The hottest International Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

The Rise of the News Avoiders. Plus . . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 329 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Mar 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. A growing group of "news avoiders" is choosing to opt out of constant headlines and social feeds because algorithm-driven outrage and emotional overload harm their sanity, and they prefer calm, concise essays delivered straight to their inbox.
  2. Roald Dahlā€™s documented antisemitism is back in the spotlight as a Broadway play highlights his hateful remarks, forcing people to reckon with whether and how to separate beloved works from a creatorā€™s poisonous views.
  3. The filibuster remains resilient because it protects vulnerable members of the Senate majority and averts endless partisan fights, so repeated threats to abolish it tend to stall or fail.

China is killing the fish

Noahpinion ā€¢ 27588 implied HN points ā€¢ 17 Feb 26
šŸŒž Climate & Environment International
  1. China has cleaned up many of its own environmental problems but is simultaneously running a huge distant-water fishing fleet that is depleting global fish stocks and harming ocean biodiversity.
  2. Many of those boats operate illegally or unreported ā€” shutting off transponders, falsifying records, and using front companies ā€” and they concentrate in poorer countries that canā€™t police their waters.
  3. This global overfishing steals livelihoods and future fish supplies and isnā€™t getting enough attention from environmental groups or international policy, creating a large, neglected conservation crisis.

Livestream, Tonight, 8 PM ET, Monday 3/16: "Today's News" on Iran, FCC, Podcasts v. MSM

TK News by Matt Taibbi ā€¢ 1131 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Mar 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. A livestream debate between Matt Taibbi and Michael Tracey will ask whether unreliable, algorithm-driven podcasts or the weakened mainstream media are more dangerous to society.
  2. The news cycle is chaotic and politicized, with FCC pressure on networks, claims of spying, pundit fights, and rising conspiracy theories around Trump and Iran.
  3. There are growing economic worries about bubble-like conditions in private credit that have already hurt investors and could pose a wider national risk.

Trends in US Construction Productivity

Construction Physics ā€¢ 17537 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Feb 26
šŸ’¼ Business International
  1. U.S. construction productivity has been stagnant or fallen for decades, especially compared to strong gains in the rest of the economy. Many sector-wide measures show little to no growth and some show long-term declines.
  2. How productivity is measured matters a lot ā€” sector, subsector, project, and task metrics can tell different stories, and results are highly sensitive to deflators, changing output mix, labor accounting, and quality adjustments. These measurement problems make precise conclusions difficult.
  3. Other countries also show weak construction productivity gains since the 1990s, and while some tasks or subsectors have improved, overall construction growth is much lower than manufacturing and the broader economy.
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TGIF: Smoking Jars of Metal

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 1947 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Mar 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Two young men allegedly tried to use homemade bombs near Gracie Mansion during a small anti-Islam rally, and one is accused of throwing a lit device into the crowd.
  2. Authorities say one suspect pledged allegiance to ISIS and later gave an ISIS salute after being arrested.
  3. Much of the mainstream coverage reportedly shifted blame onto the right-wing group at the rally, which critics argue misrepresents who carried out the attack and downplays the violence.

The Man Who Was Wrong About Everythingā€”and Changed the World. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 533 implied HN points ā€¢ 18 Mar 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. An influential eco-pessimist made dramatic, wrong predictions but still reshaped policy and public thinking, sometimes backing harmful ideas like coercive population control.
  2. High-profile resignations and reporting on funding reveal deep splits over the Iran war and raise questions about who is shaping anti-war activism and political alliances.
  3. Claims that the manosphere is radically corrupting young men are overstated, while cultural trends like adults embracing Disney show people often seek tradition and shared meaning rather than extremism.

My Hometown in Michigan Is Under Attack. Iā€™m in a Bomb Shelter in Israel.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 1182 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Mar 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. A violent attack targeted Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan when a driver rammed a truck into the synagogue and was killed, and authorities later identified a suspect.
  2. The incident triggered wide lockdowns across the local Jewish communityā€”schools, the JCC, and synagoguesā€”and a massive police response while families used frantic group chats to check on loved ones.
  3. Some people sheltering in Israel from rocket fire described feeling paradoxically safer than relatives back home, and there were reports of brave actions like a teacher leading preschoolers to safety as authorities searched for possible accomplices.

Tracking the Virus of Antisemitic Violence. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 394 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Mar 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. There is a sharp, recent surge in antisemitic violence worldwide, with numerous synagogue attacks and Jews disproportionately targeted in hate crimes.
  2. A new weekly roundup has been launched to track and summarize these antisemitic incidents so readers can understand their speed and severity.
  3. The publication pairs that reporting with wide-ranging coverageā€”debates over censorship and faith, geopolitical analysis like the Strait of Hormuz, and investigative pieces on topics from science fraud to abuse scandals.

UK News Report #3

Wrong Side of History ā€¢ 318 implied HN points ā€¢ 07 Mar 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. The UKā€™s handling of international crises and evacuations looks slow and disorganised, which is harming its global reputation and leaving people exposed.
  2. Reading and deep engagement with books are falling sharply as short-form digital media dominate, raising worries about cultural and intellectual decline.
  3. Policies that prioritise equity or political concerns over clinical risk in public services can endanger vulnerable people and have led to tragic outcomes when mental health needs were downplayed.

Stagnant Construction Productivity Is a Worldwide Problem

Construction Physics ā€¢ 21504 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Dec 25
šŸ’¼ Business International
  1. Many countries, especially in Western Europe, have improved construction productivity over the years, but the US has seen a decline since the 1970s.
  2. Since the 1990s, some Eastern European and Latin American countries have shown productivity growth, but many wealthy countries, including those with advanced technologies like Japan and Sweden, have flat or declining productivity.
  3. Belgium stands out as a nation with consistent construction productivity growth, but it's unclear if this is due to real efficiency gains or just how the data is reported.

She Was Nearly Recruited Into Epsteinā€™s Worldā€”by Her Closest Friend. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 403 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Mar 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. A Ukrainian actress narrowly escaped being recruited into Jeffrey Epsteinā€™s network by a close friend, showing how peer pressure and enablers helped his operation spread across countries.
  2. The war with Iran is reshaping geopolitics and markets ā€” from an unprecedented joint oil release and disrupted shipping to high military costs and targeting mistakes ā€” while some see the crisis creating space for new diplomatic deals like an Abraham Accords 2.0.
  3. Conservative politics are fracturing in unexpected ways: MAGA may be less split on Iran than media claim, Texas conservatives sometimes oppose formal school prayer, and the GOP faces internal tensions over issues like antiā€‘Muslim sentiment and politically driven vaccine decisions.

Behind the Numbers: A Deep Dive into 2025's Top International NBA Prospects (Part 1)

Chad Ford's NBA Big Board ā€¢ 19 implied HN points ā€¢ 31 Oct 24
šŸŽ¾ Sports International
  1. Scouting international NBA prospects is tough because they often play less and face varying competition, making it hard to assess their true potential.
  2. Some young players, like Nolan Traore, show great promise but have mixed stats, indicating areas where they need to improve.
  3. The article highlights top players from Europe now, with plans to cover talents from Australia and China later, suggesting a strong international class for the next NBA draft.

At least five interesting things: Debunking the Debunkers edition (#73)

Noahpinion ā€¢ 18353 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Dec 25
šŸ“° News International
  1. Basic income trials boost recipients' cash but donā€™t meaningfully raise their labor income or reduce crime in the short run, so unconditional cash alone wonā€™t solve many social problems.
  2. Mississippiā€™s big gains in fourthā€‘grade reading donā€™t appear to be just a selection artifact from holding kids back, since improvements show up across all score deciles and have persisted beyond the first retained cohorts.
  3. Nick Fuentesā€™ online popularity was at least partly manufactured by coordinated, anonymous (often foreign) accounts that artificially amplified engagement, demonstrating how viral platforms can be gamed to inflate extremist influence unless better gatekeeping is built.

How My Reporting Made Me a Target of the British Labour Party

The DisInformation Chronicle ā€¢ 400 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Internal CCDH documents show Imran Ahmed and his group werenā€™t just creating checks on social media but were actively planning to undermine and ā€œkillā€ Muskā€™s Twitter.
  2. A whistleblower provided dozens of internal emails and papers revealing hidden political ties, secret funding, and operatives working in both London and Washington.
  3. The leaked reporting led to real-world consequences ā€” the State Department moved to deport Ahmed and his lawyers began tracking and targeting journalists who published the documents.

Animation Gift Ideas for 2025

Animation Obsessive ā€¢ 9687 implied HN points ā€¢ 01 Dec 25
šŸŽ­ļø Culture International
  1. For 2025, there are many unique gift ideas related to animation for different budgets. This year, it's important to consider how shopping has changed, especially for those outside the U.S.
  2. The animated film 'My Brother, My Brother' has gained attention for its personal story and unique portrayal of memory and identity, capturing the deep connection between the filmmaker and his late twin brother.
  3. 'I Am Frankelda,' Mexico's first stop-motion feature, has been a box office hit, proving that there is a market for such films in the country despite initial doubts from industry insiders.

War: What Is It Good For? Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 431 implied HN points ā€¢ 02 Mar 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. The strikes on Iran and the killing of Khamenei risk a wider, messy conflict and could hurt the president politically, and they also play into bigger strategic competition with China.
  2. Western obituaries often downplayed Khameneiā€™s violent record while many Iranian Americans celebrated his death, highlighting a sharp divide in how his legacy is seen.
  3. The Pentagonā€™s clash with Anthropic is a proxy battle over who controls powerful AI ā€” a fight between national security needs and company safety limits that could leave everyone worse off.

Top Links 1019 American financials love Trump. No data please, we are MAGA. Cambodia's payments & Hegel 13/13.

Chartbook ā€¢ 500 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Feb 26
šŸ’° Finance International
  1. US financial firms strongly back Trump and have benefited from his return; Citi, once the principal casualty of 2008, is highlighted as a notable beneficiary.
  2. Proā€‘MAGA sentiment in financial circles often sidelines data and emphasizes political loyalty over evidence.
  3. The coverage mixes finance with international and intellectual themes, noting developments like Cambodiaā€™s payments system and a recurring Hegel reference.

The Epstein Tapes, Part II. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 445 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Newly released lawā€‘enforcement footage from the Jeffrey Epstein investigations shows searches, depositions, and sting operations, and the revelations are still producing fallout like resignations and public apologies.
  2. Fear and uncertainty about AI are roiling markets ā€” a viral essay scared investors and sparked big losses ā€” while tests show some popular AI models can make alarming choices in war simulations, raising safety and governance worries.
  3. Political and cultural tensions are mounting: the administration looks low on new policy ideas, public figures and athletes are getting politicized, and controversies over appointments, intelligence secrecy, and tech decisions (like Starlink) are fueling broader friction.

Scowls and Smiles at the State of the Union. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 426 implied HN points ā€¢ 25 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Trump used an unusually long State of the Union to celebrate achievements, goad opponents, criticize a Supreme Court tariff ruling, and warn Iran as he tries to reset his second term.
  2. A powerful norā€™easter dumped heavy snow on New York City and prompted emergency volunteer snow-shoveling efforts, while experts debate whether such extreme storms are driven by climate change or uncertain science.
  3. Several crises are unsettling old narratives: Epstein-related arrests are prompting a reckoning among Britainā€™s elite, cartel violence has shattered the expat dream in Puerto Vallarta, and U.S. military movements have raised fears of confrontation with Iran.

Flurry of Weekend Shootings, Violence Shows Fourth Estate in Disarray

TK News by Matt Taibbi ā€¢ 4595 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Dec 25
šŸ“° News International
  1. A sudden cluster of deadly attacks over the weekend ā€” including a mass shooting in Australia, a campus shooting in Providence, and a high-profile double homicide ā€” made for an unusually violent, chaotic period.
  2. Media, politicians, and social platforms rushed to blame and interpret events before facts were confirmed, turning reporting into a partisan battle instead of clear information-gathering.
  3. Real-time news cycles and social media amplify rumors and mistakes, forcing the public to sort through conflicting claims to find whatā€™s actually true.

ACX/Metaculus Prediction Contest 2026

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 4060 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Dec 25
šŸ“° News International
  1. A crowdsourced prediction contest on Metaculus is now live, covering U.S. politics, AI, international affairs, and culture, and you can enter using your regular account or a bot account.
  2. Submit forecasts by January 17 at 11:59 PM PT; a snapshot then determines contest rankings and how the $10,000 prize pool is allocated, and forecasts made after that only affect site leaderboards, not contest rankings.
  3. Organizers announced cash awards for the best question submitters, with the top prize being $700 and several other winners receiving smaller amounts.

Is the Epstein Fallout Spiraling Out of Control? Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 588 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. The Epstein filesā€™ release is triggering broad reputational fallout where people with only loose ties are being punished, and guilt by association is blurring the line between true enablers and innocent bystanders.
  2. Marco Rubio pulled off an unexpected diplomatic win in Europe by sharply criticizing its failures yet still earning applause, showing his message landed because many there feel they have few good options left.
  3. AI has advanced so quickly that humans may soon no longer be the smartest things on Earth, a change that raises urgent questions about what roles people will keep and how society should adapt.

Human Capital, Not "Industrial Policy," Explains East Asian Success

Richard Hanania's Newsletter ā€¢ 4730 implied HN points ā€¢ 08 Dec 25
šŸ’¼ Business International
  1. The success of East Asian countries like South Korea and Japan isn't just about industrial policies but more about the human capital and cognitive abilities of their populations. These nations have performed better than expected based on their skills.
  2. Countries with similar policies to those of East Asia, like Ethiopia and Malaysia, havenā€™t seen the same success, suggesting that just copying the policies isn't enough. It's the underlying talent and human potential that matter more.
  3. Even though East Asian nations have achieved economic growth, their living standards are still lower than those in the US or Europe, indicating that industrial policy alone may not be the best model for others to follow.

Top Links 1012 Google's investing. The economic cost of Brexit. Adrienne Rich's Sources & "the strangersā€™ case"

Chartbook ā€¢ 472 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Feb 26
šŸ’¼ Business International
  1. Google is dramatically ramping up capital spending ā€” jumping from around $25ā€“30bn to about $185bn in 2026 ā€” indicating a big push into infrastructure and future growth.
  2. Analyses emphasize the economic cost of Brexit, pointing to lasting hits to trade, investment, and overall UK growth.
  3. Thereā€™s literary attention on Adrienne Richā€™s Sources and the poem "the strangersā€™ case", which probe themes of identity, belonging, and social critique.

This Week in Canada: The Good Guys Donā€™t Always Win

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 319 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Many U.S. commentators and social media users treated a hockey win like a major national victory and used over-the-top, warlike rhetoric to celebrate.
  2. The online backlash didnā€™t bother to tell different kinds of Canadians apart and instead flattened the whole country into a single target.
  3. High-profile amplification and cruel jokes, including from official and influential accounts, intensified the mockery and strained neighbourly relations.

Nigeriaā€™s Killing Fields. When a Loved One Gets Kidnapped. Plusā€‰. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 245 implied HN points ā€¢ 27 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Nigeria is trapped in cyclical, sectarian violence where jihadist groups and militias have killed and displaced large numbers of people, and the crisis gets too little sustained international attention.
  2. When a loved one is kidnapped, families are plunged into a void of fear and helplessness with almost no information or control, and survivors say coping means enduring uncertainty and finding ways to keep going.
  3. Internal documents show Instagram has struggled to protect teens and can amplify harmful content like eating-disorder material, prompting legal scrutiny and questions about whether Meta will change its business model.

Ex-convict and former CIA operative denied bail in narcoterrorism case

All-Source Intelligence Fusion ā€¢ 691 implied HN points ā€¢ 06 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. A 75-year-old ex-CIA operative was denied bail and faces charges of conspiring to commit narcoterrorism, distributing cocaine, and laundering about $12 million with a person he believed was linked to the CJNG cartel.
  2. Prosecutors submitted evidence like WhatsApp screenshots alleging he coordinated money laundering, discussed procuring weapons and explosives, and involved family members and business associates in the scheme.
  3. The defendantā€™s past includes a 1990s fraud conviction and ties to a convicted pyramid scheme and lobbying firm, details that were highlighted in court and public records.

Rand Paul Is Going It Alone. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 519 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Rand Paul is positioning himself as a lone, influential critic inside his party, using his committee role to challenge mass deportation policies and warn about overfunding ICE.
  2. AI is already changing everyday life: tools like ChatGPT can catch medical mistakes and new ā€œno-codeā€ AI platforms let nonprogrammers build useful apps quickly.
  3. Bitcoinā€™s recent crash wasnā€™t about lost faith but about leveraged perp trades; extreme borrowing (10xā€“50x) forced mass sell-offs and wiped out many investors.

Whatever Happened to Sex? Plus . . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 403 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Many American couples are having far less sex than in past decades, with factors like tiredness, performance anxiety, hormonal changes, social media, porn, and even AI sex tech all cited as contributing to a real cultural shift toward disconnection.
  2. Rapid advances in AI and growing concern about social mediaā€™s effects on kids are changing everyday life and prompting new policy fights, as people and governments rush to respond to technological disruption.
  3. Institutions and politics are under strain, from debates over grade inflation at elite universities and a high-profile antitrust ouster to problems in refugee resettlement and public-safety failures, reflecting wider organizational and political conflict.

Tyler Cowen on AIā€™s Great Leap Forward. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 431 implied HN points ā€¢ 09 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. AI just hit an inflection point where systems can write and improve their own code, meaning progress could accelerate far faster than before and many software roles and markets may be disrupted.
  2. Public life is growing more contentious ā€” from immigration debates and protest interruptions to polarizing entertainment moments ā€” showing deep cultural and political divisions.
  3. As technology and politics shift quickly, preserving human habits like open conversation, critical thinking, and defending free expression becomes more important than ever.

Cardinal Dolanā€™s Exit Interview. De-escalation in Minneapolis. Allie Beth Stuckey Responds to Hillary Clinton. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 449 implied HN points ā€¢ 05 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Timothy Cardinal Dolan is retiring after 17 years as a blunt, influential voice for the American Catholic Church, and heā€™s been active in political and religious debates, notably speaking out on rising antisemitism.
  2. Big political announcements often donā€™t change outcomes: promises to disband the Department of Education havenā€™t come to pass, and ICEā€™s reported pullback in Minnesota coincided with local actions that still enabled federal immigration enforcement.
  3. Technology is shaking institutions and norms: AI and stolen exams have undermined the integrity of top high school math contests, while tech stocks and Bitcoin have fallen as markets rethink risky, growth-focused assets.

NBA or MLB: Which league is on top right now?

House of Strauss ā€¢ 25 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Mar 26
šŸŽ¾ Sports International
  1. People are arguing that MLB might now be more popular than the NBA, a debate reignited by recent events.
  2. The World Baseball Classic boosted baseballā€™s visibility and exposed cultural differences in how players celebrate, prompting mixed reactions about the sportā€™s image.
  3. Baseballā€™s decline and recent momentum seem linked more to structural issues and the rise of big stars (like Aaron Judge) than to playersā€™ personalities or a supposedly stodgy American baseball culture.

ā€˜Charlie began taking in a lot of harmful ideological messagesā€™

Wrong Side of History ā€¢ 622 implied HN points ā€¢ 17 Jan 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. The British state is portrayed as mixing authoritarian impulses with farcical incompetence, prioritising ideological conformity and community appeasement over honesty and effectiveness.
  2. A government-backed Prevent programme and related materials treat questioning mass immigration as a dangerous or extremist mindset, framing research or debate as risky and pushing counselling or referrals for youths who engage with those ideas.
  3. Institutional priorities like hitting diversity targets and managing 'community relations' are producing practical harms and contradictions ā€” from bad hiring decisions and police deference to reduced opportunities and inconsistent restrictions for teenagers.

Iranā€™s Reluctant Prince. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 431 implied HN points ā€¢ 03 Feb 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iranā€™s shah, is being looked at by some as a possible transitional leader if the regime falters, but heā€™s a complicated and imperfect figure.
  2. The U.S. is both threatening military action against Iran and pursuing last-ditch diplomacy, demanding steep concessions like ending nuclear and missile programs and stopping support for proxy groups.
  3. The news cycle is volatile: domestic politics face a partial government shutdown and high-profile congressional/legal fights over the Epstein files, while internationally big stories include SpaceX buying xAI, deadly Russian strikes in Ukraine, and the Rafah crossing reopening in Gaza.

ā€˜They Messed with the Wrong City.ā€™ Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 454 implied HN points ā€¢ 28 Jan 26
šŸ“° News International
  1. Protests in Minneapolis have mounted fierce local resistance to federal deportation operations after the killing of Alex Pretti, and residents think that pressure may force a policy turnaround.
  2. The return of the final hostage from Gaza ends an 843-day effort to ā€˜bring them home,ā€™ leaving survivors and families with a complicated mix of relief and grief and tough questions about what comes next.
  3. AI is already shaping religious lifeā€”many sermons may be co-written with machinesā€”which raises real questions about whether and how AI should participate in spiritual practice.

Western leftists have lost the plot

Noahpinion ā€¢ 67295 implied HN points ā€¢ 10 Oct 23
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics International
  1. Western leftists have shown support for violent actions that are considered inhumane, such as massacres.
  2. The Western leftist movement's support for violent actions has led to a lack of moral consistency and compassion.
  3. The Palestinian cause has become central to the Western leftist movement, but recent events have caused division and moral disgust.

How to frame an economic blueprint for the 21st century

Global Inequality and More 3.0 ā€¢ 921 implied HN points ā€¢ 10 Dec 25
šŸ’¼ Business International
  1. Asia, especially China and India, has become a major player in the global economy, producing a significant portion of the world's goods and services. Despite their economic power, their influence in organizations like the IMF doesn't match their contributions.
  2. There is a need to reform or create international economic organizations that better represent the current global economy. BRICS countries are trying to establish new institutions but face challenges in gaining global recognition.
  3. Learning from Asia's economic success is essential for other countries. China, in particular, should identify its successful economic strategies and adapt them for use in poorer nations to help them grow.