The hottest Politics Substack posts right now

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Northampton MP labels plan to move statues ‘cultural vandalism’

NN Journal • 298 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Moving the statues is seen as cultural vandalism by MP Lucy Rigby. She believes they should stay in the town center where people can learn about the important figures they represent.
  2. The West Northamptonshire Council is exploring options for using the Guildhall, which has made the statue relocation a topic of discussion. They plan to consult the public before making any decisions.
  3. Local residents feel strongly that the statues belong in their current location. Many consider the historic Guildhall an important part of the town's identity and heritage.

In California, Decline Is a Choice

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 862 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. An entrepreneur aims to build an entirely new city in Solano County to house about 400,000 people with walkable neighborhoods, schools, and offices.
  2. He argues California’s problems are largely self-inflicted—heavy regulation and a 'degrowth' mindset have stifled building and driven companies away.
  3. The project faces major hurdles like regulatory red tape, political and public skepticism, and financing challenges, but he has secured investors and remains determined to try.

At least five interesting things: Bad Policy edition (#67)

Noahpinion • 17294 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics
  1. Many Americans are losing support for strict immigration policies, especially mass deportations, as they feel it leads to fear and instability in their communities.
  2. Some progressive policies, like Inclusionary Zoning, can backfire and actually make housing less available and create divisions, rather than promoting equality.
  3. Raising the minimum wage can have negative effects on job availability, and it might not be the best solution for reducing poverty, with cash benefits possibly being a better option.

Contra MR On Charity Regrants

Astral Codex Ten • 25741 implied HN points • 22 May 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics
  1. USAID funds many charities, but does not give money directly to people. All funds first go through other charitable organizations.
  2. Overheads in charities, like salaries and audits, are necessary for ensuring that donations reach the intended causes. USAID’s overhead is about 30%, which is typical.
  3. Even with some flaws, USAID programs save millions of lives, and concerns about corruption are often exaggerated. Many charity workers genuinely strive to help others.

This Week in Canada: The Good Guys Don’t Always Win

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 319 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
📰 News Politics
  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 didn’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.
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Old Man Yells at Cloud

Disaffected Newsletter • 599 implied HN points • 01 Sep 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics
  1. A new course is available for parents to help them understand and support their kids dealing with gender issues. This program is designed to help parents connect with their teens.
  2. There's a concern that crime and chaos are increasing in America, with reports of gangs taking over neighborhoods and alarming incidents happening daily.
  3. The discussion focuses on how society seems to honor youth while disregarding the wisdom of older generations, suggesting a shift in values that raises concerns.

The ‘Dirty Jew’ Ad Is Bad for Jews

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 783 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. A Super Bowl ad meant to fight antisemitism can actually feel harmful to Jewish people and weaken efforts to combat hate.
  2. Instead of reducing prejudice, the spot risks pushing people who already dislike Jews to hate them more.
  3. The ad comes across as tone-deaf and mis‑targeted, leaning on a victimhood narrative that seems aimed at Jewish Boomers and wastes a $15 million Super Bowl buy.

🚀 FP! Week In Review, Briefly #21

Faster, Please! • 639 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
📰 News Politics
  1. Fertility is falling in many rich countries and probably won’t bounce back on its own, but the economic hit looks manageable and immigration plus automation can largely offset it.
  2. AI is rapidly transforming education, business, and the economy, offering big gains while also creating bubbles, supply shortages, and political and industry tensions.
  3. Breakthroughs in space, biotech, and quantum computing are accelerating — from lunar factory plans to inhalable gene therapies and ambitious quantum projects — creating major opportunities and strategic competition.

On my bullshit tonight at 8 pm!

Disaffected Newsletter • 499 implied HN points • 04 Sep 24
🎙 Podcasts Politics
  1. A live conversation is happening tonight at 8 pm Eastern time. You can join in to hear some interesting discussions.
  2. It's on Rumble, so you'll need an account to participate in the live chat. Make sure to sign up beforehand!
  3. The event will focus on American politics and themes of authoritarianism. It could be a good chance to gain new insights on these topics.

How America Blew It on EVs. The Trouble with Eileen Gu. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 445 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
📰 News Politics
  1. America is falling behind in the electric car transition because Detroit didn’t build the kinds of EVs buyers wanted and mishandled the shift from gas-powered models.
  2. The positive coverage of Eileen Gu shows how media can be uncritical when an athlete competes for an authoritarian country, making flattering profiles feel more like soft propaganda than scrutiny.
  3. More young people are turning to risk-free monetized intimacy like OnlyFans instead of messy real relationships, which can reduce exposure to rejection and hinder emotional growth.

Ashley St Clair on trans rights, immigration, Elon and more

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 1731 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Ashley St Clair, who built a large conservative following on culture‑war content, has recently been publicly speaking out about AI deepfakes and Elon Musk.
  2. The piece surveys current internet and creator‑economy trends — from liquid content and influencer doppelgangers to influencer lobbying, YouTube’s “vibecession,” viral pricey products, Gen Z travel hotspots, and China’s hottest apps.
  3. It highlights how influencer-driven media and personality-led platforms can channel political ideas and lobbying, creating a ‘red pill’ style pipeline around topics like trans rights and immigration and involving figures such as Nigel Farage.

Jon Stewart is bad again (Odds and Ends #86)

Odds and Ends of History • 670 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
📰 News Politics
  1. Jon Stewart has done something controversial again and is attracting criticism.
  2. Driverless cars may have a bigger and more surprising impact than people expect, with effects beyond just safety numbers.
  3. AI looks set to transform many parts of life and government, with wide-ranging disruptive consequences.

Theories of power, cattle grids and a blep (Odds and Ends #85)

Odds and Ends of History • 804 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
📰 News Politics
  1. A wide-ranging mix of topics is curated, spanning governance, bureaucracy, urban change, creativity, planning rules, NHS challenges, and the future of sports broadcasting — with a lighthearted cat blep thrown in.
  2. There’s a clear emphasis on governance and reform, highlighting London-level politics, tweaks to how Whitehall works, and calls for a new "Theory of Power."
  3. Practical influence and resource-sharing matter: a personal post about rebooting social life sparked reader action, and recommended resources include a pro‑nuclear environmental book and a vaccine science event.

There Are No Satantic Elites and the Scramble to Redefine "Woke"

Default Wisdom • 403 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Calling elites "Satanic" is a mistake — their ties to things like Kabbalah or Freemasonry aren’t the same as modern Satanism, and the more dangerous Satanic-adjacent networks today are lower-profile online groups, not secret elite cabals.
  2. The rush to rename or declare a new phase of "woke" is mostly a branding contest driven by incentives to be first, and fast, screen-based reporting often produces shaky theories rather than clear evidence of a coherent new movement.
  3. Looksmaxxing grew out of gay culture’s individualized sexual market and now spreads widely, encouraging endless self-optimization, risky DIY cosmetic procedures, and racialized pressures that can cause real harm to people who can’t access professional care.

The demise of CNN

Robert Reich • 29167 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
📰 News Politics
  1. CNN underwent significant changes under Chris Licht's leadership.
  2. There was a shift towards aligning CNN more with Trump and right-wing views.
  3. Despite the changes, CNN's viewership declined rather than attracting new audiences.

Look what you made us do

read • 13994 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Taylor Swift's influence permeates global culture, politics, and media
  2. Writers on Substack provide original, insightful, and sometimes humorous analyses on Taylor Swift's impact
  3. Taylor Swift's actions, endorsements, and mere existence provoke strong reactions and shape narratives in various spheres

Why Conservative Influencers Can't Stop Talking About Brooklyn Beckham

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 1104 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Right-wing influencers quickly weaponized Brooklyn Beckham's Instagram post, casting Nicola Peltz as a villain and comparing the situation to Meghan Markle while framing Brooklyn as a ‘Prince Harry 2.0’.
  2. The backlash reveals how people react when men set boundaries with powerful families — society often blames women for men’s choices and leans into boy-mom culture and gendered narratives.
  3. Tabloids, PR machines, and online influencers distort celebrity drama into smear campaigns and digital propaganda, manufacturing moral panic to control the story.

The Bad History of ‘Palestine 36’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1182 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. The film Palestine 36 is internationally backed and has gained awards attention, but it presents a politically shaped version of the past.
  2. It omits key historical facts—especially Jewish immigration and presence in 1936—resulting in a distorted, incomplete account of the period.
  3. Renewed public interest in the conflict’s origins has produced both rigorous histories and dramatized films, and this movie favors political storytelling over historical accuracy.

Are We at an AI Precipice? David Mamet on Robert Duvall. In Defense of Processed Foods. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 361 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
📰 News Politics
  1. People are debating whether AI is at a sudden tipping point that could quickly transform work and society. Some warn of rapid disruption and urge immediate adoption, while others are more cautious.
  2. Robert Duvall is remembered as a raw, unembellished actor who brought truth and intensity to his performances. His grit and straightforward approach influenced an entire generation of performers.
  3. Industrial processed foods have greatly improved food access and safety for many people. Rather than banning them, the argument is to reform and improve these systems to avoid making things worse.

The China That Deng Built

ChinaTalk • 874 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🏝 Travel Politics
  1. Economic opening turned Shanxi's coal into private fortunes, creating a new class of powerful, often corrupt coal bosses and party-connected entrepreneurs.
  2. Business in the region runs on guanxi, drinking, and bribery, with police and officials frequently taking payoffs so inspections, permits, and even identities can be bought or faked.
  3. The social fallout is clear: exhausted middle-aged workers, a macho, male-dominated official culture that sidelines women, widening class divides, and villages split between tourist facades and neglected everyday life.

Open Thread 421.5

Astral Codex Ten • 412 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. It's a paywalled "Hidden Open Thread 421.5" posted Feb 20, 2026 and designated for paid subscribers.
  2. Readers are prompted to subscribe or sign in to access the content.
  3. The page shows navigation and small engagement metrics, suggesting limited visible interaction.

Doomscroll: Peter James Fowler

Joshua Citarella's Newsletter • 198 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
🎙 Podcasts Politics
  1. Young people can influence politics online, even starting at a very young age. It's surprising how a kid can run a political meme account with thousands of followers.
  2. The early internet had culture wars influenced by new atheism and the rise of conservative movements shaped by evangelical Christianity. These battles still affect us today.
  3. Our beliefs are influenced by our personal experiences and the political environment around us. It's important to recognize where our views come from.

My Fully Automated Romance. Zuck Heads to Court. Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 306 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
📰 News Politics
  1. People are forming real emotional bonds with AI companions, so deleting or changing those systems through updates can cause genuine grief and ethical questions about who is responsible.
  2. Big tech faces growing legal and public scrutiny, with leaders being forced to defend their products while internal documents suggest companies may design features that increase user dependence.
  3. The country is grappling with big social and economic shifts — a housing crisis, experiments in alternative communities, changing views on climate activism, and strategic competition in industries like electric vehicles — pushing people to try new solutions.

James Baldwin Was Not Your Figurehead

Freddie deBoer • 10488 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. James Baldwin resisted being tied to any specific political movement. He believed that labeling him simplified his complex thoughts and experiences.
  2. Baldwin's work focused on individuality and moral understanding instead of strict identity politics. He felt categories like race and sexual orientation should not define who someone is.
  3. He argued that real freedom comes from individuals taking action for themselves, rather than conforming to ideologies or identities created by others.

Drop #18. Looking for Fireflies in Times of Fascism

REINCANTAMENTO Drops • 59 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Re-enchantment is about reconnecting with the world beyond just science and technology. It emphasizes the importance of myths and spirituality in giving life meaning.
  2. Marginalized groups often hold valuable knowledge that was lost over time, such as practices from witches or diverse cultures. This loss is linked to historical violence and control by dominant powers.
  3. To find hope in difficult times, we should embrace creativity and imagination. By viewing the world differently, we can envision new possibilities and a re-enchanted future.

Immigration is not an "invasion", nor should it be

Noahpinion • 16706 implied HN points • 09 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics
  1. Immigration should not be viewed as an invasion. It's important to recognize that it's about people seeking better lives, not a threat to society.
  2. Both political sides often exaggerate the impacts of immigration for their agendas. This can make people feel scared or confused about the real issues.
  3. The concept of illegal immigration has become more complicated over time due to changes in laws and asylum rules, making it harder for the public to understand.

My Fellow Americans, You Must Watch ‘Pluribus’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1131 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Totalitarian control can come not just from force but from drowning people in safety, comfort, and pleasure until they willingly give up freedom.
  2. Being human isn’t about being perfect but about being broken, and wiping out struggle and pain can erase what makes us truly human.
  3. Managing or censoring books, ideas, and platforms keeps people content and prevents challenges to the system, making pleasant control self-sustaining.

Whatever Happened to Sex? Plus . . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 403 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
📰 News Politics
  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 media’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.

The Parable of Anna Akhmatova

The Honest Broker • 30154 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. The power of art can overcome even the strongest dictators. Artists like Anna Akhmatova show that creativity can stand firm against oppression.
  2. Success in today's world is often measured by money and popularity, but true creative expression is about more than just those metrics.
  3. Even when artists face harsh censorship, their work can survive and resonate over time, leading to eventual recognition and respect.

Evolutionary Psychology, Sex Wars, Revolutionary Negation

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1212 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. A public talk and a meetup are scheduled in Austin to discuss a book being adapted into a film, with RSVP links provided.
  2. Curated reading and media recommendations focus on topics like evolutionary psychology, sex politics, revolutionary negation, AI, and medicine/social justice.
  3. Three highlighted findings: climate activists are mostly female, white, and highly educated; eight in ten young Americans are ineligible for military service mainly due to obesity; and a meta-analysis found masculine traits are associated with lower depression.

ATW Livestream Rescheduled for Tuesday

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 900 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🎙 Podcasts Politics
  1. The American This Week livestream is rescheduled to Tuesday because of the holiday and will return at 4 PM ET / 3 PM CT.
  2. You can tune in on Substack, Rumble, or YouTube to watch the livestream.
  3. They recommend reading a new post arguing that Martin Luther King Jr. is the leader we need.

Monthly Roundup #37: December 2026

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2195 implied HN points • 12 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. Ban gain-of-function experiments. Deliberately creating more dangerous viruses, especially in low-security labs, is an unacceptable global risk and should be stopped and criminally deterred.
  2. Fix bad regulations and respect prices as signals. Overly strict zoning, long copyright terms, and regulatory bottlenecks raise costs and destroy value, while prices convey important information and incentives that people need to understand.
  3. Manage information and social norms more carefully. In adversarial or noisy information environments, use strategies like ignoring deceptive signals, removing untrustworthy actors, or aligning incentives, rather than reflexive public condemnation which often backfires.

Hidden Open Thread 420.5

Astral Codex Ten • 481 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Politics
  1. This is a paid, subscriber-only post that requires signing in or subscribing to read.
  2. The entry is titled "Hidden Open Thread 420.5" and was posted on Feb 12, 2026, indicating an open-thread-style update on that date.
  3. The page shows navigation and sharing options and includes links to subscribe or sign in, highlighting access control and ways for readers to engage.

Revenge of the Climate Realists

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2133 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Politics
  1. People who questioned the worst climate catastrophe claims were treated as pariahs even while accepting global warming; they argued the alarmism was overblown.
  2. Roger Pielke Jr. lost speaking invitations and faced a congressional investigation after arguing that rising disaster costs weren't linked to greenhouse gases.
  3. Those climate realists now claim a comeback and feel vindicated as the debate and public opinion shift.

End The Witch Hunt

Public • 228 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
📰 News Politics
  1. The release of the Epstein files is a historically important disclosure that exposes troubling behavior among powerful people.
  2. The documents have sparked a moral panic and a wave of cancellations, with many losing jobs or reputations for having known or corresponded with Epstein despite no clear evidence of criminal guilt.
  3. Society should resist mob justice and rely on the legal system to determine guilt, since treating any contact with Epstein as equivalent to condoning his crimes risks false accusations and dangerous precedent.