The Signal
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The Signal approaches current affairs in a spirit of curiosity—free of ideology and with a globally diverse slate of contributors. Each week we explore urgent questions in democracy, science, tech, business, education — and more. Sign up at thesgnl.com
What’s the Trump administration doing to the U.S. federal bureaucracy? Francis Fukuyama on the real drivers of waste in the American civil service and the democratic peril in attacking it politically. Read on. Link in comments.
December 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
What’s the Trump administration doing to the U.S. federal bureaucracy? Francis Fukuyama on the real drivers of waste in the American civil service and the democratic peril in attacking it politically. Read on. Link in comments.
How is AI changing global energy consumption? Nicholas Kumleben on the sudden transformation of the power industry—and its implications for climate change. Read on. Link in comments.
December 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM
How is AI changing global energy consumption? Nicholas Kumleben on the sudden transformation of the power industry—and its implications for climate change. Read on. Link in comments.
Why do dictators keep disrupting so many other countries? Miranda Patrucić on what China and Russia are doing in neighboring nations, developing states, and the world’s most powerful democracies. Read on. Link in comments.
December 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Why do dictators keep disrupting so many other countries? Miranda Patrucić on what China and Russia are doing in neighboring nations, developing states, and the world’s most powerful democracies. Read on. Link in comments.
Briefing: Venezuela resumes deportation flights from America. Ukraine peace talks stall in Moscow. + Why are Colombian armed gangs and militias launching so many drone attacks? Read on. Link in comments.
December 4, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Briefing: Venezuela resumes deportation flights from America. Ukraine peace talks stall in Moscow. + Why are Colombian armed gangs and militias launching so many drone attacks? Read on. Link in comments.
Why are people’s cognitive skills declining? Gloria Mark on how consumer technology is making us more error-prone, more stressed, and less productive. Read on. Link in comments.
December 3, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Why are people’s cognitive skills declining? Gloria Mark on how consumer technology is making us more error-prone, more stressed, and less productive. Read on. Link in comments.
What is financial repression? Félix Maradiaga on how autocratic regimes are using the global banking system, international law, and new technologies in an old struggle to suppress dissent and hold power. Read on. Link in comments.
December 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
What is financial repression? Félix Maradiaga on how autocratic regimes are using the global banking system, international law, and new technologies in an old struggle to suppress dissent and hold power. Read on. Link in comments.
Why has Bitcoin become so popular with dissidents living in dictatorships? Farida Nabourema on what the emerging technology has in common with an old suitcase stuffed with cash. Read on. Link in comments.
December 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Why has Bitcoin become so popular with dissidents living in dictatorships? Farida Nabourema on what the emerging technology has in common with an old suitcase stuffed with cash. Read on. Link in comments.
Why can’t Europe’s leaders agree about Europe? Mujtaba Rahman on their disunity in facing the continent’s biggest political and security problems. Read on. Link in comments.
December 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Why can’t Europe’s leaders agree about Europe? Mujtaba Rahman on their disunity in facing the continent’s biggest political and security problems. Read on. Link in comments.
Why are countries around the world developing virtual legal tenders? Roger Huang on the origins, implementation, and implications of central bank digital currencies. Read on. Link in comments.
December 3, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Why are countries around the world developing virtual legal tenders? Roger Huang on the origins, implementation, and implications of central bank digital currencies. Read on. Link in comments.
Briefing: A fire killed 156 in Hong Kong; asking why is a national-security violation. Trump pardons a convicted drug kingpin—and endorses his party’s candidate. + How does joining a petition become a crime? Read on. Link in comments.
December 3, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Briefing: A fire killed 156 in Hong Kong; asking why is a national-security violation. Trump pardons a convicted drug kingpin—and endorses his party’s candidate. + How does joining a petition become a crime? Read on. Link in comments.
Why can’t Europe’s leaders agree about Europe? Mujtaba Rahman on their disunity in facing the continent’s biggest political and security problems. Read on. Link in comments.
December 2, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Why can’t Europe’s leaders agree about Europe? Mujtaba Rahman on their disunity in facing the continent’s biggest political and security problems. Read on. Link in comments.
What does financial repression in autocracies have to do with financial freedom in democracies? Justin Callais on human flourishing in the modern world. Read on. Link in comments.
December 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM
What does financial repression in autocracies have to do with financial freedom in democracies? Justin Callais on human flourishing in the modern world. Read on. Link in comments.
Why are the biggest chipmakers in the world moving to the United States? Chris Miller on the U.S.-China struggle to control the most critical technology on the planet. Read on. Link in comments.
December 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Why are the biggest chipmakers in the world moving to the United States? Chris Miller on the U.S.-China struggle to control the most critical technology on the planet. Read on. Link in comments.
What’s behind the growing skepticism about AI? Daron Acemoglu on excesses of enthusiasm, returns on investment, and the distinctive nature of human reasoning. Read on. Link in comments.
December 2, 2025 at 3:00 AM
What’s behind the growing skepticism about AI? Daron Acemoglu on excesses of enthusiasm, returns on investment, and the distinctive nature of human reasoning. Read on. Link in comments.
The American defense secretary’s “kill everybody” order is under Congressional investigation. Zelenskyy meets Macron in Paris as U.S.-brokered peace talks accelerate. + How is an isolated North Korea suddenly producing advanced military tech? Read on. Link in comments.
December 2, 2025 at 12:21 AM
The American defense secretary’s “kill everybody” order is under Congressional investigation. Zelenskyy meets Macron in Paris as U.S.-brokered peace talks accelerate. + How is an isolated North Korea suddenly producing advanced military tech? Read on. Link in comments.
Why are Americans becoming so lonely? Milena Batanova on a problem U.S. officials have called an “epidemic.” Read on. Link in comments.
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Why are Americans becoming so lonely? Milena Batanova on a problem U.S. officials have called an “epidemic.” Read on. Link in comments.
Why is China building so many ships? Brian Hart on its plan to turn overwhelming commercial advantage into military power. Read on. Link in comments.
December 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Why is China building so many ships? Brian Hart on its plan to turn overwhelming commercial advantage into military power. Read on. Link in comments.
How are changes in hurricanes changing American life? Andy Horowitz on the stakes and urgency of adapting public policy to environmental reality. Read on. Link in comments.
December 1, 2025 at 3:00 AM
How are changes in hurricanes changing American life? Andy Horowitz on the stakes and urgency of adapting public policy to environmental reality. Read on. Link in comments.
Why are millions more Americans turning to talk therapy—and sticking with it? Carlos Blanco on the decline of a stigma, a shift in health coverage, and the individualization of treatment. Read on. Link in comments.
November 30, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Why are millions more Americans turning to talk therapy—and sticking with it? Carlos Blanco on the decline of a stigma, a shift in health coverage, and the individualization of treatment. Read on. Link in comments.
Feature: Is Donald Trump really deconstructing democracy in the United States? Steve Hanson on the American consolidation of patrimonial rule. Read on. Link in comments.
November 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Feature: Is Donald Trump really deconstructing democracy in the United States? Steve Hanson on the American consolidation of patrimonial rule. Read on. Link in comments.
Feature: What does Qatar want from America? Nick Cleveland-Stout on Doha’s massive influence operation in Washington. Read on. Link in comments.
November 30, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Feature: What does Qatar want from America? Nick Cleveland-Stout on Doha’s massive influence operation in Washington. Read on. Link in comments.
Why are so many companies moving to America from Europe? Philippe Aghion on the Continent’s failure to build a competitive innovation ecosystem. Read on. Link in comments.
November 29, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Why are so many companies moving to America from Europe? Philippe Aghion on the Continent’s failure to build a competitive innovation ecosystem. Read on. Link in comments.
What happened to the Chinese dream? Yi-Ling Liu on declining opportunities, increasing malaise, and a waning of ambition in the People’s Republic. Read on. Link in comments.
November 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
What happened to the Chinese dream? Yi-Ling Liu on declining opportunities, increasing malaise, and a waning of ambition in the People’s Republic. Read on. Link in comments.
Why have so many Americans turned against the idea of expertise in public affairs? David A. Hopkins on how the government has become increasingly reliant on experts, and experts have become increasingly influenced by politics. Read on. Link in comments.
November 29, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Why have so many Americans turned against the idea of expertise in public affairs? David A. Hopkins on how the government has become increasingly reliant on experts, and experts have become increasingly influenced by politics. Read on. Link in comments.
Feature: Why are so many foreign powers involving themselves in Africa’s deadliest civil war? Alex de Waal on the plunder of Sudan. Read on. Link in comments.
November 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Feature: Why are so many foreign powers involving themselves in Africa’s deadliest civil war? Alex de Waal on the plunder of Sudan. Read on. Link in comments.