Is the future communist?
In an exclusive extract from Paul Mason’s new book, Reds: A Global History of Communism, he warns that, in the struggle between democracy and dictatorship, the entire history of the left is now in play
The Magazine
China’s dictatorship has become weirdly attractive to young Westerners
‘Chinamaxxers’ love the dazzling cities and the incredible trains – but how much brutality are they willing to overlook?
Is the future communist?
In an exclusive extract from Paul Mason’s new book, Reds: A Global History of Communism, he warns that, in the struggle between democracy and dictatorship, the entire history of the left is now in play
The Bayeux Tapestry’s medieval message for our times
Back in Britain for the first time in nearly 1,000 years, it has much to say about faith, nationalism and the apparent magic of AI
From ‘lanyardians’ to ‘Yookay’, the strange new language of Britain’s right
Reform, Tory and Restore voters believe everyone agrees with them – a sign they are becoming increasingly detached from everyday life
Why does Hollywood keep getting the Beatles wrong?
The answer is that no one can possibly play the Fab Four as well as they played themselves
At 19, I was lucky. Monica Lewinsky wasn’t
The brilliant novel Dear Monica Lewinsky made me think back on a summer on a movie set with men who knew better than to cross the line
Writers
Alastair Campbell
Trump says Europe is broken. My nine-country journey showed how idiotic he is
Marie Le Conte
Here’s the problem with that nice summer holiday you just had
Matthew d’Ancona
The Bayeux Tapestry’s medieval message for our times
Patience Wheatcroft
Will the sensible Tories please stand up and start a new party?
Tanit Koch
Germany’s pro-Putin, loony-right are about to do the unthinkable
Paul Mason
Is the future communist?
Latest
Ukraine is 3D-printing its way to victory
Why we will always cling on to Robin Hood
How Milo can Gove’s Spectator go?
France’s Corbyn is helping Le Pen win the presidency
Farage: I’ll spend even less time in the House of Commons now
The people who really run Britain’s fiscal policy – and they don’t live in Downing Street
Podcasts
Touching Grass
Right wing pick me influencers and dating app discourse
The Two Matts
The Two Matts Q&A: Harry and Meghan, Dolly Parton… and blockbuster books
The Two Matts
Andy Burnham’s first big test is around the corner
The Two Matts
The Two Matts Q&A: is the Kelly Plan dead? And TURN OFF YOUR BLOODY SPEAKER PHONE!
The Two Matts
2026: the year the climate crisis came home
Touching Grass
Dobby’s grave and problematic internet boyfriends
Arts & Culture
Why does Hollywood keep getting the Beatles wrong?
The answer is that no one can possibly play the Fab Four as well as they played themselves
At 19, I was lucky. Monica Lewinsky wasn’t
Pedro Almodóvar exposes the cold heart of art
Why we will always cling on to Robin Hood
The strange beauty of London in flames
Audio
The Two Matts Q&A: Harry and Meghan, Dolly Parton… and blockbuster books
The Matts tackle listener questions in their regular Sunday morning Q&A edition, including: Is there a resurgence of homophobia and should Harry and Meghan be welcomed back to the UK?
Andy Burnham’s first big test is around the corner
The Matts think about Andy Burnham’s first month (and a bit) in Downing Street and anticipate a period of difficulty ahead for a PM whose inclination may be to keep people happy in an age when dramatic change is required
2026: the year the climate crisis came home
The Matts discuss the government’s response to the severe heat this summer in England and Wales (sorry Scotland!)… and whether this year will be a turning point in the public’s perception of urgency around the changing climate
Dobby’s grave and problematic internet boyfriends
This week Lucy Reade unpacks the latest discourse over Harry Potter fans, whilst James Ball tells us about the strange world of boyfriend simulator games
The Two Matts
The Two Matts Q&A: On the death of Jason Arday
The Matts answer listener questions in their regular Sunday morning episode, including the tragic death of Jason Arday
Andy Burnham vs Geoffrey Howe… and a side order of Jason Arday
The Matts remember an astonishing letter of 45 years ago which provides stark contrast with Andy Burnham’s politics of place
The Sex Purge Movie, and catching predators
James Ball discusses the film that the internet has dubbed The Sex Purge Movie and Lucy Reade dives into the controversial world of To Catch a Predator
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Puzzles
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Sudoku Medium
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Number Fit
Jigsaw
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Politics
Ukraine is 3D-printing its way to victory
France’s Corbyn is helping Le Pen win the presidency
The people who really run Britain’s fiscal policy – and they don’t live in Downing Street
Keir Starmer’s resignation shows him for what he really is
Will the sensible Tories please stand up and start a new party?
Trump and Meloni insult each other in public, but don’t be deceived
Germany’s pro-Putin, loony-right are about to do the unthinkable
Letter of the week: We have everything we need to fight the climate crisis
Brexit
Will the sensible Tories please stand up and start a new party?
Kemi Badenoch has abandoned one-nation voters by courting the far right. A breakaway now looks like the only answer
The island where everyone now hates everyone else
Iceland voted ‘No’ to going ahead with EU membership. In a country this small, there’s no hiding from your opponents. The viciousness is only just beginning
What has the world’s worst stag night got to do with Iceland’s EU referendum?
Oddball peer Daniel Hannan has popped up to tell Icelanders how to vote this weekend – but he has a reason to be entitled to
Has Nigel Farage really got ‘more contacts across Europe than most people’?
Robert Jenrick made the unlikely claim as he insisted Reform would easily renegotiate Britain’s withdrawal agreement from the EU
Project Fear? Tell the 78-year-old British widow fighting deportation from Sweden
The Leavers promised British citizens living in the EU would have their rights fully protected after Brexit. The reality is somewhat different
Some advice to Shabana Mahmood: follow Suella Braverman’s example
The Home Office is telling potentially thousands of EU citizens they have no right to remain. The home secretary needs to stop before it becomes a fiasco
Ukraine
Ukraine is 3D-printing its way to victory
A website now gives Ukrainians detailed plans of captured Russian equipment, so they can turn the technology back against the enemy. And it’s working
Germany’s pro-Putin, loony-right are about to do the unthinkable
The AfD is about to win state elections in the east of the country. Their opponents could do something to stop them. Maybe. But it’s not likely
Trump failed to kill Nato. Will Marine Le Pen succeed?
If Le Pen wins next year and goes through with a threat to step back from Nato, the consequences for western security could be dire
The end of Putin is at last on the table – but we must be sceptical
An oligarch’s way out of war would give Russia and its dictator an easy ride, and may yet prove to be a con
The WWI ‘butcher’ who inspired Putin’s meat-grinder warfare
Douglas Haig’s willingness to trade thousands of lives for a few miles of ground has proved sadly durable
Burnham’s biggest problem – UK leftists parroting Putin’s lies
Russia is losing the war in Ukraine, so the Kremlin is boosting its disinformation campaign. Unfortunately for the next PM, the British left are falling for it
The big picture
How outsiders built the American city
A generation of immigrants and their descendants chronicled an urban revolution
The battle of the Notting Hill Carnival
Fifty years ago, a riot made the front pages – but violence, racism and political hysteria couldn’t stop the party
Great Lives
The kiss that turned Michael K Williams into Omar
BKS Iyengar, the ferocious gentleman of yoga
Why did Babe Ruth’s rivals think he was black?
Inside the wild film flop that unlocked Robin Williams
The night Fela Kuti turned music into a weapon
Phyo Zeya Thaw, the MC who faced down Myanmar’s generals
What is the answer to life, the universe and everything? We asked AI…
I played the new game that makes you prime minister – this is what it taught me
