LONDON — This is the dejection election. Not in my lifetime has Britain faced such a miserable choice. Two vain, incompetent, mediocre charlatans are competing to become prime minister. For the Conservatives, we have the blustering, lying, oafish puffball Boris Johnson. In the Labour corner is the querulous, wooden, sanctimonious Jeremy Corbyn. The two candidates […]

A world without American leadership and in search of a fairer, post-carbon economic model is finely balanced between ascendant authoritarianism and popular protest against injustice and repression. It does not take much to push people over the edge. A subway fare hike in Chile or a proposed tax on WhatsApp calls in Beirut is enough […]

I’ve a birthday not too far away. Normally I’d go for a quiet dinner with family and friends, minimal on the gifts and no big hullaballoo. I’ve been doing it all wrong. Inspired of late, I’m going all out. Five-star hotel, a sit-down dinner with all the trimmings, custom-made cake, all the booze and, sure, […]

American capitalism is at a serious inflection point. Many Americans, including the two of us, are alarmed by enormous levels of inequality and by declining economic mobility. We are concerned that in many cases American markets are no longer the most competitive in the world. And, we worry that our country’s long-term economic strength will […]

To the Editor: “Trump’s Rhetoric Has Precedent,” by Philip Terzian (Op-Ed, Dec. 10), was a misguided and ahistorical attempt to normalize President Trump’s rhetoric and actions by comparing him to former presidents. While F.D.R. used fireside chats to reach out to the public, they were nothing like Mr. Trump’s tweets. F.D.R. tried to calm and […]

In fighting successfully to publish documents showing that United States officialdom has been telling lies for years about our military endeavors in Afghanistan, The Washington Post has shown how little has changed since the Vietnam era — and yet also how much more sustainable, strangely, our own era’s quagmires seem to be. The sameness lies […]

(Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) Good morning. We’re covering the latest news in the impeachment inquiry, questions after a deadly volcanic eruption in New Zealand, and new transparency efforts by Pete Buttigieg. House is set to outline articles of impeachment Top Democrats have scheduled a news conference today at 9 […]

Anger is a strange emotion – it can bring out both the worst and the best in people. For anger can lead not just to destructive outcomes, but can also trigger responsive action where doing good is its primary intention. Think of Bob Geldof shouting “give us your f***ing money”, live on the BBC during […]

When it comes to Donald Trump and Russia, everything is connected. That’s the most important lesson from the two big events that played out Monday on Capitol Hill — the House Judiciary Committee’s hearings on President Trump’s impeachment and the release of the report on the origins of the F.B.I.’s investigation into ties between the […]

(Reuters) – Cybersecurity software firm McAfee LLC has shown deal interest in rival NortonLifeLock Inc (NLOK.O), joining Permira and Advent International as potential suitors for the consumer software company, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. One of the options being considered is a combination with the consumer business […]