Stephen Fidler
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stephenfidler.bsky.social
Stephen Fidler
@stephenfidler.bsky.social
Journalist. Former correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and Reuters.
“It took from the invention of the photovoltaic solar cell, in 1954, until 2022 for the world to install a terawatt of solar power; the second terawatt came just two years later, and the third will arrive either later this year or early next.” www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment
In the past two years, without much notice, solar power has begun to truly transform the world’s energy system.
www.newyorker.com
July 9, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Stargazing
.
open.substack.com
June 30, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Trump has done it
June 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
“How’s it going, Holy Father?”

www.thebaron.info/people/howar...
Howard Burditt - an unexpected meeting with Pope John Paul - THE BARON
www.thebaron.info
June 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The Musk family. Such excellent judges of character.
June 10, 2025 at 9:36 AM
With every year that passes, the Tory plan to deal with Farage once and for all by holding a referendum on EU membership looks more and more like a stroke of genius.
May 2, 2025 at 12:45 PM
So widely liked and respected, someone who belied the usual first impression. A senior Pentagon official described him to me as “Like Wagner, better than he sounds.” An appreciation by James Mann.

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Why Richard Armitage was the essential American
The longtime national security official stood for U.S. alliances and allies. We could use him now.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 17, 2025 at 7:44 AM
You what?
A reader asked our fashion critic: "Current fashion often includes pants that puddle on the ground. I can appreciate the look, but how do I wear them and keep them clean at the same time?" nyti.ms/4jhKv36
Are My Trousers Supposed to Drag on the Ground? How to Wear Puddle Pants.
Puddle pants, or trousers with floor length, pooling hems, are everywhere right now. Our critic offers tips for wearing them without tracking dirt around with you.
nyti.ms
April 14, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Stephen Fidler
Superb obit here of my friend and former colleague Gwen Robinson by @edwardluce.bsky.social - she was one of a kind. Probably had the widest network of contacts of any journo I have known. Lost far too soon. www.ft.com/content/ec0b...
Gwen Robinson, FT foreign correspondent and editor, 1960-2025
The Asia expert was known for her network of contacts, intrepid reporting and ability to handle big egos
www.ft.com
March 31, 2025 at 11:49 AM
A great shame. A fine journalist and nobody’s fool.
Gwen Robinson (1960-2025)

“Badass” comes to mind when I think about her. Fiercely passionate w/ a career spanning decades across the region. A friend of many here in Bangkok; an inspiration to many more younger colleagues crossing paths with her.

Rest in Power, @robinsonbkk.bsky.social
March 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Stephen Fidler
Having your econ team promote “lower aggregate demand” is definitely a choice.

@cnbc.com
Trump economics adviser Kevin Hassett: "We want increased supply and lower aggregate demand ... that 100 percent is what the strategy is"
February 10, 2025 at 7:37 PM
He won’t live for ever but it’ll seem like it
I thought the Tech Bros wanted to live forever. Guess they don't get measles, TB or HPV.
February 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
My first guess for a future Trump pardon: Elon
February 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Turning on the cricket for some light relief. Oh.
February 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
This from the NY Times shows, among other things, how the UK’s share of US imports collapsed around 2018, and the UK fell from sixth to 12th place. Is there a good explanation for why? General post-referendum shrinkage of the export sector? Anyway, UK hasn’t needed tariffs to cut exports to US.
February 2, 2025 at 11:35 AM
What a dirge is Flower of Scotland.
February 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Turns out it’s easier to win a cricket match with 12 players.
January 31, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Solved
Brussels vows lawsuits against EU countries failing to cut red tape
January 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Nice tribute to a lovely man and fine colleague.
January 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The two largest economies in the world will, as of January 20, be run by economic illiterates.
Read this reporting from Lingling Wei. www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Exclusive | Xi Jinping Muzzles Chinese Economist Who Dared to Doubt GDP Numbers
Gao Shanwen questioned Beijing’s ability to boost its economy as threats loom from a property meltdown and burgeoning debt.
www.wsj.com
January 9, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Paul Krugman and Simon Nixon turn up in my inbox minutes apart today with Substack posts on the fact that US long-term interest rates are rising even as short-term rates fall. Krugman asks whether there is "insanity premium" on LT rates, Nixon whether we're seeing "an American Liz Truss moment." 1/9
January 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I recall seeing Jimmy Carter wading through a rowdy crowd one night in Asuncion, Paraguay, I think in 1993, putting himself at risk to mediate in a disputed presidential election that almost no Americans were aware of.

One of a kind.

Remembering Jimmy Carter www.newyorker.com/news/postscr...
Remembering a Visit to Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia
The late President’s priorities were remarkably prescient, and his personal qualities offered a dismaying contrast to so much of the present state of American politics.
www.newyorker.com
December 29, 2024 at 10:49 PM
Reposted by Stephen Fidler
Ha. If you know anyone who did go to an approved school I’d be *very* interested in chatting to them!
November 25, 2024 at 8:03 PM
Reminds me of a 1960/70s joke. “I went to a good school. It was approved.”
November 25, 2024 at 7:35 PM
Presumably the answer was no, based on the poor punctuation.

www.thetimes.com/article/5320...
Would you say I do to a $200,000 wedding proposal?
An engagement used to be a private affair, but these days social media is awash with high end proposals — and she still might say no
www.thetimes.com
November 20, 2024 at 10:52 AM