-
Sue Gray says Starmer’s office was consumed by mistrust
Baroness Sue Gray has described working as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff as “unbearable”, saying the atmosphere inside No 10 became so poisoned by leaks and internal briefing that colleagues feared “everything you say” was being secretly recorded. Speaking to Ed Balls on the Political Currency podcast in her first interview since resigning nearly…
-
Miliband summons top Israeli envoy over ‘unacceptable and destructive’ settlement project
-
Trump pick to lead FDA was architect of Joe Rogan-backed policy to promote psychedelics
Donald Trump’s pick to head the US Food and Drug Administration has been named as the architect of a push, backed publicly by podcaster Joe Rogan, to promote wider access to psychedelic drugs. The appointment is notable because it signals a potential shift in the FDA’s approach to psychedelics, which have traditionally been tightly restricted…
-
Israeli military launches criminal probes into killings of 5-year-old and paramedics
Israel’s military on Wednesday announced its first criminal investigations into troop conduct in Gaza, focusing on the killings of 5-year-old Hind Rajab and her family and of 15 Palestinian paramedics.
-
Security funding unclear as Harry and Meghan return to UK
King Charles is reported to have been blindsided by Harry and Meghan’s announcement that they are moving back to the UK, with Archie and Lilibet due to start school there this September. Sources told the Daily Mail that neither Harry nor Meghan mentioned any plan to return during their meeting with the King in July,…
-
US national debt hits $40 TRILLION as cost of war in Iran takes its toll
The US national debt has passed the $40 trillion mark, with the Daily Mail attributing part of the rising burden to the cost of America’s recent involvement in the Iran conflict. The milestone underscores mounting concern over Washington’s finances, as elevated military spending, interest payments and existing budget commitments continue to push federal borrowing higher.…
-
TalkFuse morning briefing, 20 Aug 2026 04:33
TalkFuse’s morning briefing of 20 August 2026 appeared to be a round-up rather than a report on one discrete event. The dominant development was the escalating US-Iran confrontation: President Donald Trump said countries continuing to trade with Iran would face unspecified economic consequences, while Iran rejected the threat. Reporting that morning also described the UAE…
-
Trump shows off spectacular new multimillion-dollar helipad at White House
Donald Trump has unveiled a new multimillion-dollar helipad at the White House, showcasing the addition as part of his ongoing efforts to renovate and upgrade the presidential residence’s facilities. The move continues a pattern of high-profile alterations Trump has made to the White House grounds during his time in office, reflecting his personal interest in…
-
It used to be our imperfect bodies that made us insecure. With AI, it’s our minds as well
In a Guardian opinion piece, historian and author Joseph de Weck argues that just as photoshopped bodies once made people feel physically inadequate, AI is now making people feel intellectually inadequate too. He traces the idea back to philosopher Günther Anders, who predicted in 1956 that as machines grew ever more perfect, humans would feel…
-
Missouri judge hands Trump, GOP major redistricting win ahead of midterm elections
A Missouri judge has ruled in favour of Republicans in a key redistricting dispute, delivering a boost to President Donald Trump and the GOP ahead of November’s midterm elections. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green decided that the state’s referendum process cannot be used to challenge congressional maps drawn by the Legislature, allowing a new…