Matt Steinglass
@mattsteinglass.bsky.social
Europe correspondent for The Economist. Please don’t kill me
Pinned
Thomas Pynchon, the greatest Californian novelist, wrote in his first novel “V.” of a mad society that built its city at the lip of a volcano which annihilated it every hundred years, but always rebuilt immediately in the same place
Reposted by Matt Steinglass
"They had submitted extensive paperwork and paid fees. The foreign spouses had been fingerprinted and passed medical exams. None had criminal records. None had entered the country illegally. They had already been granted employment authorization." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:38 AM
"They had submitted extensive paperwork and paid fees. The foreign spouses had been fingerprinted and passed medical exams. None had criminal records. None had entered the country illegally. They had already been granted employment authorization." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Matt Steinglass
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Matt Steinglass
Starmer and Reeves run probably the most economically left-wing government of past five decades and yet bleeding support to its left thanks to dumb strategy www.economist.com/britain/2025...
November 27, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Starmer and Reeves run probably the most economically left-wing government of past five decades and yet bleeding support to its left thanks to dumb strategy www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Reposted by Matt Steinglass
"After a hiatus of nearly 30 years, France is set to announce the reintroduction of military service on Thursday in a further sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is remapping Europe’s security landscape."
@politico.eu
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
@politico.eu
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
France joins Europe’s military service bandwagon
Emmanuel Macron’s new scheme is likely to be a voluntary 10-month stint
www.politico.eu
November 27, 2025 at 9:13 AM
"After a hiatus of nearly 30 years, France is set to announce the reintroduction of military service on Thursday in a further sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is remapping Europe’s security landscape."
@politico.eu
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
@politico.eu
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
Used the phrase “wags have dubbed it” and a non-native-speaker asked what “wags” are, unsurprisingly; but then a Gen Z native speaker didn’t know what I meant either. Has this expression disappeared from the modern lexicon?
November 27, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Used the phrase “wags have dubbed it” and a non-native-speaker asked what “wags” are, unsurprisingly; but then a Gen Z native speaker didn’t know what I meant either. Has this expression disappeared from the modern lexicon?
It’s a great day for American Nazis, who are surely applauding this step forward in accelerating a civil war. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Live Updates: Two National Guard Members Shot Near White House
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
It’s a great day for American Nazis, who are surely applauding this step forward in accelerating a civil war. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
There is a sad absence of Jewish cryptids, perhaps people who are used to embodying other folks’ superstitions can’t get excited about having their own. Unless maybe the Golem
New polling on aliens
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
November 25, 2025 at 11:20 PM
There is a sad absence of Jewish cryptids, perhaps people who are used to embodying other folks’ superstitions can’t get excited about having their own. Unless maybe the Golem
Reposted by Matt Steinglass
Please watch this.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Please watch this.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
The Senate killed a bill to ban state regulation of AI by a vote of 99-1 this spring. Now the industry - eager to stay unregulated - and Trump are scheming to shove the provision in the national defense bill.
You need to know this, so you can help stop it.
Reposted by Matt Steinglass
"The absence of young people from conventional protests is both a problem and a warning." -- @brendannyhan.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
November 25, 2025 at 11:03 PM
"The absence of young people from conventional protests is both a problem and a warning." -- @brendannyhan.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
“Incrementalism in military aid disrupted Ukraine’s battlefield momentum and provided time for Russian forces to adapt; it gave the Kremlin time to surge Russia’s defense industrial base…reduced domestic pressures on Putin…masked Russia’s weaknesses, and undermined America’s policies.”
As ISW’s Nataliya Bugayova writes, Putin counts on offsets — using operations and partnerships in one region to offset the limits of Russia’s capability in another. (1/7)
Read the full report: isw.pub/SeizingtheIn...
Read the full report: isw.pub/SeizingtheIn...
November 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
“Incrementalism in military aid disrupted Ukraine’s battlefield momentum and provided time for Russian forces to adapt; it gave the Kremlin time to surge Russia’s defense industrial base…reduced domestic pressures on Putin…masked Russia’s weaknesses, and undermined America’s policies.”
They’re going to tell it’s not true but the fact is if something tastes meh you can basically always add a bunch of ras al hanout to it and it’ll be kind of medium yummy
November 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
They’re going to tell it’s not true but the fact is if something tastes meh you can basically always add a bunch of ras al hanout to it and it’ll be kind of medium yummy
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Blatant antisemitism
November 25, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Blatant antisemitism
“Even if a more Ukraine-friendly deal gets past Mr Trump, it will almost certainly be blocked by Russia; and any deal acceptable to Russia is likely to be voted down by an increasingly sceptical Ukrainian parliament.”
Ukraine survives another crisis with Donald Trump
A deal in Geneva salvages relations with America. It might not last
economist.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:19 PM
“Even if a more Ukraine-friendly deal gets past Mr Trump, it will almost certainly be blocked by Russia; and any deal acceptable to Russia is likely to be voted down by an increasingly sceptical Ukrainian parliament.”
Wrote this about what it feels like these days hearing Russian on the streets of Europe, and my sense of irritation and anxiety as a lover of the language involuntary wondering about the political sympathies of anyone I hear speaking it. view.e.economist.com?qs=4abffee59...
The Economist
view.e.economist.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Wrote this about what it feels like these days hearing Russian on the streets of Europe, and my sense of irritation and anxiety as a lover of the language involuntary wondering about the political sympathies of anyone I hear speaking it. view.e.economist.com?qs=4abffee59...
Capitalism is just a giant conspiracy to make stuff people want and then sell it to them
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Capitalism is just a giant conspiracy to make stuff people want and then sell it to them
I have a lot of sympathy for Arnon Grunberg who, like me, has come to usually dislike first-person journalism and yet, like me, often ends up doing it bc it’s what comes most naturally and what people these days want to read. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Arnon Grunberg wil weten hoe na Auschwitz de genocide in Gaza kon gebeuren
Schrijver Arnon Grunberg vraagt zich af of er een lijn loopt van de Holocaust naar de genocide in Gaza. Hij reist naar Tel Aviv, waar hij zich afvraagt: hoe kon het zionisme zo ontaarden?
www.nrc.nl
November 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM
I have a lot of sympathy for Arnon Grunberg who, like me, has come to usually dislike first-person journalism and yet, like me, often ends up doing it bc it’s what comes most naturally and what people these days want to read. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Must remember to ask about this next time I’m in The Hauge
November 23, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Must remember to ask about this next time I’m in The Hauge
A movie that takes place where you’re from
November 23, 2025 at 9:07 PM
A movie that takes place where you’re from
Mijn krant bejubelt deze week Aruba! Het eiland heeft iets bereikt waar China nog van droomt: verdubbeling van de gemiddelde inkomst binnen 15 jaar, vanaf een startpunt die al hoger was dan waar China nu zit.
economist.com/finance-and-...
economist.com/finance-and-...
Can the Chinese economy match Aruba’s?
Xi Jinping has lofty goals for 2035. But China faces a real problem
economist.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Mijn krant bejubelt deze week Aruba! Het eiland heeft iets bereikt waar China nog van droomt: verdubbeling van de gemiddelde inkomst binnen 15 jaar, vanaf een startpunt die al hoger was dan waar China nu zit.
economist.com/finance-and-...
economist.com/finance-and-...
Reposted by Matt Steinglass
What should Europe do to reassert itself? It can still be tough with China. And its countries can make better use of the power they have, by integrating their economies
To avoid crushing change, Europe must take control of its destiny
If it does not, China will exploit the continent’s weaknesses
econ.st
November 23, 2025 at 10:20 AM
What should Europe do to reassert itself? It can still be tough with China. And its countries can make better use of the power they have, by integrating their economies
With Russia invading the democratic world, it seems like a misallocation of resources to send America’s armed young men to abuse immigrants and escorts politicians’ girlfriends, but what do I know www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
Patel Under Scrutiny for Use of SWAT Teams to Protect His Girlfriend
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
With Russia invading the democratic world, it seems like a misallocation of resources to send America’s armed young men to abuse immigrants and escorts politicians’ girlfriends, but what do I know www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
Good essay
this week's newsletter is titled "aren't you tired of feeling insane all the time?" and I think it speaks for itself
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
November 23, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Good essay
I am often awed by the ability of seasoned politicians and diplomats to find ways to take things that seem hard and clear and turn them flexible and vague. This can be used for bad or for good, but it is a needed tool in the kit
Ok this is big. Sen. Rounds iterates that, per Rubio, Thursday is a deadline to begin negotiations — not a deadline for Ukraine to accept the deal. There is no threat of revoking intelligence sharing or ending arms shipments from the administration, he says.
November 22, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I am often awed by the ability of seasoned politicians and diplomats to find ways to take things that seem hard and clear and turn them flexible and vague. This can be used for bad or for good, but it is a needed tool in the kit
Reposted by Matt Steinglass
Senator Wicker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
This so-called ‘peace plan’ has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to war criminal Putin.
The size and disposition of Ukraine’s armed forces is a sovereign choice for its government and people.
This so-called ‘peace plan’ has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to war criminal Putin.
The size and disposition of Ukraine’s armed forces is a sovereign choice for its government and people.
November 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Senator Wicker 🇺🇸🇺🇦
This so-called ‘peace plan’ has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to war criminal Putin.
The size and disposition of Ukraine’s armed forces is a sovereign choice for its government and people.
This so-called ‘peace plan’ has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace. Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to war criminal Putin.
The size and disposition of Ukraine’s armed forces is a sovereign choice for its government and people.