The Why? Curve

A blue deluge - the Democrats broke past even their highest expectations in the midterm elections. But what difference will it make? President Trump is still in the White House, and he can veto any new laws and direct foreign policy over the next two years. And how does it affect the prospects for t...

The first UK budget under Andy Burnham was, by most accounts, pretty underwhelming. So is all the big stuff being kicked into next year in the hope of better times? Or are the problems of huge and expensive government debt, and a weighty benefits bill, plus stagnant household incomes, simply unmanag...

Is it time for the UK, Europe, Canada and others to stop trying to keep up with the latest irrational policy change from the White House? If the US is an unreliable ally, is it time to make other arrangements? Or is Washington still too dominant economically, technologically and militarily to walk a...

Is social media on the way out? Are interactions with AI replacing the connections with friends and followers through Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok? New data suggests passive use of platforms - being shown ‘For You’ recommendations - is changing the way we engage, and the social part of social m...

The Greens have caused outrage by voting that Zionism is racism. Three years after the October 7 attacks in Israel, opinion is sharply polarised, and antisemitism is on the rise, while there seems to be no relief for Palestinians in Gaza or in the West Bank. So what IS Zionism? Has its meaning chang...

Andy Burnham can deliver speeches, and TikToks - but can he deliver on his promises? Will people outside Labour's conference still find hope, after what looks likely to be a hard budget at the end of October? The prime minister is facing huge challenges, and Matthew Flinders, Professor of Politi...