Jonathan Derbyshire
@jderbyshire.ft.com
US opinion editor at the Financial Times. Moynihan Center Public Scholar, 2025-26, CCNY
In today's FT Swamp Notes, @ranaforoohar.bsky.social and I pick the bones out of last week's election results in the US on.ft.com/49chSlE
What lessons to take from last week’s Democratic victories?
[FREE TO READ] Zohran Mamdani, for one, has a difficult job ahead of him
on.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
In today's FT Swamp Notes, @ranaforoohar.bsky.social and I pick the bones out of last week's election results in the US on.ft.com/49chSlE
Trump's defence of the destruction of the East Wing of the White House essentially relies on running a version of the Ship of Theseus paradox: "Over the years, many presidents have made changes."
October 22, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Trump's defence of the destruction of the East Wing of the White House essentially relies on running a version of the Ship of Theseus paradox: "Over the years, many presidents have made changes."
In which I explore the history of socialism in America from Eugene Debs to DSA and the Milwaukee ‘sewer socialists’ to Zohran Mamdani on.ft.com/47quBib
Will Zohran Mamdani’s rise mark a new dawn for American socialism?
[FREE TO READ] Tens of thousands of volunteers mobilised by the Democratic Socialists of America are working to elect a torchbearer for a beleaguered US left
on.ft.com
October 11, 2025 at 11:16 AM
In which I explore the history of socialism in America from Eugene Debs to DSA and the Milwaukee ‘sewer socialists’ to Zohran Mamdani on.ft.com/47quBib
A new financial impetus for peace in Ukraine -- Friedrich Merz writes for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/48176hn
A new financial impetus for peace in Ukraine
[FREE TO READ] We need the mobilisation of resources on a scale that will secure Kyiv’s military resilience
on.ft.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
A new financial impetus for peace in Ukraine -- Friedrich Merz writes for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/48176hn
In which @ranaforoohar.bsky.social and I discuss the 'Donroe doctrine' on.ft.com/4mCkigl
Trump’s U-turn on China
[FREE TO READ] There has been a discernible shift in how this administration is dealing with Beijing
on.ft.com
September 23, 2025 at 8:33 PM
In which @ranaforoohar.bsky.social and I discuss the 'Donroe doctrine' on.ft.com/4mCkigl
"Trump namechecked Shakespeare, Dickens, Orwell — authors whose works he has undoubtedly devoured."
@jemima.bsky.social on the US president's adventures in Windsorland on.ft.com/4nbU45u
@jemima.bsky.social on the US president's adventures in Windsorland on.ft.com/4nbU45u
Donald Trump’s adventures in Windsorland
[FREE TO READ] The US president luxuriated in a warm bath of royal pomp and circumstance
on.ft.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
"Trump namechecked Shakespeare, Dickens, Orwell — authors whose works he has undoubtedly devoured."
@jemima.bsky.social on the US president's adventures in Windsorland on.ft.com/4nbU45u
@jemima.bsky.social on the US president's adventures in Windsorland on.ft.com/4nbU45u
Desmond King, professor of American government at Oxford, for @ftopinion on Charlie Kirk and America’s inability to escape political violence on.ft.com/46iaWQL
Charlie Kirk and America’s inability to escape political violence
[FREE TO READ] The killings of an activist, politician and CEO in the past year show the resurgence of violent means across the spectrum
on.ft.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Desmond King, professor of American government at Oxford, for @ftopinion on Charlie Kirk and America’s inability to escape political violence on.ft.com/46iaWQL
In today's edition of FT Swamp Notes I examine the idea of 'state capitalism with American characteristics'. @ranaforoohar.bsky.social responds on.ft.com/4mNZmno
American capitalism: inspired by China?
[FREE TO READ] How are we to understand Trump’s meddling in the US economy?
on.ft.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:08 PM
In today's edition of FT Swamp Notes I examine the idea of 'state capitalism with American characteristics'. @ranaforoohar.bsky.social responds on.ft.com/4mNZmno
@sohrabahmari.bsky.social and I debate Trump’s federalisation of the Washington DC police force on.ft.com/3JiOmjb
Donald Trump says DC is a ‘horror show’. How should Democrats respond?
[FREE TO READ] Simply denying the president, who rose to prominence in New York’s 1970s crime wave, is not effective politics
on.ft.com
August 18, 2025 at 1:20 PM
@sohrabahmari.bsky.social and I debate Trump’s federalisation of the Washington DC police force on.ft.com/3JiOmjb
Great to have @gideonrachman.bsky.social writing today's edition of FT Swamp Notes on Wang Huning's vision of America (with a brief response from me) on.ft.com/41L6BE6
China’s vision of America
[FREE TO READ] A book published more than 30 years ago by a close confidant of Xi Jinping now looks uncannily prescient
on.ft.com
August 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Great to have @gideonrachman.bsky.social writing today's edition of FT Swamp Notes on Wang Huning's vision of America (with a brief response from me) on.ft.com/41L6BE6
Reposted by Jonathan Derbyshire
George called Dave who called his mate Johnny who owns the manor then George called Robert and Chris to come for drinks and Nigel for breakfast! All united by their determination to bring down the elites!
August 13, 2025 at 12:21 PM
George called Dave who called his mate Johnny who owns the manor then George called Robert and Chris to come for drinks and Nigel for breakfast! All united by their determination to bring down the elites!
Reposted by Jonathan Derbyshire
One of the many consequences of Trump is that he strips all our old ambitions down to simple preservation. A year ago I wanted a better Fed, with better tools, one that actually thought about productive loans, like the law says it should. Now I just want the old Fed to survive.
August 12, 2025 at 1:07 PM
One of the many consequences of Trump is that he strips all our old ambitions down to simple preservation. A year ago I wanted a better Fed, with better tools, one that actually thought about productive loans, like the law says it should. Now I just want the old Fed to survive.
What if Trump picks an inflation nutter for Fed chair?
@chrisgiles.ft.com asks the question on everyone's lips on.ft.com/47bLqPp
@chrisgiles.ft.com asks the question on everyone's lips on.ft.com/47bLqPp
What if Trump picks an inflation nutter for Fed chair?
[FREE TO READ] With US checks and balances on the retreat, it is unwise to be an optimist
on.ft.com
August 12, 2025 at 1:02 PM
What if Trump picks an inflation nutter for Fed chair?
@chrisgiles.ft.com asks the question on everyone's lips on.ft.com/47bLqPp
@chrisgiles.ft.com asks the question on everyone's lips on.ft.com/47bLqPp
I've written today's edition of the FT's Swamp Notes newsletter on the Texas redistricting affair (with a reply from our esteemed Washington bureau chief, James Politi) on.ft.com/3UZ5FrS
You say ‘redistricting’, I say ‘gerrymandering’ — let’s call the whole thing off
[FREE TO READ] Democrats face some uncomfortable choices in the face of the GOP’s cartographical shock and awe
on.ft.com
August 11, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I've written today's edition of the FT's Swamp Notes newsletter on the Texas redistricting affair (with a reply from our esteemed Washington bureau chief, James Politi) on.ft.com/3UZ5FrS
We can end the scandal of child poverty if we want to, argues Rowan Williams in @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/45mukeZ
We can end the scandal of child poverty if we want to
[FREE TO READ] Too often the very young are made to carry the consequences of decisions they haven’t made
on.ft.com
August 6, 2025 at 6:06 PM
We can end the scandal of child poverty if we want to, argues Rowan Williams in @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/45mukeZ
Trump's war on data will do lasting damage - former BLS commissioners @ericagroshen.bsky.social and William Beach write for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/3UNbf0x
Former BLS commissioners: Trump’s war on data will do lasting harm
[FREE TO READ] Reliable government statistics are one of the cornerstones of the American economy
on.ft.com
August 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Trump's war on data will do lasting damage - former BLS commissioners @ericagroshen.bsky.social and William Beach write for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/3UNbf0x
The latest edition of the FT's Swamp Notes newsletter:
@edwardluce.bsky.social on the west's complicity in Gaza on.ft.com/4lTdtax
@edwardluce.bsky.social on the west's complicity in Gaza on.ft.com/4lTdtax
The west’s complicity in Gaza
[FREE TO READ] Trump’s acknowledgment of starvation could mark a belated turning point in his relationship with Netanyahu
on.ft.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The latest edition of the FT's Swamp Notes newsletter:
@edwardluce.bsky.social on the west's complicity in Gaza on.ft.com/4lTdtax
@edwardluce.bsky.social on the west's complicity in Gaza on.ft.com/4lTdtax
Reposted by Jonathan Derbyshire
Me on new books by JM Coetzee and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
July 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Me on new books by JM Coetzee and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
Me on new books by JM Coetzee and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
July 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Me on new books by JM Coetzee and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
Can language ever be objective? on.ft.com/4l5us8D
Can language ever be objective?
[FREE TO READ] New books by JM Coetzee and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o look at the global dominance of English and the complicated job of translation
on.ft.com
July 29, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Can language ever be objective? on.ft.com/4l5us8D
Reposted by Jonathan Derbyshire
"The most employable person in conservative circles today is usually the one who makes the loudest claim to have been rendered unemployable."
Matthew Goodwin, Reform and the politics of resentment
The ‘heterodox intellectual’ turned populist is a morbid symptom of the digital age
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
July 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
"The most employable person in conservative circles today is usually the one who makes the loudest claim to have been rendered unemployable."
Wonderful scoop here from Kaye Wiggins on.ft.com/3GZXSqA
Macrons file US lawsuit over claims France’s first lady was born male
[FREE TO READ] Case against rightwing influencer Candace Owens is a rare defamation suit from a serving world leader
on.ft.com
July 23, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Wonderful scoop here from Kaye Wiggins on.ft.com/3GZXSqA
I don’t think anyone captured the essence of Mailer-ness as Diane Arbus did (from the fabulous ‘Constellation’ show at the Oark Avenue Armory)
July 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I don’t think anyone captured the essence of Mailer-ness as Diane Arbus did (from the fabulous ‘Constellation’ show at the Oark Avenue Armory)