John Burn-Murdoch
@jburnmurdoch.ft.com
Columnist and chief data reporter the Financial Times | Stories, stats & scatterplots | john.burn-murdoch@ft.com
📝 ft.com/jbm
📝 ft.com/jbm
Pinned
We’re going to hear lots of stories about which people, policies and rhetoric are to blame for the Democrats’ defeat.
Some of those stories may even be true!
But an underrated factor is that 2024 was an absolutely horrendous year for incumbents around the world 👇 
Some of those stories may even be true!
But an underrated factor is that 2024 was an absolutely horrendous year for incumbents around the world 👇 
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
“Washington today is a kleptocracy… [Trump’s] obviously planning to rig the elections.”
Financial Times editor @edwardluce.bsky.social explains how the collapse of America is ‘halfway there’ and how Trump is planning to rig the midterm elections.
Watch the full interview: zeteo.com/p/geopolitic...
Financial Times editor @edwardluce.bsky.social explains how the collapse of America is ‘halfway there’ and how Trump is planning to rig the midterm elections.
Watch the full interview: zeteo.com/p/geopolitic...
February 9, 2026 at 3:24 PM
“Washington today is a kleptocracy… [Trump’s] obviously planning to rig the elections.”
Financial Times editor @edwardluce.bsky.social explains how the collapse of America is ‘halfway there’ and how Trump is planning to rig the midterm elections.
Watch the full interview: zeteo.com/p/geopolitic...
Financial Times editor @edwardluce.bsky.social explains how the collapse of America is ‘halfway there’ and how Trump is planning to rig the midterm elections.
Watch the full interview: zeteo.com/p/geopolitic...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
lads I don't want anyone to panic but I am writing up quite the scorchio take for tomorrow's newsletter
February 5, 2026 at 11:17 AM
lads I don't want anyone to panic but I am writing up quite the scorchio take for tomorrow's newsletter
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
This is actually quite an interesting report, which has been briefed to the press in the most harmful way possible
The current system for passported benefits is a mess & requires loads of separate applications - huge unnecessary burden & so many people miss out
ukonward.com/reports/the-...
The current system for passported benefits is a mess & requires loads of separate applications - huge unnecessary burden & so many people miss out
ukonward.com/reports/the-...
The Hidden Benefits Bill: How Universal Credit claimants get £10 billion in extra benefits | Onward
The eyewatering cost of Britain’s benefits bill is often discussed, but a key part of the conversation is usually missing.
ukonward.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:42 PM
This is actually quite an interesting report, which has been briefed to the press in the most harmful way possible
The current system for passported benefits is a mess & requires loads of separate applications - huge unnecessary burden & so many people miss out
ukonward.com/reports/the-...
The current system for passported benefits is a mess & requires loads of separate applications - huge unnecessary burden & so many people miss out
ukonward.com/reports/the-...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
Great work from the FT's John Burn-Murdoch www.ft.com/content/b474...
January 31, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Great work from the FT's John Burn-Murdoch www.ft.com/content/b474...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
Very good piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com....
The US under Trump 2.0 has shifted towards authoritarianism as record speed but unlike other examples (e.g. Putin, Orban) it's happened by bypassing institutions rather than permanently corrupting them...
www.ft.com/content/b474...
The US under Trump 2.0 has shifted towards authoritarianism as record speed but unlike other examples (e.g. Putin, Orban) it's happened by bypassing institutions rather than permanently corrupting them...
www.ft.com/content/b474...
How steep is Trump’s democratic backsliding?
The erosion of established norms has been dramatic but institutions are holding up
www.ft.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Very good piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com....
The US under Trump 2.0 has shifted towards authoritarianism as record speed but unlike other examples (e.g. Putin, Orban) it's happened by bypassing institutions rather than permanently corrupting them...
www.ft.com/content/b474...
The US under Trump 2.0 has shifted towards authoritarianism as record speed but unlike other examples (e.g. Putin, Orban) it's happened by bypassing institutions rather than permanently corrupting them...
www.ft.com/content/b474...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
Have just subscribed to this AI/jobs newsletter and it's excellent
The AI Shift: What millions of job ads reveal about AI displacement - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @sarahoconnorft.ft.com @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
The AI Shift: What millions of job ads reveal about AI displacement - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @sarahoconnorft.ft.com @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
The AI Shift: What millions of job ads reveal about AI displacement
A close inspection suggests all is not what it seems
giftarticle.ft.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Have just subscribed to this AI/jobs newsletter and it's excellent
The AI Shift: What millions of job ads reveal about AI displacement - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @sarahoconnorft.ft.com @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
The AI Shift: What millions of job ads reveal about AI displacement - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @sarahoconnorft.ft.com @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
Is liberal democracy in terminal decline?
The old system worked under a set of conditions that are no longer present
www.ft.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
Is liberal democracy in terminal decline?
The old system worked under a set of conditions that are no longer present
www.ft.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:07 AM
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
There's too many primary school places in London for not enough kids. So schools are competing to stay alive, copying private school marketing tactics with Instagram ad campaigns — and in one case offering a £50 Amazon voucher referral scheme for parents. www.londoncentric.media/i/184437718/...
Amazon vouchers to fill school places
Plus: How engineers installed phone signal on the London Underground, how many freemasons can you fit in a police force, and the house with a swimming pool in the middle of the living room.
www.londoncentric.media
January 15, 2026 at 9:19 AM
There's too many primary school places in London for not enough kids. So schools are competing to stay alive, copying private school marketing tactics with Instagram ad campaigns — and in one case offering a £50 Amazon voucher referral scheme for parents. www.londoncentric.media/i/184437718/...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
I just finished a three-year term as an editor at an international relations journal. I began at the start of the LLM era but ended right in the middle of it. Our volume of submissions tripled and our desk reject rate rose to 75%. I have some thoughts.
open.substack.com/pub/hegemon/...
open.substack.com/pub/hegemon/...
The Age of Academic Slop is Upon Us
what happens when AI automates "normal science"?
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:38 PM
I just finished a three-year term as an editor at an international relations journal. I began at the start of the LLM era but ended right in the middle of it. Our volume of submissions tripled and our desk reject rate rose to 75%. I have some thoughts.
open.substack.com/pub/hegemon/...
open.substack.com/pub/hegemon/...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
Debate about London is obscured by the false binaries both sides put on it. Best on it is @jburnmurdoch.ft.com who shows it is both case violent crime down (an undisputed good) & crimes of disorder (shop lifting, snatching) up which affects/is visible to more but far less devastating consequences
January 13, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Debate about London is obscured by the false binaries both sides put on it. Best on it is @jburnmurdoch.ft.com who shows it is both case violent crime down (an undisputed good) & crimes of disorder (shop lifting, snatching) up which affects/is visible to more but far less devastating consequences
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
‘Contra the narrow focus of policymakers on Stem subjects or coding, now more than ever our economy rewards broad skillsets: team players, problem solvers, good communicators and creative thinkers.’ @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/5e25...
www.ft.com/content/5e25...
How to AI-proof your job
The data suggests soft skills more than quantitative competency equal success in a rapidly changing labour market
www.ft.com
January 10, 2026 at 8:16 AM
‘Contra the narrow focus of policymakers on Stem subjects or coding, now more than ever our economy rewards broad skillsets: team players, problem solvers, good communicators and creative thinkers.’ @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/5e25...
www.ft.com/content/5e25...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
I am extremely confused as to why the UK government and police are saying Grok’s mass-scale CSAM generation is an issue for Ofcom.
This isn’t about X failing to moderate CSAM, which is an Online Safety Act issue. It is about the company and its technology being actively involved in its generation.
This isn’t about X failing to moderate CSAM, which is an Online Safety Act issue. It is about the company and its technology being actively involved in its generation.
January 7, 2026 at 7:37 AM
I am extremely confused as to why the UK government and police are saying Grok’s mass-scale CSAM generation is an issue for Ofcom.
This isn’t about X failing to moderate CSAM, which is an Online Safety Act issue. It is about the company and its technology being actively involved in its generation.
This isn’t about X failing to moderate CSAM, which is an Online Safety Act issue. It is about the company and its technology being actively involved in its generation.
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
As it's the end of 2025, I'm just reposting our 'Outside the box' starter pack.
This features accounts who think across tribal lines. Those on it have ideological sympathies, but are open to different traditions and consider issues on a case-by-case basis.
Shares welcome ;-)
go.bsky.app/HZxZgvh
This features accounts who think across tribal lines. Those on it have ideological sympathies, but are open to different traditions and consider issues on a case-by-case basis.
Shares welcome ;-)
go.bsky.app/HZxZgvh
December 30, 2025 at 11:48 AM
As it's the end of 2025, I'm just reposting our 'Outside the box' starter pack.
This features accounts who think across tribal lines. Those on it have ideological sympathies, but are open to different traditions and consider issues on a case-by-case basis.
Shares welcome ;-)
go.bsky.app/HZxZgvh
This features accounts who think across tribal lines. Those on it have ideological sympathies, but are open to different traditions and consider issues on a case-by-case basis.
Shares welcome ;-)
go.bsky.app/HZxZgvh
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
What are the stories that will define 2026? @jburnmurdoch.ft.com, the FT's chief data reporter, unwraps the big ideas shaping the year ahead.
A little gift from #FTEdit 🎁 Follow for more #FTEditpresents
A little gift from #FTEdit 🎁 Follow for more #FTEditpresents
December 29, 2025 at 9:35 AM
What are the stories that will define 2026? @jburnmurdoch.ft.com, the FT's chief data reporter, unwraps the big ideas shaping the year ahead.
A little gift from #FTEdit 🎁 Follow for more #FTEditpresents
A little gift from #FTEdit 🎁 Follow for more #FTEditpresents
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
This is incredibly obviously going to be the rolling problem with a “tougher” immigration stance. We still need people to do things. And, ultimately, either we hire/retain them or the things don’t get done. Everything else is hollow rhetoric.
Hundreds of foreign prison staff 'offered emergency extension to visa' to stop the prison system collapsing
Hundreds of foreign prison staff 'offered emergency extension to visa' to stop the prison system collapsing
Hundreds of foreign prison staff who could have faced deportation and the sack have been offered an emergency extension to their visa in order to stop the prison system collapsing, Sky News understands.
news.sky.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:39 PM
This is incredibly obviously going to be the rolling problem with a “tougher” immigration stance. We still need people to do things. And, ultimately, either we hire/retain them or the things don’t get done. Everything else is hollow rhetoric.
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
This by the excellent @jburnmurdoch.ft.com confirms my view that political trends are being driven by the halting of the upward economic conveyor belt - striking charts: www.ft.com/content/30a4... Welcome to the age of zero-sum politics
Welcome to the age of zero-sum politics
A stalled economic conveyor belt is behind the rise of anti-system, anti-growth parties on both the right and left
www.ft.com
December 19, 2025 at 7:31 AM
This by the excellent @jburnmurdoch.ft.com confirms my view that political trends are being driven by the halting of the upward economic conveyor belt - striking charts: www.ft.com/content/30a4... Welcome to the age of zero-sum politics
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
If you're lucky enough to be able to read the @financialtimes.com these evidence-based conversations between @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com are particularly fascinating. Here's the latest.
The AI Shift: Is AI about to break polling?
Online surveys are susceptible to bogus respondents and synthetic samples warrant scepticism
www.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:59 AM
If you're lucky enough to be able to read the @financialtimes.com these evidence-based conversations between @jburnmurdoch.ft.com and @sarahoconnorft.ft.com are particularly fascinating. Here's the latest.
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
This is fascinating and disturbing from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com on rise of 'financial nihilism' (cc @aminsamman.bsky.social !) in the asset economy www.ft.com/content/c17a...
The housing crisis is pushing Gen Z into crypto and economic nihilism
Locked out of home ownership, young adults are turning to risky financial behaviour
www.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:04 AM
This is fascinating and disturbing from @jburnmurdoch.ft.com on rise of 'financial nihilism' (cc @aminsamman.bsky.social !) in the asset economy www.ft.com/content/c17a...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
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...
Attention is on NEETs today, but the problem is much worse.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
November 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Attention is on NEETs today, but the problem is much worse.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
Worth noting:
• Upward revision applies to entire 2021-2024 series — the *trend* in emigration is *roughly* flat
• As infuriating as big revisions are, they mean data is getting better
• BUT wild that we ever used a survey to gauge movements into and out of the country instead of counting people!
• Upward revision applies to entire 2021-2024 series — the *trend* in emigration is *roughly* flat
• As infuriating as big revisions are, they mean data is getting better
• BUT wild that we ever used a survey to gauge movements into and out of the country instead of counting people!
November 18, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Worth noting:
• Upward revision applies to entire 2021-2024 series — the *trend* in emigration is *roughly* flat
• As infuriating as big revisions are, they mean data is getting better
• BUT wild that we ever used a survey to gauge movements into and out of the country instead of counting people!
• Upward revision applies to entire 2021-2024 series — the *trend* in emigration is *roughly* flat
• As infuriating as big revisions are, they mean data is getting better
• BUT wild that we ever used a survey to gauge movements into and out of the country instead of counting people!
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
ONS is so bad. (This is about specifically British nationals.) www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
November 18, 2025 at 11:26 AM
ONS is so bad. (This is about specifically British nationals.) www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
Excellent column from @stephenkb.bsky.social on what
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy
Politics today is about ‘open vs closed’, but the UK government’s approach risks appeasing no one
www.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Excellent column from @stephenkb.bsky.social on what
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
Reposted by John Burn-Murdoch
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.