Simon Nixon
@nixonsimon.bsky.social
European political economy and geoeconomics commentator. Publisher of the Wealth of Nations newsletter. Previously chief Europe commentator @WSJ, chief leader writer @TheTimes. Runner, cold water swimmer, aspiring chef.
https://nixons.substack.com/
https://nixons.substack.com/
Reposted by Simon Nixon
Bannon’s spurious defence of his two year almost daily support from/to Epstein do not hold water.
All he needed to do was lean forward and drink his tea to see a graphic illustration of Epstein’s serial abuse of young girls
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/u...
All he needed to do was lean forward and drink his tea to see a graphic illustration of Epstein’s serial abuse of young girls
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/u...
February 17, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Bannon’s spurious defence of his two year almost daily support from/to Epstein do not hold water.
All he needed to do was lean forward and drink his tea to see a graphic illustration of Epstein’s serial abuse of young girls
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/u...
All he needed to do was lean forward and drink his tea to see a graphic illustration of Epstein’s serial abuse of young girls
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/u...
Reposted by Simon Nixon
The only question worth asking at these incredibly flash Reform press conferences that take place every week now, is who is paying for all of this and what do they want in return bsky.app/profile/pete...
I’m in Westminster where Nigel Farage is about to unveil his ‘shadow cabinet’ and the decor is slightly bonkers. Looks like he’s going to launch a Simon Cowell-era boyband instead.
February 17, 2026 at 10:39 AM
The only question worth asking at these incredibly flash Reform press conferences that take place every week now, is who is paying for all of this and what do they want in return bsky.app/profile/pete...
Reposted by Simon Nixon
Dan wasn't even born before decimalisation (nor was he anywhere near the UK when he was born) but still he yearns for Britain's pre-decimal times 55 years later.
February 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Dan wasn't even born before decimalisation (nor was he anywhere near the UK when he was born) but still he yearns for Britain's pre-decimal times 55 years later.
Reposted by Simon Nixon
Our takeaway from Munich and how that standing ovation came to happen @lemonde.fr
In substance, Rubio's message in Munich was the same as Vance's
NEWS ANALYSIS. While the US secretary of state struck a less aggressive tone toward Europe than the American vice president had a year earlier, the substance of the speech changed little.
www.lemonde.fr
February 16, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Our takeaway from Munich and how that standing ovation came to happen @lemonde.fr
Reposted by Simon Nixon
Canada is now the first non-European country to be granted a membership in SAFE. This is a gamechanger program that means Canada can rearm our Canadian Armed Forces members more effectively and scale up our defence industries with more contracts overseas.
February 16, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Canada is now the first non-European country to be granted a membership in SAFE. This is a gamechanger program that means Canada can rearm our Canadian Armed Forces members more effectively and scale up our defence industries with more contracts overseas.
So sad. Now is a good moment to say that anyone not watching the latest series of Tehran (or missed the previous two) is missing out on some really excellent telly
Producer of Israeli Apple TV drama Tehran is found dead in Greek hotel
The 52-year-old Israeli died suddenly and her body was found by her brother in her Athens hotel room after failing to respond to his messages.
mol.im
February 16, 2026 at 1:00 PM
So sad. Now is a good moment to say that anyone not watching the latest series of Tehran (or missed the previous two) is missing out on some really excellent telly
The AI revolution looks increasingly like a revolution that is devouring its own children. My latest on why we may be only in the early stages of a revolution whose consequences we have barely begun to understand...
European Spring?
Thoughts on Europe's encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of British decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:17 PM
The AI revolution looks increasingly like a revolution that is devouring its own children. My latest on why we may be only in the early stages of a revolution whose consequences we have barely begun to understand...
My latest on what last week's Labour coup that wasn't tells us about the state of British political journalism and the state of Britain
European Spring?
Thoughts on Europe's encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of British decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:13 PM
My latest on what last week's Labour coup that wasn't tells us about the state of British political journalism and the state of Britain
European Spring? My latest on why Europeans are right to ignore Marco Rubio's unctuous words and focus on how to derisk the continent's economy from American coercion
European Spring?
Thoughts on Europe's encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of British decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
open.substack.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:08 PM
European Spring? My latest on why Europeans are right to ignore Marco Rubio's unctuous words and focus on how to derisk the continent's economy from American coercion
Reposted by Simon Nixon
How often is this stated in UK media?
"Worse, Boris Johnson tried to cover up the economic consequences of a collapse in the number of European workers in Britain as a result of the end of EU freedom of movement rights by allowing an unprecedented surge in migration from the rest of the world."🤔
"Worse, Boris Johnson tried to cover up the economic consequences of a collapse in the number of European workers in Britain as a result of the end of EU freedom of movement rights by allowing an unprecedented surge in migration from the rest of the world."🤔
European Spring? My latest with thoughts on Europe’s encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of Britain’s decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
European Spring?
Thoughts on Europe's encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of British decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:34 PM
How often is this stated in UK media?
"Worse, Boris Johnson tried to cover up the economic consequences of a collapse in the number of European workers in Britain as a result of the end of EU freedom of movement rights by allowing an unprecedented surge in migration from the rest of the world."🤔
"Worse, Boris Johnson tried to cover up the economic consequences of a collapse in the number of European workers in Britain as a result of the end of EU freedom of movement rights by allowing an unprecedented surge in migration from the rest of the world."🤔
Reposted by Simon Nixon
“The choice facing potential Starmer assassins will be the same after the May local elections as last week. Unless they confront the hard choices that the UK political system has been ducking for a decade, his departure would likely set off another round of political instability.”
February 16, 2026 at 7:23 AM
“The choice facing potential Starmer assassins will be the same after the May local elections as last week. Unless they confront the hard choices that the UK political system has been ducking for a decade, his departure would likely set off another round of political instability.”
Reposted by Simon Nixon
I just saw this posted (elsewhere) with the heading 'The Slug and Lettuce' and I genuinely guffawed.
February 15, 2026 at 9:47 PM
I just saw this posted (elsewhere) with the heading 'The Slug and Lettuce' and I genuinely guffawed.
Reposted by Simon Nixon
European Spring? My latest with thoughts on Europe’s encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of Britain’s decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
European Spring?
Thoughts on Europe's encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of British decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:18 PM
European Spring? My latest with thoughts on Europe’s encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of Britain’s decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
European Spring? My latest with thoughts on Europe’s encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of Britain’s decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
European Spring?
Thoughts on Europe's encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of British decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:18 PM
European Spring? My latest with thoughts on Europe’s encouraging response to transatlantic rupture, why Still Here Keir is a morbid symptom of Britain’s decline, and how the AI revolution is devouring its children
Reposted by Simon Nixon
FT: "Sir Tony Blair’s think-tank has called on the UK government to reverse its ban on new North Sea exploration licences and scrap the windfall tax on the oil and gas sector".
Since his institute is now effectively owned by Trump cheerleader and donor Larry Ellison, this is unsurprising.
Since his institute is now effectively owned by Trump cheerleader and donor Larry Ellison, this is unsurprising.
February 13, 2026 at 11:31 AM
FT: "Sir Tony Blair’s think-tank has called on the UK government to reverse its ban on new North Sea exploration licences and scrap the windfall tax on the oil and gas sector".
Since his institute is now effectively owned by Trump cheerleader and donor Larry Ellison, this is unsurprising.
Since his institute is now effectively owned by Trump cheerleader and donor Larry Ellison, this is unsurprising.
Good work. Hopefully other reporters will follow up, especially those who may have inadvertently misled their readers
FACTCHECK: Centrica's Chris O'Shea got blanket coverage for claiming electricity will cost more in 2030 than in energy crisis (Chris Stark: "he's wrong on this")
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
I asked Centrica for evidence – they didn’t reply
(Bills in crisis were >2x today, before huge govt subsidies)
1/4
February 13, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Good work. Hopefully other reporters will follow up, especially those who may have inadvertently misled their readers
At least Birmingham will be quick to get to… from Acton… in 2040 🤷♂️
Oh hang on they only did that after 10am, as you were. Decent policy imo, though locating it in Birmingham is a gimmick and a bad one.
February 11, 2026 at 1:47 PM
At least Birmingham will be quick to get to… from Acton… in 2040 🤷♂️
Reposted by Simon Nixon
Pretty horrific account about an Irish (and thus also EU) citizen being held by ICE since September last year, despite having a legal work and residence permit in the US and being married to an US citizen.
"He said he has been locked in the same large, cold and damp room for 4½ months with more than 70 men. He said detainees are constantly hungry because meals served at tables in the centre of the room offer only child-sized portions." www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Pretty horrific account about an Irish (and thus also EU) citizen being held by ICE since September last year, despite having a legal work and residence permit in the US and being married to an US citizen.
Does he have a candidate in mind? Otherwise bizarre and reckless intervention
BREAKING: Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, calls on Keir Starmer to resign as prime minister.
"The distraction has to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change."
"The distraction has to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change."
February 9, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Does he have a candidate in mind? Otherwise bizarre and reckless intervention
Reposted by Simon Nixon
Trump has now deleted the post, with the White House now claiming, "A White House staffer erroneously made the post. It has been taken down."
Karoline Leavitt a few hours ago:
"Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
Karoline Leavitt a few hours ago:
"Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
February 6, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Trump has now deleted the post, with the White House now claiming, "A White House staffer erroneously made the post. It has been taken down."
Karoline Leavitt a few hours ago:
"Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
Karoline Leavitt a few hours ago:
"Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
Reposted by Simon Nixon
The two interesting things here are that: 1) Trump doesn't have the constitutional authority to conclude this deal without congressional approval, so any enforcement of it is open to legal challenge; and, 2) Milei's timing on torpedoing Mercosur, right after it sealed the EU deal, is curious.
Argentina and U.S. Sign Sweeping Trade Deal as Alliance Deepens
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:15 AM
The two interesting things here are that: 1) Trump doesn't have the constitutional authority to conclude this deal without congressional approval, so any enforcement of it is open to legal challenge; and, 2) Milei's timing on torpedoing Mercosur, right after it sealed the EU deal, is curious.
Reposted by Simon Nixon
Trump promises Schumer funding for NY tunnel project — if Penn Station and Dulles Airport are renamed after him (CNN)
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
Trump promises Schumer funding for NY tunnel project — if Penn Station and Dulles Airport are renamed after him | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer last month that he was finally prepared to drop his freeze on billions of dollars in funding for a major New York infrastructure projec...
www.cnn.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Trump promises Schumer funding for NY tunnel project — if Penn Station and Dulles Airport are renamed after him (CNN)
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
Haven't they be doing this for years?
Good news: Europe, Japan, and the US will work with others on collective resilience through a plurilateral trade initiative on critical minerals.
Together, we will build strong and diversified supply chains to secure the materials needed to power our economies.
Together, we will build strong and diversified supply chains to secure the materials needed to power our economies.
February 4, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Haven't they be doing this for years?
All sorts of problems with a graduate tax, which is why it was consistently rejected as an option. But what makes the current system so iniquitous is that it is effectively a lifelong graduate tax on those whose parents were rich enough to pay the fees. Generational perpetuation of inequality...
Graduate tax could replace ‘doomed’ student loans, says ex-watchdog
John Blake, a former Office for Students director, says the present system of mounting debts is ‘oppressive’ and does not deserve to survive
www.thetimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:42 PM
All sorts of problems with a graduate tax, which is why it was consistently rejected as an option. But what makes the current system so iniquitous is that it is effectively a lifelong graduate tax on those whose parents were rich enough to pay the fees. Generational perpetuation of inequality...
There are people affected by this who are already in their mid-30s - which is why it is exploding as a political issue now! It's probably already too late as any meaningful reform would be prohibitively expensive and perceived as unfair to certain cohorts. Political poison for decades to come
Streeting is right. By the time the UK political debate catches up with the reality of under-30s, who are facing marginal tax rates of 50%+ and not being able to afford decent housing, it’ll be too late.
"I do think it's a debate worth having..."
Is the student loan system fair?
Wes Streeting tells @shelaghfogarty.bsky.social 'we need to look at this' but admits there is 'no sign of movement.'
Is the student loan system fair?
Wes Streeting tells @shelaghfogarty.bsky.social 'we need to look at this' but admits there is 'no sign of movement.'
February 4, 2026 at 7:33 PM
There are people affected by this who are already in their mid-30s - which is why it is exploding as a political issue now! It's probably already too late as any meaningful reform would be prohibitively expensive and perceived as unfair to certain cohorts. Political poison for decades to come