The hottest Politics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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MMA in China=Ping Pong Diplomacy?

ChinaTalk • 296 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🎾 Sports MMA Politics US-China Relations Cultural Exchange Diplomacy
  1. The UFC has developed a strong relationship with Donald Trump, making appearances at events during key moments in his political career. This connection shows how sports can intertwine with politics.
  2. China has been a growing market for the UFC, with events and training programs aimed at building local talent and expanding their fan base. The UFC is interested in maintaining good relations with China, especially as they return to hosting events there.
  3. The idea of using sports, like MMA, to improve US-China relations is like the historical 'ping pong diplomacy.' It suggests that unexpected connections can help bridge gaps between countries, even in tense times.

PolitiFi: Crypto's Final Battle

DeFi Education • 699 implied HN points • 15 May 24
🔮 Crypto Blockchain Decentralization Finance Politics Technology
  1. Crypto is political. It challenges how money is controlled by banks and governments, giving people more power over their finances.
  2. Decentralized finance has roots in a movement that values privacy and individual rights. The focus is on creating systems that allow anonymous transactions to resist government control.
  3. In the election year, pay attention to how political changes affect crypto projects, token economics, and privacy coins. The shifting political landscape can create opportunities and challenges for the crypto space.

TGIF: Every Sperm Is Sacred

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3528 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Legal Election Media Politics
  1. President Biden faced criticisms regarding his communication style and response to questions, showcasing potential weaknesses in his public image.
  2. Donald Trump is engaging in unique marketing strategies by selling high-priced branded sneakers, stirring up reactions from the opposition party.
  3. Trump's legal issues, particularly a civil fraud trial in New York, demonstrate the complex intersection of legitimate legal concerns and potentially politically motivated prosecutions.

Best of The Ruffian 2024

The Ruffian • 159 implied HN points • 28 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Art Literature Music Media Politics
  1. The Ruffian gained more subscribers this year, growing from 20,000 to 33,000. This shows that more people are interested in the content.
  2. There were 74 posts and 3 podcast episodes published, with several popular topics, including lists and questions about happiness and culture.
  3. The podcast is set to continue into 2025, featuring conversations with notable guests, and exclusive content for paid subscribers will also be available.
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Just Blowing Off Steam

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 26 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Society Art Environment Politics Philosophy
  1. The café scene highlights a disconnect between daily life and serious societal issues. While people seem focused on their routines, there's an urgency to address larger problems like rising authoritarianism.
  2. Climate change is a pressing threat, with rising temperatures and potential disasters looming. Experts warn that we might see drastic effects much sooner than we think, like severe droughts and natural disasters.
  3. Many wealthy individuals remain unaware or unresponsive to these challenges. Their distractions and comforts keep them detached from the emerging crises, which creates a risk of inaction when urgent responses are needed.

Why you can't bring a roast to a rally

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 427 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Comedy Politics Social Issues Performance Arts
  1. Comedy works best in the right context. A roast at a comedy club is different from jokes at a political rally. The audience needs to understand that it’s supposed to be funny.
  2. Intentions behind jokes matter, but so does the setting. If the environment is charged with negativity or hostility, jokes might not land well.
  3. Fame can be tricky in comedy. Just because someone is popular online doesn’t mean everyone knows them. This disconnect can change how people react to their humor.

Making the Sausage

Freddie deBoer • 11633 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Writing Politics Craft Industry Literature
  1. The author received positive feedback for a piece about the 1990s and discusses the importance of conveying conflicting perspectives in writing.
  2. The author emphasizes the value of crafting well-written pieces that move and entertain readers.
  3. The author reflects on the challenges and rewards of maintaining individuality in writing while meeting reader expectations.

Putin's Perfect Spy

Diane Francis • 939 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
🌍 World Politics Espionage Russia Europe Politics Scandal
  1. A major scam involving Wirecard became a big spying scandal connecting Russia to Europe. A man named Jan Marsalek was at the center of this scheme.
  2. Marsalek used his position at Wirecard to sell secrets and financial data to Russia, while also committing fraud.
  3. He reportedly worked with intelligence officials and Russian operatives to spy on citizens and plan harmful operations.

Jack Smith, Donald Trump, and the Kobayashi Maru

The Popehat Report • 8456 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal system Prosecution Rule of Law Politics Justice
  1. The law is full of no-win scenarios that good lawyers navigate by preparing, advocating, and fighting for clients.
  2. Charging Trump despite political challenges shows adherence to the rule of law and the importance of justice.
  3. Prosecuting powerful individuals upholds equality before the law, prevents abuse of the legal system, and maintains societal integrity.

Violence and legitimacy: The assassination of Brian Thompson

Philosophy bear • 221 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Politics Society Morality Legitimacy
  1. Brian Thompson, a health insurance CEO, was killed, and some people are actually happy about it. This shows how divided opinions can be about such events across different political views.
  2. The discussion around his death raises important ethical questions, especially about whether it's ever okay to celebrate someone's death. It's quite complex and can depend on the person's actions and their effects on others.
  3. There's a belief that the laws we follow might not always reflect true morality. Some argue that the actions of people in power can still cause harm, similar to outright violence, even if they're legally justified.

A Depoliticized Future

The J. Burden Show • 738 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
📖 Philosophy Liberalism Politics Society Human nature Civilization
  1. Liberalism aimed to depoliticize society but failed as politics is inherent to human nature and essential for societal order.
  2. Liberalism's attempt to distribute power widely actually increased the power of the state and led to bloodier conflicts.
  3. A well-functioning society needs a level of internal politics, but striving for a society with external politics, where enemies are outside of society, might lead to greater societal harmony.

The believers

Random Minds by Katherine Brodsky • 46 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Ideology Social media Politics Identity Community
  1. Facebook has become a place for reconnecting with friends and networking, especially after the pandemic disrupted many social lives.
  2. The mood on social media is often political and can feel intense, as people express strong beliefs around topics like DEI initiatives.
  3. Many people are feeling disturbed about the changing social landscape and are debating issues they never considered before.

genghis trump

bad cattitude • 366 implied HN points • 26 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics Elections Governance Public Opinion Social Issues
  1. Pride and arrogance can lead to downfall, as shown by ancient Greek beliefs about nemesis. If people get too confident, they might face consequences.
  2. Many people see Trump as a force against an untrustworthy system. They believe he represents their frustration with the current state of politics.
  3. The political climate is shifting, and people are looking for change. There's a growing interest in whether new leadership can improve their situation.

Who Do You Trust?

backstory • 533 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🏝 Travel Culture Destinations Politics History Personal Stories
  1. Trust can be complicated, especially when you feel uncertain about the people around you. It’s interesting to see how perceptions of trust can shift based on personal experiences.
  2. Cultural differences play a big role in how people express themselves and interact. The traditional clothing in Bolivia shows a strong connection to heritage and identity.
  3. Life experiences can shape our beliefs and trust in institutions. Felipe's journey from having a heroic figure in his grandfather to feeling let down by the police reflects how personal history can change one’s worldview.

No, evolutionary theory does not justify your worst political nightmare

Optimally Irrational • 79 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Evolution Psychology Social theory Politics Ethics
  1. Evolutionary theory doesn't support any specific political ideology, even though some people misuse it for their own agendas. It's important to focus on the science itself without letting politics influence our understanding.
  2. While evolution can seem harsh, it also highlights the importance of cooperation. Our ability to work together is key to our success as a species, not just competition.
  3. Misunderstanding evolutionary ideas can lead to false claims about human behavior, such as justifying sexism or selfishness. Recognizing the facts of evolution can help us build better societies that account for human nature.

Odds and Ends #47: I think this YouTube video just changed my life

Odds and Ends of History • 804 implied HN points • 14 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture History Media Urbanism Society Politics
  1. A YouTube video can have a big impact on someone's life, showing how quickly ideas can change our perspectives. It's amazing how something simple can inspire us to think differently.
  2. Urban reviews can be subjective and funny, highlighting how even a short stay can lead someone to feel like an expert. It shows that everyone has different experiences in new places.
  3. The conversation about political lobbying is complex, and there seems to be growing concern about its influence. It's important to stay informed about how these issues affect us and our communities.

Will President Trump Revive Liberalism?

In My Tribe • 774 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics Government Elections Ideology Bureaucracy
  1. Liberalism works best when it allows for competition and debate, but those in power might forget this when they become too dominant.
  2. People in powerful positions often become resistant to change, even if they originally supported liberal ideas.
  3. To truly revive liberalism, there needs to be a system that encourages regular changes in leadership and holds those in power accountable.

Odds and Ends #50: The weird thing about London's New Year's Fireworks

Odds and Ends of History • 603 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Events Politics Art History Technology
  1. London's New Year's fireworks have some unexpected political twists that make them more than just a fun spectacle.
  2. The British government needs a solid plan for dealing with Elon Musk's comments and actions that could affect public discourse.
  3. Generative AI is changing the way we think about video production, and its latest developments are surprisingly impressive.

How to say "the great reset" without saying "the great reset"

Tessa Fights Robots • 117 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics Society Economics Culture Policy
  1. The world is changing rapidly, and there are new ways to talk about big ideas without using specific phrases.
  2. It's important to be aware of how we communicate these ideas to make sure our message is clear.
  3. Supporting creators and sharing their work helps them continue producing content, which is valuable for everyone.

Downward Is Heavenward

Kneeling Bus • 254 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Art Internet Media Politics Social Dynamics Reality
  1. Putting down your phone and going outside is a way to escape from the overwhelming digital world, but even nature can have its own issues. We need to realize that our sense of reality is always changing and influenced by what we see online.
  2. The idea of escaping into filter bubbles has become irrelevant because now our entire experience is made up of different realities. We are so intertwined with digital life that leaving a social media platform feels like moving away in real life.
  3. People today are finding connection in shared interests, like movies or trending topics, despite the chaos online. This new culture may seem bland compared to the past but helps pull us together when real meaning feels scarce.

2,800 jobs to go...

Off to Lunch • 1356 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
💼 Business Economy Industry Politics Environment Retail
  1. Tata Steel is cutting 2,800 jobs in the UK by closing two blast furnaces to shift to electric arc furnaces.
  2. The job cuts are part of a plan to reduce carbon emissions and transform the Port Talbot facility into a center for green steelmaking.
  3. The UK faces a significant drop in retail sales, potentially signaling a risk of falling into a recession.

Is Feminism Shrinking?

Letters from Suzanne • 2378 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Feminism Gender Politics
  1. Feminism may be shifting to a broader definition of womanhood, including male-bodied individuals.
  2. There are ongoing debates about trans women in sports and transgender inmates in women's prisons.
  3. The author sees a concerning trend of feminism being narrowed and losing its essence.

Is Trump Literally the Antichrist?

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 24 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Politics Religion Culture Governance Society
  1. There's a lot of strange and unsettling events happening in politics right now. People are questioning how these events might relate to bigger themes like the apocalypse.
  2. Some argue that figures like Trump symbolize the Antichrist due to their behavior and rhetoric. This idea connects to historical and biblical themes of deception and chaos.
  3. The concept of the apocalypse can be viewed as a transformative stage. It suggests that the upheaval we see could lead to a new understanding or a better future for humanity.