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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Discontent with Trump buoys Democrats in Ohio: ‘People are disgusted by the corruption’
In a reliably red state, candidates say dissatisfied voters tell them they’re planning to vote Democrat for the first time Democrat Kim McCarthy is canvassing in a middle-class Ohio neighborhood of four-bedroom, three-bathroom homes. There are $70,000 trucks in the driveways and robot lawnmowers at work. “This is a neighborhood of two incomes and young families; people working hard,” says McCarthy, who is running against a three-time Republican incumbent for a seat in Ohio’s house of representatives. Continue reading...
‘We don’t have inflation’? Five charts show the US economic reality of Trump’s second term so far
As the US midterm elections approach, we take a look at data to see a true picture of the US economy under Trump With the midterm elections fast approaching, many Americans have the economy on their minds. US voters are exhausted by years of higher prices. Donald Trump won the presidency in 2024 on promises to lower inflation and undo the damage he said the Biden administration had inflicted on the economy. Continue reading...
US forces accused of ‘weaponising’ Somalia’s floods by trapping women and children in the path of El Niño
Exclusive: Coordinated airstrikes on territory held by al-Shabaab are driving the civilian population to find refuge alongside a river where rising water levels are a threat to safety. Is it a deliberate military strategy? The water was rising rapidly. It had already reached Cayni Ali’s waist. Her home, five metres from the flooded River Juba in southern Somalia, never stood a chance. There was nowhere to go. Ali’s city of Jilib was under attack. Repeated airstrikes, said the mother of six, were pinning its population beside the rising river. “The drones come all the time,” said the 27-year-old. “We hear them constantly. They kill animals, civilians. The town is big but destruction is everywhere.” Continue reading...
‘It’s a mess right now’: RFK’s sweeping changes place new vaccines in limbo
Health secretary’s effort to alter makeup of ACIP panel means no new recommendations coming – even as new vaccines are approved US vaccine recommendations are in limbo, access to vaccines is suffering, and some of the uncertainty may continue for years following major blows to vaccination by the Trump administration, experts say. Robert F Kennedy Jr, the secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has made sweeping changes to vaccination policy, cutting childhood immunization recommendations by a third and replacing experts on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with his own handpicked allies. Continue reading...
Three roles and a goal: USMNT’s ‘super player’ Alex Freeman is breaking out for Villarreal
The Orlando City product scored his first goal in La Liga, playing three positions in a comeback win While most of La Liga’s oxygen was consumed by the first El Clásico since Jose Mourinho returned to Real Madrid, another rivalry clash put Alex Freeman in spotlight position. Or quite a few positions, as it turned out. Continue reading...
European gas prices soar to four-year high over winter supply fears
Jump fuelled by fears of further Middle East supply disruptions amid reports of US-Israeli plans to strike Iran European gas prices have jumped to levels not seen since 2022 as fears continue to grow around the continent’s supply this winter and ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Wholesale gas prices hit €97 (£81) per megawatt-hour on Monday, as temperatures across Europe fell and traders priced in stronger demand for heating. Continue reading...
NHS consultants to go on two-day strike in England in November, says BMA
Industrial action by senior doctors to begin on 25 November, with only emergency cover provided, union says Senior doctors in England plan to go on strike for two days in November, the British Medical Association has said. The industrial action by consultants is to begin at 6.59am on 25 November, with only emergency cover to be provided. Continue reading...
If Democrats win big, will they learn the right lessons from their victory? | Jan-Werner Mueller
No election outcome ever interprets itself. So how will Democrats interpret these results once they are known? Whichever metaphor one prefers – landslide, earthquake, wave – it seems increasingly like the Democrats can expect a significant victory in the midterms . As the joke goes, every gas station display of prices has become an ad for Democrats; what’s more, some of them have managed to connect the relatively abstract issue of corruption to the daily misery of many Americans. Continue reading...
If the PM reboots the UK for working-class people, unions will be with him. But the time for talking is over | Andrea Egan
Andy Burnham has railed against neoliberalism – the historic shift must start with this week’s budget Andrea Egan is the general secretary of Unison After Keir Starmer, things could only get better inside Labour. But Andy Burnham’s arrival as party leader and prime minister didn’t just clear that low bar. It was a cause for hope, especially for those of us in the trade union movement. That’s less because Burnham is streets ahead of his predecessor as a politician – although he is – and more about just how radically the new prime minister has framed his project for the country. I’ve been active in the labour movement for almost four decades. In that time, I cannot count how many times I’ve heard talk of reversing the devastation wreaked by Margaret Thatcher. For socialists and grassroots trade union activists, this kind of political thinking is bread and butter. But not so much for a Labour prime minister. Andrea Egan is the general secretary of Unison Continue reading...
Sudan paramilitary drone strikes cause mass power cuts in eastern states
Rapid Support Forces strike five power stations in three states controlled by Sudanese army Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have launched a coordinated drone attack against five power stations, causing mass power outages across the country’s east, a government official said. The drones hit two power stations each in the states of Al-Jazira and Gedaref, and one in White Nile state, “resulting in power outages across large parts of these three states”, the official said on condition of anonymity. Continue reading...
‘Zero-energy companionship’: bizarre hobby takes seed among China’s stressed young adults
Faced with a stagnant jobs market, many are spurning children or pets in favour of ‘raising bricks’ Chinese young adults looking for a cheaper, low-maintenance alternative to having pets or children have found an answer: raising bricks. Bricks may not be as cuddly as cats or as life-affirming as human offspring, but they also cost next to nothing. “No cats, no dating, I started raising a brick,” wrote one brick parent on social media. Continue reading...
Drive reindustrialisation from No 10 North or risk failure, MPs tell Burnham
Ninety-plus Labour MPs warn civil service lacks skills to drive growth where it is needed and plan should be steered by Louis Haigh from Manchester Business live – latest updates Andy Burnham’s pledge to reindustrialise Britain is doomed to fail unless it is driven decisively from his new No 10 North outpost in Manchester, a group of more than 90 backbench Labour MPs is warning. The PM has suggested that rebuilding the UK’s industrial capacity will be central to meeting his pledge to bring “good growth in every postcode” . Continue reading...
Brexit deal is not good enough for British public, says Andy Burnham
EU exit has damaged economy and failed to bring promised benefits, says PM, but he rules out big pre-election changes UK politics live – latest updates Europe live – latest updates Business live – latest updates Brexit has not “played out” like it was promised to the public, has weakened the economy and the current deal is not good enough, Andy Burnham has said, but he ruled out major changes in the current parliament. The prime minister said Britain had ended up with a “harder Brexit than was proposed in the referendum campaign” and it had not helped to control the small boats crisis. Backing the home secretary’s tougher immigration rules , he said Brexit had weakened the UK’s ability to control its borders as it could no longer send people back to Europe. Continue reading...
Serbia wakes up to new reality after student-led movement ousts Vučić – Europe live
Hopes raised for a reset in relations with EU and other partners following the defeat of authoritarian president Serbian leader ousted by student movement in seismic election Serbia wakes up to a new reality this morning after a grassroots opposition movement led by students ousted the country’s former authoritarian president Aleksandar Vučić , raising hopes for a new opening in relations with the EU and other partners. With 96.9% polling stations processed , the Student List has 52.6% of votes, well ahead of Vučić’s bloc at 39.22%. Continue reading...
Goldsmiths fine art students call for compensation over record tutor strike
With industrial action over job cuts heading into its 21st week, students at famed London college are unhappy Students arriving at Goldsmiths, University of London this autumn found a campus embroiled in a bitter industrial dispute that has upended timetables and disrupted courses. “I was really excited to start my studies at Goldsmiths,” one international student told the Guardian at a gathering of unhappy students on Friday. “But when I first arrived, I was quite shocked because almost all the induction sessions seemed to turn into discussions about strikes.” Continue reading...
What are the US midterm elections and why do they matter?
On 3 November, US citizens will decide whether Republicans will retain control of Congress or whether Democrats will come to power to stymie Trump’s agenda Donald Trump will still be US president on the morning of 4 November. But he could be facing a very different political landscape, depending on the results of the US midterm elections held the previous day. As the name implies, midterm elections fall nearly halfway through a president’s term. They are often a telling referendum on the sitting president’s performance, something Trump is actively encouraging by telling voters “pretend I’m on the ballot”. In this case, voters will decide whether Trump’s Republican party can retain its grip on Congress. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives. Republicans are defending a narrow majority, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats to take control. 35 seats in the Senate. Thirty-three seats are up in regular elections, along with two special elections in Florida and Ohio to fill the remainder of terms that were vacated early. Republicans currently hold 53 seats, against 47 held by Democrats and independents who caucus with them. Democrats need to gain four seats to secure a majority. 39 governorships. Voters will choose governors in 36 states and three US territories. Thousands of state legislative seats , as well as local offices, judicial contests and ballot measures on issues including taxes, abortion rights and voting rules. Continue reading...
I would like to rejoin EU, says Burnham, but ‘British public are the bosses’ – UK politics live
PM says talking about changing the relationship with the bloc would not be divisive but ‘can start to bring people together’ Good morning. Andy Burnham started budget week with an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain with Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley. There were plenty of decent lines in it, but some of his most intriguing comments were about Brexit. Yesterday opposition parties (and even in private some Labour MPs ) were criticising the PM for saying in a Sunday Times interview that he would be willing to consider going into the next election proposing accepting EU free movement rules. This was treated as if it was a novel outrage – even though at Labour conference Burnham announced that rejoining the EU could end up as the best option to emerge from his proposed renegotiation of the Brexit settlement, which of course would automatically involve accepting free movement. Neil Kinnock said recently he thought Burnham was determined to take Britain back in the EU, but in his interview this morning Burnham insisted that he was not dogmatic in that way. When Madeley asked him if he saw himself as someone “destined” to be the PM would take Britain back in, Burnham replied: Honestly, I don’t. I see it as my job to be pragmatic about the whole situation. Can I make it work better? Can I add growth to the British economy? I’ve said – I’m going to be honest – in my lifetime I would like to see that happen, but I am not going to move ahead of the public. I am not going to dictate in terms of my own opinions here. You have to make sure that the British public are the bosses here. And [to] go back to Brexit, by just talking about it in a more practical way, by being honest about it … that can start to bring people together who voted in different ways. The divides that we’ve lived through in the last decade really do need to end, and we need to pull people together … My mind is not on that [an early election]. I don’t know if that is coming over here, but it genuinely is not on that. There is no election coming anytime soon. People may as well just put that out of their mind. Continue reading...
Creaking, smug … and a contender? Aaron Rodgers may yet get his Super Bowl farewell
The 42-year-old remains a polarizing figure. But the Steelers have a formidable defense and a quarterback who has seen it all before Aaron Rodgers is nowhere near this season’s MVP conversation. At times in his second season with the Steelers, the almost 43-year-old has shown glimpses of the player he was in his prime, slinging the ball with zest and precision, able to suss out any coverage. Other times he has looked like, well, a guy in his 40s playing a young man’s game. Rodgers looked more like prime Rodgers in the Steelers’ gritty 16-10 win over the Saints in Paris. He wasn’t satisfied with his side of the ball, telling reporter Molly McGrath, “I don’t think we played very good on offense today.” But Rodgers did enough to secure the win, including a 51-yard strike to DK Metcalf in the second quarter. He later scrambled for a first down on third-and-six to secure the win. Continue reading...
‘It’s collective punishment’: nearly 2,000 Palestinians in Hebron displaced as Israeli forces take over homes
Families forced to flee as Netanyahu tries to prove security credentials after two Israeli soldiers killed days before election Hebron, the biggest city in the West Bank, had paid little attention to Israel’s looming elections until it found itself suddenly in the midst of them, a proving ground for Benjamin Netanyahu’s security credentials in the run-up to Tuesday’s vote. A gun attack on an Israeli military checkpoint on Friday in which two soldiers were killed brought immediate televised visits from Netanyahu and his finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, whose ruling coalition is narrowly trailing with two days of campaigning left. Continue reading...
Man found dead in Queensland flood waters as state hit by days-long deluge
Many rivers and roads left flooded after torrential downpours across Queensland A man’s body has been found in floodwaters following an unusual weather system that delivered multiple storms and a days-long deluge to parts of Australia. Emergency services were called to a creek at Boompa on Queensland’s Fraser Coast shortly after 11am on Monday after reports a man had been found unresponsive. Continue reading...
Brazil keeps left: what Lula’s victory means for his country and beyond
In today’s newsletter: As Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured victory in the presidential race, we look the implications for democracy, the environment and international relations Good morning. Chances are you woke this morning to news of two momentous election results. In Serbia, a student-led movement has ousted the country’s long-serving leader, Aleksandar Vučić (which you can read more about here ). And just hours ago, Brazil’s president staged a sensational turnaround against his far-right opponent after a nail-biting vote. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, won a forth nonconsecutive term as president, seeing off far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who spearheaded the radical populist movement built by his father and former president, Jair. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 election. UK news | Two people have been killed and more than 160,000 properties have been left without power as Storm Boelo continues to batter the UK. Crime | British police are recording a growing number of crimes linked to cocaine, including assaults, domestic abuse and dangerous driving, as figures show consumption has surged across England. France | Hundreds of thousands marched in cities across France on Saturday in largely peaceful protests to support schoolchildren’s demands for more teachers and repairs to dilapidated buildings, as Emmanuel Macron faces a social and political crisis in his final months as president. UK politics | Prime minister Andy Burnham’s call for the UK to consider a return to free movement with Europe has been backed by senior cabinet ministers including Angela Rayner but risks causing concern among fellow red wall MPs. Aviation | Three in four European airline pilots have taken microsleeps in the cockpit, while almost a quarter routinely fly despite being too fatigued to work, according to a report. Tuesday | Israel goes to the polls on Tuesday, amid orders from prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank after recent checkpoint attacks. His government will be fighting for its survival. Wednesday | On Wednesday Chancellor John Healey will deliver his first budget statement in the House of Commons, which is expected to give local authorities more spending powers, as a means to promote growth Thursday and Friday | European and Canadian leaders will meet in Montreal for the 21st EU-Canada summit, to discuss security and strategic cooperation. It will be the first opportunity for leaders to iron out details over a proposed invitation for Canada to become the EU’s first ever “associate member” Continue reading...
Angus Taylor criticised for ‘tone deaf’ response to alleged attack on Helen Haines
Zali Steggall and Monique Ryan say Coalition leader was wrong to deny link between parliamentary debate and political violence Angus Taylor has been criticised for his response to the alleged attack on Helen Haines , with crossbenchers Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall labelling a speech by the opposition leader “tone deaf” and saying he did not “read the room”. Parliament returned in Canberra on Monday, a week after an alleged attack outside the Indi MP’s northern Victorian electorate office, which led to her losing both legs. A 43-year-old man has been charged and the incident continues to be investigated. Continue reading...
Higher training costs for older workers risks plan to tackle youth jobs crisis, employers say
Exclusive: Ministers planning overhaul of apprenticeship funding to increase cost of over-25s training, Guardian understands Britain’s largest employers have told the government that forcing businesses to pay more to train older workers risks damaging its goal to tackle the youth jobs crisis. The Guardian understands ministers plan to overhaul Labour’s apprenticeship funding scheme to increase the cost of training a worker over the age of 25 in England by 25%, to encourage firms to train young people instead. Continue reading...
We’ve made Oxford Street traffic-free – and that’s just the start. Soon there’ll be green spaces for arts and music too | Sadiq Khan
We’ll revive the in-person shopping experience with a transformation of the area, inspired by the John Lewis and Selfridges founders who first set up there Sadiq Khan is the mayor of London At around 8pm on Sunday evening the last car made its way down Oxford Street, marking the start of a momentous new era for our nation’s high street. Today, after decades of discussions and deliberations, the action we’ve taken means almost one kilometre of Oxford Street is now officially traffic-free – just in time for Christmas. But this is only the start of a much bigger transformation, and the first step towards a bright new future for this historic thoroughfare. Walk down Oxford Street, and you’re passing through hundreds of years of British history and culture. In 1864, an ambitious young draper called John Lewis opened his first shop on the street. Forty-five years later, the American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge arrived with a radical idea: to transform shopping from a mundane necessity into an unforgettable experience. He filled his store with dazzling window displays, world-class entertainment, restaurants and lounges. He even installed women’s toilets – a rarity in Edwardian England – giving women a newfound freedom to make the most of the city. As he opened the doors to his first customers, he told them “everyone is welcome”. Continue reading...