed by the will of the dead
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David Burrows
5 days ago
The biological is political
@nickcohen.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/nickcohe...
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The biological is political
Why we think what we think
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/the-biological-is-political?r=36y6s&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=260886110
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What hope is there for the belief in the power of rational argument to persuade now that neurologists can scan the brains of teenagers and decide whether they will be progressive or conservative? Interview with author Turi Munthe and long read from me
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The biological is political
Why we think what we think
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/the-biological-is-political?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
6 days ago
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The truth about Israelâs torture of Palestinians is bad enough. No one needs to double down on dubious claims Piece from me on playing into the hands of your enemies
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We donât need fake news about Netanyahuâs crimes
The truth is grim enough
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/we-dont-need-fake-news-about-netanyahus?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer
6 days ago
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The truth about Israelâs torture of Palestinians is bad enough. No one needs to double down on dubious claims Piece from me on playing into the hands of your enemies
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We donât need fake news about Netanyahuâs crimes
The truth is grim enough
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/we-dont-need-fake-news-about-netanyahus?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer
6 days ago
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Past Present Future Podcast
7 days ago
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! David gets 5 perspectives on the deeper causes behind the current crisis: historians
@robertsaunders.bsky.social
, Anthony Seldon and
@dmk1793.bsky.social
,
@drhannahwhite.bsky.social
from the IfG and political scientist
@robfordmancs.bsky.social
. Find us at...đ§
ppfideas.com
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Twlldun
7 days ago
Honestly, when I was young I was prepared to believe a lot of things about the future, but I never expected it to be so stupid.
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John Self
7 days ago
I think the best way to enjoy this list, which contains lots of predictable choices (made as it was by committee), is to find a book you like, click to see who voted for it, and then look at the voters' other top 10 choices. You might find something else you like that you haven't read.
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Bill Kristol
7 days ago
Trump's capitulation on Taiwan has been explicit and striking. Has any of the China hawks who've justified support for or acquiescence to Trump because "he'll be tough on China" reconsidered? Has any acknowledged they were wrong? Feel free to offer names of those who have or haven't in the replies.
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We are in a world where neuroscientists can say whether you will be left or right-wing, conservative or liberal, simply by scanning your brain. Piece from me on whether our ideas of democracy and rational argument can survive
nickcohen.substack.com/p/how-neuros...
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How neuroscience will threaten democracy
We are not mere prejudice-producing machines
https://nickcohen.substack.com/p/how-neuroscience-will-threaten-democracy
7 days ago
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Steve Peers
8 days ago
Alien v Predator news
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
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Elon Musk publicly disputes Nigel Farage's claims over Reform UK money offer
Nigel Farage claimed that Elon Musk offered him money in exchange for publicly backing certain policies, but the tech billionaire publicly denied it on X, posting "Farage is lying"
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farage-row-elon-musk-37158548?utm_source=mynewsassistant.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=embedded_search_item_desktop
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Will Jenningsđđłïž
9 days ago
Maybe the government should do something about corrupt foreign influence in British politics?
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Dylan Difford
9 days ago
Not just is Burnham particularly popular among Labour voters, but in the North West as a whole his favourability ratings are 51% to 29%. Not just net positive, but clearly so. Very rare.
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Dipa
9 days ago
This is well worth reading. đ
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RobWilliams100
10 days ago
Your must read article of the day? The year?
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You will miss Keir Starmer when heâs gone. Piece from me on how he was the perfect scapegoat for a dishonest nation
spectator.com/article/youl...
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Youâll miss Keir Starmer when heâs gone
You will miss Sir Keir Starmer when he has gone. I hear you say that you will do no such thing. You think that Starmer has been a disaster. He was âTwo-tier Keir,â âSir Kid Harmer,â âFree-Gear Keirâ a...
https://spectator.com/article/youll-miss-keir-starmer-when-hes-gone/
10 days ago
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Martin Barker 1863
10 days ago
'The dark secret of so much of Britain is that it wants change in theory but hates it in practice...
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Roland Smith
10 days ago
I have a creeping sense of dread that this might be correct.
#Starmer
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You will miss Keir Starmer when heâs gone. Piece from me on how he was the perfect scapegoat for a dishonest nation
spectator.com/article/youl...
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Youâll miss Keir Starmer when heâs gone
You will miss Sir Keir Starmer when he has gone. I hear you say that you will do no such thing. You think that Starmer has been a disaster. He was âTwo-tier Keir,â âSir Kid Harmer,â âFree-Gear Keirâ a...
https://spectator.com/article/youll-miss-keir-starmer-when-hes-gone/
10 days ago
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Noah Law MP
11 days ago
Glad to contribute to this piece on fixing the tax cliffs that punish workers, carers, families and small businesses. Progressive tax can be good for growth and help us create thriving workforces, high streets and communities.
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David Klemperer
12 days ago
Extremely proud to have edited this special issue of Renewal, in which
@louisehaighmp.bsky.social
,
@yuanfenyang.bsky.social
and the Tribune Group of MPs make a major set of interventions into Labour's economic debate
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Is Labour finished? With Keir Starmer suffering an epic defeat, with the radical right, Scottish and Welsh nationalists and Greens hammering the government from all directions, we have a Lowdown special with Rafael Behr of the Guardian on the crisis on the centre-left
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Is Labour heading for the dustbin of history?
Rafael Behr on the centre-leftâs existential crisis
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/is-labour-heading-for-the-dustbin?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
12 days ago
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Kevin Schofield
12 days ago
Senior Labour source says: "People are being held back to allow the cabinet to give him the opportunity to go gracefully, but if that doesnât work there will be resignations. âHeâll no doubt try and hang on and avoid the inevitable but itâs done.â
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/keir-s...
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Keir Starmer Urged To 'Go Gracefully' Or Face Wave Of Ministerial Resignations
The PM will be confronted by members of the cabinet this morning.
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/keir-starmer-urged-to-go-gracefully-or-face-wave-of-ministerial-resignations_uk_6a02ac02e4b03c97d693ac08?pd
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Peter Stefanovic
12 days ago
In other news UK news shows continue to fail to call out bull**** like this from Nigel Farage and Reform
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Rob Hewes
12 days ago
Great discussion between two of my favourite commentators and columnists
@nickcohen.bsky.social
and
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social
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Bill Kristol
12 days ago
"For Europe, Greenland was traumatic, and Europe was different after the Greenland crisis than before...I think Greenland was like, 'Oh, the United States actually is not only no longer not our friend. It could be a potential foe.'â
youtu.be/8kwkymptOr4?...
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Phillips Obrien on a potential sea change in Europe
YouTube video by Conversations with Bill Kristol
https://youtu.be/8kwkymptOr4?si=PbjwD3sMelgjP8V2
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It's very hard to say who the typical Labour voter is anymore. Graduate leftists and Muslim voters have gone Green. The white working class has gone Reform. Unless Labour can say who it is for, it is finished
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12 days ago
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Alexander Clarkson
12 days ago
Hating the voters you have for not being the voters you want seems a theme in UK politics. Labour in its current form will struggle to prevent voters from defecting to the Greens as long as too many in the party seem prone to bourgeois self-loathing projected on to much of its post-2000 base.
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Is Labour finished? With Keir Starmer suffering an epic defeat, with the radical right, Scottish and Welsh nationalists and Greens hammering the government from all directions, we have a Lowdown special with Rafael Behr of the Guardian on the crisis on the centre-left
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Is Labour heading for the dustbin of history?
Rafael Behr on the centre-leftâs existential crisis
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/is-labour-heading-for-the-dustbin?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
12 days ago
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Jonathan Portes
14 days ago
"Britain needs a bulldozing government". Sigh. Genuinely impressive to write 1500 words on why UK needs growth (no shit..) and not mention EU/Brexit or immigration...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
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The radical economic path Keir Starmer is still afraid to take
Britain needs a bulldozing government to power growth and escape a genuinely alarming fate
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/local-elections-starmer-results-reform-economy-7vxp8gpgx
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Andrew Lewin MP
14 days ago
This is an excellent piece. Patrick writes with modesty and accepts that other pollsters may come to different conclusions, but from all the LE2026 data, it's very clear we've lost more Labour votes to the Greens than Reform. Must read for all of us who want to rebuild a winning Labour coalition.
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Jonathan Portes
14 days ago
Completely unacceptable from the Board of Deputies. This nakedly partisan hypocrisy does not represent me or many other British Jews.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
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Despairing Britain retreats into a land of make-believe In a country that has been failing since 2008 most voters would rather embrace desperate fantasies than status- quo parties that deliver so little
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Despairing Britain retreats into a land of make believe
A nation collapsing in front of our eyes
https://substacktools.com/sharex/VXmhXEdh
14 days ago
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George Eaton
16 days ago
Important data point here: âA sharp fall in Labour's performance is accompanied more often by an above average Green performance than it is by a strong Reform performanceâ. The Greens have already hurt Labour even before any direct gains.
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Twlldun
16 days ago
The possibility of changing the pilot mid-flight is literally why you have two pilots.
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The Bulwark
16 days ago
Sen. Mark Kelly: "If you say something that the president or this administration does not like, they're going to come after you. The president is trying to silence us, and I can't think of anything that's more un-American."
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Art in the age of autocracy â How scandals breaking out from Washington to Venice show that we are in a world where bully leaders can demand that artists serve their power
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Art in the age of autocracy
Trump, Putin and their courtier cultural bureaucrats
https://open.substack.com/pub/nickcohen/p/art-in-the-age-of-autocracy?r=333vp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
16 days ago
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