The Signal
Current affairs. Strange world.

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22
Oct
Target list

Target list

Armed U.S. immigration agents at the door, checking citizenship before the midterms. An old American fight over who gets to vote. & Why does American politics seem to have gotten so nasty?
6 min read
21
Oct
‘A low but solid virtue’

‘A low but solid virtue’

Feature: Why does American politics seem to have gotten so nasty? Teresa Bejan on the difference between good and bad civility in a democracy.
8 min read
20
Oct
‘Not so much on Ukraine’

‘Not so much on Ukraine’

Russia’s pitch for a summit with the U.S. and China. A 1994 trade: 1,900 warheads for a promise. & Was blowing up Nord Stream a war crime?
6 min read
18
Oct
‘So they can own us’

‘So they can own us’

Alberta’s vote on leaving Canada. A Trump effect on the prairie, and Quebec’s “until the next time.” & Who’s behind the chaos in France?
4 min read
16
Oct
The usual suspects

The usual suspects

The weekend despatch: High schools in flames across France. A government blaming its rivals, months before an election. + Who is Marina Herlop?
14 min read
15
Oct
One hour of sun

One hour of sun

Costa Rica’s new mega-prison, designed by El Salvador. A strongman’s staying power, and a country with no army since 1948. & Is dictatorship winning?
5 min read
14
Oct
‘Keeping up appearances’

‘Keeping up appearances’

Feature: Is dictatorship winning? Adam Przeworski on the puzzle of the world’s richer, angrier voters.
8 min read
13
Oct
Flags of convenience

Flags of convenience

A second freighter in a week sinks mysteriously off Bulgaria. Navies are struggling to keep merchant ships safe. & What happened inside a Siberian plague lab?
5 min read
10
Oct
Applause in Nuremberg

Applause in Nuremberg

American sanctions on the world’s war-crimes court, hours after a former judge wins the Nobel. The fight over who answers to international law. & What happened inside a Siberian plague lab?
4 min read
09
Oct
Of unknown origin

Of unknown origin

The weekend despatch: Russia’s answer to the WHO about the mysterious death of a young researcher. Why outsiders have to take Moscow’s word for it. + Who’s John Congleton?
9 min read