Trump's defence of the destruction of the East Wing of the White House essentially relies on running a version of the Ship of Theseus paradox: "Over the years, many presidents have made changes."

In which I explore the history of socialism in America from Eugene Debs to DSA and the Milwaukee ‘sewer socialists’ to Zohran Mamdani on.ft.com/47quBib

Tu rigoles?!

A new financial impetus for peace in Ukraine -- Friedrich Merz writes for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/48176hn

In which @ranaforoohar.bsky.social and I discuss the 'Donroe doctrine' on.ft.com/4mCkigl

"Trump namechecked Shakespeare, Dickens, Orwell — authors whose works he has undoubtedly devoured." @jemima.bsky.social on the US president's adventures in Windsorland on.ft.com/4nbU45u

Desmond King, professor of American government at Oxford, for @ftopinion on Charlie Kirk and America’s inability to escape political violence on.ft.com/46iaWQL

In today's edition of FT Swamp Notes I examine the idea of 'state capitalism with American characteristics'. @ranaforoohar.bsky.social responds on.ft.com/4mNZmno

@sohrabahmari.bsky.social and I debate Trump’s federalisation of the Washington DC police force on.ft.com/3JiOmjb

Great to have @gideonrachman.bsky.social writing today's edition of FT Swamp Notes on Wang Huning's vision of America (with a brief response from me) on.ft.com/41L6BE6

George called Dave who called his mate Johnny who owns the manor then George called Robert and Chris to come for drinks and Nigel for breakfast! All united by their determination to bring down the elites!

One of the many consequences of Trump is that he strips all our old ambitions down to simple preservation. A year ago I wanted a better Fed, with better tools, one that actually thought about productive loans, like the law says it should. Now I just want the old Fed to survive.

What if Trump picks an inflation nutter for Fed chair? @chrisgiles.ft.com asks the question on everyone's lips on.ft.com/47bLqPp

I've written today's edition of the FT's Swamp Notes newsletter on the Texas redistricting affair (with a reply from our esteemed Washington bureau chief, James Politi) on.ft.com/3UZ5FrS

We can end the scandal of child poverty if we want to, argues Rowan Williams in @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/45mukeZ

Trump's war on data will do lasting damage - former BLS commissioners @ericagroshen.bsky.social and William Beach write for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/3UNbf0x

The latest edition of the FT's Swamp Notes newsletter: @edwardluce.bsky.social on the west's complicity in Gaza on.ft.com/4lTdtax

Me on new books by JM Coetzee and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

Me on new books by JM Coetzee and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

Can language ever be objective? on.ft.com/4l5us8D

"The most employable person in conservative circles today is usually the one who makes the loudest claim to have been rendered unemployable."

Buzz Aldrin writes for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/4mevEra

Wonderful scoop here from Kaye Wiggins on.ft.com/3GZXSqA

I don’t think anyone captured the essence of Mailer-ness as Diane Arbus did (from the fabulous ‘Constellation’ show at the Oark Avenue Armory)

Andy Haldane on. 'fiscal dominance', 'fiscal populism' and the future of central bank independence on.ft.com/40ZB80C

Nicolas Guilhot for @financialtimes.com on digital democratic centralism (aka the 'America party') on.ft.com/44Tva2r

Pam Bondi, the Trump loyalist swallowed up by the Epstein affair - profile by Stefania Palma on.ft.com/4kJiAJ2

I was the NS's culture editor back then, not the deputy. But in all other particulars Nick Lezard's recollection of my small part in his becoming a columnist is spot on

Skinner on AI as domination

Great work from the FT's visual storytelling team on the emerging ICE-industrial complex ig.ft.com/us-immigrati...

Israel's war sabotaged diplomacy - the US can revive it. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi writes for the @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/4nxAG3j

Adam Tooze on the global consequences of 'Alligator Alcatraz' policymaking on.ft.com/3I9WG43

Siona Jenkins on New York’s rat problem - an issue, incidentally, that Eric Adams seems determined to make a central plank of his campaign for re-election as the city’s mayor in November on.ft.com/4kgnLQr

The US constitutional system of checks and balances is being tested with potentially profound consequences for a country founded on the principle of no more kings. Read the conversation between me and @jderbyshire.ft.com on.ft.com/4nrASkL

I enjoyed responding to @brookeamasters.ft.com in the latest FT Swamp Notes on a Supreme Court decision that strengthens presidential power on.ft.com/3GkUjuN

The democratic socialist's stunning victory over Andrew Cuomo presents several clear lessons for Democrats across the country. Is the 'Dem establishment' ready to listen? https://on.ft.com/4nDicP8

Why @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's victory matters - @brookeamasters.ft.com and I offer differing analyses of the significance of Tuesday's mayoral primary in today's FT Swamp Notes newsletter on.ft.com/4no8DmM

Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz write about the future of European defence for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/44fEAVW

"Trump thanked Netanyahu and God - in that order." I wrote this morning's FT Swamp Notes newsletter, with the help of my esteemed colleague @edwardluce.bsky.social on.ft.com/3ZLnDRD

Trump has handed Europe a chance to shape its own future - former Italian PM Enrico Letta writes for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/4l4Epne

Louis Moholo-Moholo, 1940-2025. One of the giants of the South African jazz diaspora in the UK. RIP.

Trump is coming for the ‘enemy within’, writes @edwardluce.bsky.social on.ft.com/43BMBoZ

Are Donald Trump and Elon Musk now enemies? @edwardluce.bsky.social on yesterday's contretemps, with a reply from the FT's broligarch correspondent, @joemillerjr.ft.com www.ft.com/content/17a4...

Why does Maga world hate Europe? This by ⁦Guy Chazan ⁩ is worth reading before Merz sits down with Trump later today on.ft.com/3FFJEul

Colm Tóibín said of Edmund White's style that "there is a mannered tone buried in the phrasing, which moves the diction to a level above the casual and the conversational". He's right - White was one of the great stylists of modern American letters RIP www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/a...

Good!

Pierre Nora, in memoriam www.lemonde.fr/disparitions...

How to build a new political consensus: @ranaforoohar.bsky.social and Gary Gerstle in this morning's FT Swamp Notes www.ft.com/content/8a15...

This is a good and tough-minded profile of Curtis Yarvin www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Europe once had its own Middle East policy. It brought the Venice Declaration on Palestinian statehood. It is time for the continent to act again. Good piece from FT's @martinsandbu.ft.com www.ft.com/content/8a82...