What are the stakes of Trump’s ultimatum to Putin in Ukraine? … The Epstein case: What happens when a movement to out conspiracies takes over institutions it was meant to expose? … & Are crackdowns in El Salvador and Cambodia part of a global dictators’ playbook? … The member’s despatch, Week XXIX.
Plus: More developments from around the world. … Books from John H. Cochrane, Luis Garicano, and Klaus Masuch, on why the euro has had so many crises—and survived them; Jack Copley, on why the financial industry has become so central to the whole economic system; and Samuel Jay Keyser, on why we like certain works of art. … Music from Cut Copy, Polynation, and Hamid al-Shaeri. … & What’s Habibi Funk Records?
And: Is Europe getting ready to defend itself? … Why are some cities and regions getting wealthier, while others are increasingly left behind? … & What happened to the Chinese dream? … + The weather report: 46.4200° N, 73.2525° W …
You may have noticed how often even outwardly serious publications will now figure out how to interrupt your day with some version of “Drop everything and read this now!” It’s become part of the lexicon of current-affairs media in a digital age—framing almost everything as if missing it would leave you fundamentally unprepared to navigate the world. But something I think we all intuitively know about true urgency: It’s rare, and when it’s real, you don’t really need anyone to tell you. The market is crashing; the powers have declared war; the house is on fire.
What we do need, with more media playing for more of our attention, with more information—and more access to us through the devices we’re always carrying or wearing around—aren’t just fewer declarations of urgency but better ways to filter for importance. I know, it’s tough when the president of the most powerful country in the world is a key partner to the news media in the urgency business. But something I think we all intuitively know about filtering for importance: It always starts with asking good questions. And it never really ends. So let’s guard our time carefully.
—John Jamesen Gould
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Developments
The world in brief, July 12-18
Washington’s new ultimatum for Moscow
U.S. President Donald Trump announced this week that the United States would dramatically increase weapons supplies to Ukraine and impose 100 percent tariffs on Russia, along with any countries that buy Russian oil, if Moscow doesn’t agree to a ceasefire in the next 50 days.
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