Reasons to be cheerful? What about the first Stewart Lee column of 2026. "I feel for the police, who as well as taking down details of robberies....now have to act as experts in semantics. That's what I call multitasking." How do we live in a world where the meaning of words changes over time.

New year, new pile of culture to get excited about! The Nerve critics & writers each share five things they’re really looking forward to in 2026 - from a new Maggie O’Farrell novel and a show of Frank Bowling’s ethereal paintings to Adele’s acting debut 💫 Read and subscribe on thenerve.news

For the first Nerve Weekend Dish of 2026, chef & kimchi producer Rebecca Ghim shares a fresh and vibrant vegan Korean dish from We Cook Plants, the debut recipe book from community cookery school Made in Hackney

What can you remember about the big news stories and culture moments of 2025? Our quiz for New Year’s Eve gatherings has got something for everyone - with rounds on everything from food to fashion to language and memes. Enjoy and happy 2026 to all! www.thenerve.news/p/new-years-...

“The only thing I’d suggest is that if you didn’t use your gym membership in the last six months, cancel it.” The peerlessly wise Philippa Perry has some advice to see out 2025: “New Year, Old You - ditch the resolutions” www.thenerve.news/p/philippa-p...

“The only thing I’d suggest is that if you didn’t use your gym membership in the last six months, cancel it.” The peerlessly wise Philippa Perry has some advice to see out 2025: “New Year, Old You - ditch the resolutions” www.thenerve.news/p/philippa-p...

Cover-Up, Laura Poitras’s new doc about investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, two decades in the making, is now on @netflix.com Highly recommended.

“What do I always carry with me? An escape plan.” As Laura Poitras’s film about trailblazing reporter Seymour Hersh hits Netflix, the director answers The Nerve Q&A - on troublemakers, optimism and her “hippie” schooling

For this week’s recommender, British-Turkish author Elif Shafak shares her recent cultural favourites.

“The White House’s dead-eyed shark has monetised his presidency so well that he can pay whatever it costs to discredit institutions that may threaten him.” Stewart Lee this week on Trump and the BBC lawsuit.

🐕 This week… Working with Big John, Bertie, and The Nerve 🎥 👀 Looking for Nigel who seems to be everywhere but nowhere 🤷🏽

🎥 Chasing Farage, part two! @johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social is back on the trail of the Reform UK leader, looking into the long history of racism allegations against him. He visits Dulwich and meets reporter Michael Crick, who first confronted Farage on the subject back in 2013 youtu.be/PVa118JRRSk?...

A huge hit on Broadway, Cole Escola’s history-busting comedy about Mary Todd Lincoln - Abraham’s wife - is wild, subversively queer and riotously funny, writes @dorianlynskey.bsky.social

EXCLUSIVE: New @globalwitness.org report shows AI bots tailoring responses based on views of questioners, including Elon Musk's Grok serving false information and climate-denial content to "user" it understands to be "anti-science" Read and subscribe 🙏 : www.thenerve.news/p/grok-bot-c...

Stewart Lee on how Australia’s social media ban could help teens fight back against their misinformed relatives ⏯️🔉

@johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social talks to the journalist and author Michael Crick, who confronted the Reform leader with allegations of schoolboy antisemitism over a decade ago. How does he feel about the party’s position at the top of the polls?

This week’s hotlist 🔥⏯️

“Let's make Together for Palestine's record this year's Christmas No 1.” Musician and activist Brian Eno explains why one song in particular matters this Christmas.

“Calls of "we love you Jacob!" and "Voice of a generation!" punctuate the pauses in the set.” @katehutchinson.bsky.social reviews Jacob Alon at Koko.

“The CIA once promoted abstract expressionism as a tool of regime change. Now we have AI videos of Trump bombing people with faeces.” Stewart Lee this week on the US and Europe.

“I am normally sympathetic to Miliband, but the secondhand embarrassment this vertical video triggers make me yearn for his sarnie-chomping days,” writes Anandita Abraham in “A young person’s guide to how not to do social media”

The Nerve Weekend dish - chef turned food writer Ben Lippett shared his updated take on a classic shellfish soup!

“There is so much happening now that is beyond our ability to comprehend: we need different ways of seeing reality. That’s what Martin gave to me.” @carolecadwalla.bsky.social on the photographer who taught her to ‘look harder.’

What a night! Thank you to all the wonderful Nerve members and friends who came to our sell-out evening with Stewart Lee. The perfect way to celebrate our ten week anniversary - so much love and warmth in the room. Our community of supporters of fiercely independent journalism is growing fast. ⏯️

”I’m interested in humour!” Isobel Waller Bridge speaks to Nerve music critic @katehutchinson.bsky.social on making her new album with hoovers, shoes and balls.

TONIGHT! Stewart Lee in conversation with @carolecadwalla.bsky.social at 21Soho, London We’ve just had a handful of held tickets released. £18 plus booking fee. Booking / details via link. password THENERVE101225 🙏 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-nerve-...

A "techno-authoritarian's wet dream": @carolecadwalla.bsky.social for the Nerve on digital ID www.thenerve.news/p/digital-id...

This week’s hotlist 🔥▶️

Still looking to invest in Christmas gifts? Here are 2025's top memoir, novels, and politics and history books - straight from independent booksellers around the country.

The extraordinary new film by dissident Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi is a thriller, a fable about state repression, and a road movie all at once, writes Nerve film critic @ellenejones.bsky.social

"I’m already wondering what’s in my inbox in case Claude Opus 4 turns on me for writing this devastating exposé. So why is AI still so useless at shopping?" This week's column by Stewart Lee 🔗 Read the full piece and sign up for our free twice-weekly newsletter at www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...

The Recommender: actor Bel Powley - who is starring in Christmas Day at the Almeida Theatre, on her latest art and culture discoveries. www.thenerve.news/p/recommende...

Out now: The Nerve's Best Books of 2025. Feat: @elizabethalker.bsky.social @faberbooks.bsky.social @sevenstories.bsky.social @jonathancape.bsky.social @beckybarnicoat.bsky.social @panmacmillan.bsky.social @sceptrebooks.bsky.social @jennashworth.bsky.social

London restaurateurs Tim Siadatan and Jordan Frieda share an easy but indulgent Italian favourite from their award-winning cookbook. Read the full piece here: www.thenerve.news/p/the-weeken...

“The systems are not working. We have to take responsibility when people step into the breach and do terrible things.” On the anniversary of the UnitedHealthcare boss’ death, John H Richardson, author of a new book about Mangione, talks to John Mulholland about ‘distress’ endemic in US society.

We thoroughly recommend Yasmin's recipe for gheimeh badinjan (a Persian stew with aug=bergine split peas and lime) 😋 www.thenerve.news/p/the-nerve-...

"I'd abolish the role of prime minister...l'm only half joking!" Musician @richardhawley.bsky.social talks to @juderogers.bsky.social about songs, socialism, swearing…and the joy of dogs.

Press ▶️▶️on this week‘s Hotlist 🔥🔥

Also: why songs are like Rubik's cubes, why he carries a knife, and the scandal of knowing more about the Mariana Trench than the mind. www.thenerve.news/p/richard-ha...

“Finch has made comments that have potential to jeopardise a fair trial, harm the victim - and waste a huge amount of public money.” Our Reform correspondent @johnsweeneyroar.bsky.social assesses George Finch’s recent controversial comments - and says he’s skating on thin ice.

👋Stewart Lee fans. The Nerve is hosting a special members' evening with Stewart and our co-founder Carole in London on Dec 10.

Reviewed the properly astonishing All My Sons with some thoughts on morality, denial and what a country should be

Review of the Week: All My Sons, Wyndham’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10 years after his first triumph with an Arthur Miller play, director Ivo Van Hove has returned to the American poet and produced another masterpiece that feels startlingly current, writes @dorianlynskey.bsky.social www.thenerve.news/p/review-of-...

Just over six hours to go on our alt. Black Friday sale... Big Biz has enough of your money.... support independent journalism instead! bsky.app/profile/then...

You would think the alleged indiscretions of the schoolboy Nigel Farage would have drawn outrage from a just, impartial British media. Strangely, it seems they have not. This week’s column by Stewart Lee www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...

Is the current generation of leading men our best ever? No longer dreaming of playing Bond, today’s group of young British and Irish actors are fun, thoughtful and helping to redefine masculinity. Let's celebrate, says Nerve film critic @ellenejones.bsky.social www.thenerve.news/p/new-genera...

The Recommender: writer and poet Derek Owusu – whose new book Borderline Fiction has just been published by @canongate.co.uk – on his recent cultural tips, from Lana Del Rey to David Szalay www.thenerve.news/p/the-recomm...

Which politician beats all others for genuine love of English football? New York's Gooner mayor-elect. John Mulholland on lifelong @arsenalfc.bsky.social fan @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social #arsenal #gooners @arseblog.com www.thenerve.news/p/zohran-mam...

One-pot Tuscan salmon: the Nerve weekend dish, by Michelin-trained chef and TikTok star Poppy O’Toole www.thenerve.news/p/weekend-di...

Big business has had enough of your money. This Black Friday, we have an alternative...🧵