The hottest Politics Substack posts right now

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Counter-Spoliating Children's Stories

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe ā€¢ 927 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. Thereā€™s a strong need to reclaim childrenā€™s stories by making real, story-first books that teach character instead of serving as marketing or shallow branding.
  2. Beast fablesā€”using wolves as a symbolā€”are a powerful way to teach about human nature, masculine virtues, and the reality of force and danger in life.
  3. Modern threats like screen addiction and cultural softening mean parents and creators must be deliberate: control kidsā€™ media, consider homeschooling, and supply honest, high-quality youth fiction.

Giving Up on the ā€˜Giving Pledgeā€™

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 194 implied HN points ā€¢ 23 Mar 26
šŸ’¼ Business Politics
  1. Many billionaires are backing away from the Giving Pledge, and new sign-ups have slowed dramatically.
  2. People point to several causes: a shift toward political donations, reinvesting wealth in businesses, and growing criticism that the pledge was performative or associated with problematic figures.
  3. Abandoning the pledge can be seen as positive because it often prioritized image and affectation over substantive, accountable charitable impact.

Book Review: Open Socrates (Part 2)

Don't Worry About the Vase ā€¢ 582 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Mar 26
šŸ“– Philosophy Politics
  1. The Socratic method as described is a narrow, two-stage tactic that often breaks people down through refutation and then rebuilds beliefs, which can be manipulative, status-driven, and not always genuine inquiry.
  2. The famous philosophical "paradoxes" about inquiry, self-knowledge, and truth versus falsity largely disappear when belief is treated probabilistically; Bayesian-style reasoning, experiments, and individual reflection handle these problems better than the strict Socratic framing.
  3. Grand Socratic claimsā€”virtue equals knowledge, or that philosophy alone best handles politics, love, and deathā€”overreach; real problems need measurable methods, plural approaches, and attention to tradeoffs, costs, and social realities.

'Woke' might not be the enemy, but it still deserves critique

Odds and Ends of History ā€¢ 1608 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. Focusing on "woke" controversies often distracted people from the much bigger danger of rising right-wing authoritarianism and authoritarian politicians.
  2. Criticism of "woke" ideas from within the left isnā€™t inherently misguided; internal critique can help the left stay effective, accountable, and appealing.
  3. People on the centre-left should reprioritize to confront authoritarian threats while still debating cultural issues so those debates strengthen rather than weaken progressive politics.

Hidden Open Thread 426.5

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 412 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. The material is restricted to paid subscribers behind a paywall, so you must subscribe or sign in to read it.
  2. It's titled "Hidden Open Thread 426.5" and dated March 26, 2026, suggesting it's part of an ongoing, numbered series.
  3. There are explicit subscribe and sign-in links and navigation prompts, encouraging readers to become paid subscribers to access the post.
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The Dilbert Afterlife

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 135037 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Jan 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. Smart people often feel trapped in systems that reward social posturing over competence, and that frustration fuels a lot of workplace humor and bitterness.
  2. Trying to escape a narrow success by branching into business, spiritual theories, or self-help can backfire when ambition outpaces real skill, turning self-awareness into self-deception.
  3. Charisma, marketing, and repetition often beat logic in public life, creating powerful followings and sudden rises but also exposing people to sharp backlash and collapse.

The Rise of the News Avoiders. Plus . . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 329 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  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.

Monthly Roundup #40: March 2026

Don't Worry About the Vase ā€¢ 2553 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. Political violence and ā€˜decapitationā€™ strategies must be rejected because normalizing threats or assassinations would be dangerous, and the coming ubiquity of lethal AI drones makes this risk much worse.
  2. Ageā€‘verification and online safety rules as currently proposed are deeply flawed: they invade privacy, are easy for determined users to bypass, leak sensitive data, and encourage kids to use VPNs and dodgy sites.
  3. Technology is reshaping markets and attention ā€” AI is producing huge consumer surplus and weird subscription dynamics, gaming and media now compete with highly optimized attention-hijacking platforms, and manufacturing concentration (e.g., Shenzhen) is accelerating global product iteration.

Did You Hurt Someoneā€™s Dignity? In Canada, It Can Cost You.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 737 implied HN points ā€¢ 18 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  1. Canadaā€™s human rights tribunals can impose very large financial penalties for speech judged to harm someoneā€™s dignity; one recent case resulted in a CAD$750,000 order.
  2. Those tribunals are administrative bodies with looser procedures than courts and may allow complainants to remain anonymous. Their decisions are rarely overturned on judicial review.
  3. This enforcement effectively polices expression and creates a chilling effect, making people worry they might be financially ruined for expressing certain views.

Dear Pastors

Erick Erickson's Confessions of a Political Junkie ā€¢ 3816 implied HN points ā€¢ 22 Oct 24
ā›Ŗ Faith & Spirituality Politics
  1. Pastors should focus on their local congregations and their real needs rather than seeking attention on social media. The people in their communities need spiritual guidance more than viral posts.
  2. It's important for pastors to lead people toward Jesus instead of political idols. Encouraging love and prayer for neighbors and leaders can help foster unity rather than division in challenging times.
  3. While voting is a civic duty, true hope and redemption come from faith in Jesus, not political outcomes. The Kingdom of God is everlasting, and that's what should matter most to Christians.

Open Thread 425

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 3510 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. A forecasting-contest winner revealed themself as a Bayesian-focused statistics PhD who is looking for an academic job and is asking people to participate in prediction markets about an upcoming Italian referendum.
  2. Readers uncovered that a proposed constitutional amendment contained a typo that reversed its meaning, and someone found evidence an extra state may have ratified another amendment in 1790, creating a legal puzzle about whether and how such an amendment could be considered in force.
  3. A company called Nectome is offering nanoscale, room-temperature-stable whole-body preservation and is running a $100,000-per-body pre-sale promising future revival possibilities.

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 Politics
  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.

Beware The Yard Sign Thieves!

Vicky Ward Investigates ā€¢ 119 implied HN points ā€¢ 31 Oct 24
šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø U.S. Politics Politics
  1. Yard sign theft is becoming a problem as election day approaches, especially in some communities. People are stealing signs for various political candidates, causing frustration for those trying to show their support.
  2. In a town where many liberal artists live, the focus is on the missing Harris/Walz signs, which keep getting stolen. This makes it harder for those wanting to display their political views.
  3. Replacing these stolen signs can be costly for residents, as they often have to buy new ones multiple times. The ongoing thefts are creating tension between different political views in the area.

TGIF: Smoking Jars of Metal

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 1947 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  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 Politics
  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.

Introducing: Who's That Source?

TK News by Matt Taibbi ā€¢ 5719 implied HN points ā€¢ 04 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  1. A new tool will expose who funds quoted sources, check experts' track records, flag past mispredictions, and give a "shill factor" estimate for how politically driven an opinion likely is.
  2. Newsrooms often run "Experts Say" headlines without disclosing conflicts or vetting accuracy, which lets partisan or paid voices masquerade as neutral expertise.
  3. Truly independent analysis is getting scarce as many experts are tied to industry or political groups, so transparency about funding and sourcing is needed to improve trust in reporting.

This Tourette's Controversy is What You Get When Disability Stops Being a Medical Reality and Becomes a Social Culture

Freddie deBoer ā€¢ 9127 implied HN points ā€¢ 25 Feb 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. Tourette's can cause involuntary and offensive vocal outbursts (coprolalia), and this is a documented medical reality even though most people with Tourette's don't experience it.
  2. Many public reactions deny or misunderstand that possibility, often out of emotional hurt or a desire to avoid appearing ableist, which can lead to ignorance and misplaced anger.
  3. Treating disability as a social spectacle or cultural prop fuels sensationalism and clashes between marginalized groups, making honest discussion and empathy harder.

The New York Times Makes Sports Miserable

TK News by Matt Taibbi ā€¢ 8876 implied HN points ā€¢ 25 Feb 26
šŸŽ¾ Sports Politics
  1. Sports should be an escape people enjoy, not a place where athletes are forced to pick political sides. Fans want to celebrate great performances without being dragged into partisan fights.
  2. When media outlets hunt for political angles or nitpick trivial facts, they sap the joy out of big sporting moments. That kind of coverage turns celebrations into sources of outrage instead of shared enjoyment.
  3. Spotlighting players' political interactions and amplifying minor errors shows journalism can prioritize culture-war scoring over accurately capturing what happened on the field. This approach turns communal fun into controversy.

Can America Rebuild the Arsenal of Democracy? Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 361 implied HN points ā€¢ 17 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  1. The U.S. and its allies are running low on missiles and interceptors, and rebuilding the industrial baseā€”using modern software and manufacturingā€”is essential to scale production and keep up with rivals.
  2. Treating politics as a constant hobby can become an addictive, parasocial relationship that hurts mental health and pulls people away from real democratic participation, so itā€™s healthier to step back.
  3. Private actors and new technologies are reshaping policy and conflict: startups are racing to produce advanced weapons, wealthy individuals can sway political positions, and crowdsourced apps and markets are influencing real-world outcomes.

War in Iran. Terror at Home. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 454 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  1. The war with Iran is escalating and U.S. officials say they may step up strikes, but truly eliminating Iranā€™s nuclear capabilities would be hugely difficult; the conflict has already spilled over into America with at least one terror attack tied to Hezbollah.
  2. U.S. domestic politics are tense and messy: a high-profile media figure faces scrutiny for alleged Iran contacts even as he questions othersā€™ loyalty, and campus labor fights are fracturing as the UAW pushes back against politically charged gradā€‘student demands.
  3. Security and technological risks are rising worldwide ā€” analysts warn about AI chatbots amplifying dangerous delusions and about the geopolitics of an AI arms race, while governments increase physical security and test internet controls amid drone and censorship worries.

The government is fixing something I complained about (Odds and Ends #91)

Odds and Ends of History ā€¢ 469 implied HN points ā€¢ 20 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  1. The government is moving to fix a problem that had been publicly complained about.
  2. Good government often means making hard choices that create winners and losers, and accepting those trade-offs is part of effective policymaking.
  3. Key tech and policy debates are front and centre: huge AI investment may not be a bubble, copyright for AI training is up for discussion, and Britainā€™s geospatial data is described as a mess.

Highlights From The Comments On Scott Adams

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 19959 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Jan 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. Publishing a mixed memorial right after someone's death can be justified if it honestly balances praise and criticism; readers were divided but many accepted the tone and noted the subject had positively influenced others.
  2. Readers pushed back on factual and tonal points and prompted correctionsā€”he wasnā€™t an ivermectin true believer, the phrase about ā€œlesser humansā€ was unfair, and his podcast reached and helped more people than initially claimed.
  3. His persuasion work and race-related remarks generated intense debate: some praised his practical advice and reframes, while others condemned his racial comments and exaggerations as harmful, even if outright cancellation wasnā€™t universally supported.

The Lamplighter Problem

Jeff Giesea ā€¢ 718 implied HN points ā€¢ 22 Oct 24
šŸ•¹ Technology Politics
  1. AI is likely to displace a huge number of jobs, similar to how lamplighters lost their roles when electric lights came in. We need to prepare for these changes now to help people transition to new work.
  2. The Lamplighter Problem shows us that job loss due to automation is not just an economic issue but also a political and social one. If we donā€™t address it, it could lead to bigger problems in society.
  3. There are different opinions on how to handle the rise of AI. Some people think we should slow down and reconsider, while others want to speed up its development. We need to find a balanced approach that helps everyone.

The Virus of Antisemitic Violence

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 551 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  1. Violent antisemitic attacks are happening quickly and across many countries ā€” synagogues were shot at, bombed, rammed, and burned all within a single week.
  2. The guardrails that once limited this hate are falling away, so Jews are facing disproportionate and widespread violence even in places with small Jewish populations.
  3. Keeping a systematic, public record of these incidents is essential to restore perspective, raise awareness, and improve prevention and security.

Ten things that are going right in America

Noahpinion ā€¢ 26471 implied HN points ā€¢ 28 Dec 25
šŸ“° News Politics
  1. Society is slowly stitching itself back together after years of division, showing quiet signs of recovery in everyday life.
  2. U.S. life expectancy has rebounded from recent declines and is improving, narrowing some of the gap with other rich countries.
  3. Violent crime and drug overdoses have fallen in recent years, contributing to lower mortality and safer communities.

Top Links 1034 The public land divide in the USA. The first cloud data center to become a casualty of war. Poetry form the past and Hamnet.

Chartbook ā€¢ 543 implied HN points ā€¢ 07 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  1. The public land divide in the USA highlights sharp conflicts over who controls and uses federal and state lands, shaping local economies and conservation choices.
  2. The first cloud data center to become a casualty of war shows that digital infrastructure is now a frontline, making cloud services and data storage vulnerable to armed conflict and geopolitical risk.
  3. A focus on poetry from the past and works like Hamnet underscores how historical literature keeps connecting readers to earlier lives and emotions, enriching cultural and historical understanding.

Tracking the Virus of Antisemitic Violence. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 394 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Mar 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  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 Politics
  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.

My "Perplexing" Response to Ta-Nehisi Coates's New Book

Glenn Loury ā€¢ 2023 implied HN points ā€¢ 08 Oct 24
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. It's okay to criticize someone's past views while still recognizing their current work as valuable. You can appreciate a good piece of writing even if you don't always agree with the author.
  2. Ta-Nehisi Coates expresses deep feelings about injustices he sees, which can be important in understanding his perspective. Understanding emotions in discussions about complex issues can lead to more meaningful conversations.
  3. Writing can be powerful, and even if you disagree with the message, you might admire the craft and skill of the writer. It's worth giving credit where it's due, regardless of personal beliefs.

Cruising to Dubai

Bet On It ā€¢ 457 implied HN points ā€¢ 09 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. The UAEā€™s immigration model brings in huge numbers of foreign workers, which raises nativesā€™ living standards and usually improves migrantsā€™ lives relative to home.
  2. Many Americans say theyā€™d reject a system that locks migrants out of citizenship and gives citizens big benefits, but that objection is mostly abstract.
  3. Cruise ships display even starker passenger/crew inequality and Americans enjoy it, suggesting people quickly acclimate to extreme inequality and would likely accept Emirati-style immigration in practice.

Black Intellectuals in the Twenty-First Century

Glenn Loury ā€¢ 337 implied HN points ā€¢ 24 Oct 24
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. In the 1980s, many African Americans strongly opposed apartheid in South Africa. This shows a sense of unity against oppression, even if the situations were different.
  2. The conversation highlights how some issues today, like the treatment of Palestinians, can be more complicated than past issues like apartheid.
  3. Understanding historical context helps us see why certain causes gain widespread support while others struggle for the same level of recognition.

Hidden Open Thread 425.5

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 275 implied HN points ā€¢ 18 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. The post is behind a paywall and only available to paid subscribers, so you must subscribe or sign in to read it.
  2. Itā€™s labeled as a numbered ā€œHidden Open Thread 425.5ā€ and dated March 18, 2026, implying itā€™s part of a recurring thread series.
  3. The page shows engagement and navigation elements like share buttons and count indicators, alongside prominent subscribe and sign-in links for access control.

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

Noahpinion ā€¢ 18353 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Dec 25
šŸ“° News Politics
  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.

Things Worth Remembering: The Iranian Movie to Watch This Weekend

Common Sense with Bari Weiss ā€¢ 709 implied HN points ā€¢ 06 Mar 26
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. People have a natural tendency called apophenia to see patterns and make stories out of random events, a trait that once helped survival but now often fuels conspiracy and confirmation bias.
  2. Reading past art as prophetic is risky because coincidence can be mistaken for meaning, yet people do it to validate their beliefs and feel on the right side of history.
  3. The Iranian film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is visually striking and, in the context of Iranā€™s unrest, contains moments that feel eerily prophetic, echoing the courage of women who have risked everything to defy the government.

Luther and the Spark of the Reformation

Papyrus Rampant ā€¢ 178 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Oct 24
šŸ’¾ History Politics
  1. Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, which wasn't meant to start a movement but turned out to spark the Protestant Reformation.
  2. He challenged the sale of indulgences, emphasizing that faith in God, not money, is what saves people from sin.
  3. Luther's actions led to a push for education and Bible translation, helping more people understand their faith and read scripture in their own language.

The Epstein Files: The Blackmail of Billionaire Leon Black and Epstein's Role in It

Glenn Greenwald ā€¢ 2340 implied HN points ā€¢ 16 Feb 26
šŸ“° News Politics
  1. Epstein used intimate secrets to extort Leon Black, forcing him to pay millions and desperately try to hide an affair.
  2. Epstein embedded himself in billionairesā€™ lives to gain control over finances and relationships, and he used private investigators and threatsā€”including invoking Russian contactsā€”to silence dangers to those ties.
  3. Official claims denied a broad client-list blackmail scheme, but the public documents show clear extortion tactics and many redactions leave bigger questions unanswered.

The Eight Questions You Must Answer

The Honest Broker ā€¢ 10505 implied HN points ā€¢ 26 Dec 25
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. Society tends to split into binary oppositions that force people to pick one of two sides, and this pattern shows up across history from ancient stories to modern politics.
  2. A new binary divide is emerging now ā€” an early-stage red-pill-versus-blue-pill style split ā€” and it could become the defining fault line for the next generation.
  3. You already belong to one of the two teams and can identify which by answering eight key questions, so start paying attention now to know where you stand and protect yourself.

Highlights From The Comments On Vibecession

Astral Codex Ten ā€¢ 11494 implied HN points ā€¢ 31 Dec 25
šŸŽ­ļø Culture Politics
  1. Since about 2021ā€“2022 public mood about the economy dropped sharply even when many objective indicators didnā€™t, creating a separate ā€œvibecessionā€ driven by collapsing trust and meaning-making.
  2. Thereā€™s no consensus on causes: plausible drivers include inflation, housing affordability (especially for new movers and aspiring homeowners), rising expectations of what counts as success, media and algorithm effects, and measurement issues in inflation.
  3. Similar pessimism appears in other countries, showing feelings can be disconnected from real prosperity, and fixing the disagreement will take better empirical work on housing, inflation metrics, and generational consumption baskets.

āœØ The end of work? Not yetā€”maybe not ever

Faster, Please! ā€¢ 1919 implied HN points ā€¢ 22 Feb 26
šŸ•¹ Technology Politics
  1. People are scared that AI will automate whiteā€‘collar jobs and trigger massive unemployment, especially if office tasks like contracts and accounting are quickly automated.
  2. Those apocalyptic scenarios have become a popular genre, but itā€™s worth stepping back and not assuming the end of work is inevitable.
  3. Whether or not humanā€‘level AI appears soon, AIā€™s spread will shape politics and policy ā€” the 2028 election and debates about incomes, regulation, and oversight will likely revolve around it.