SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " secret " 2,521 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Had a Secret U.K. Home Before Frogmore Cottage
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle once lived in a $3.3 million farmhouse in the Cotswolds. Learn more about their lesser-known former home, here.
Hegseth torches identity politics in West Point speech: ‘Can’t throw your pronouns at the enemy’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in the pouring rain on Saturday morning, in which he accused former “foolish and feckless …
Travel industry worries after Trump administration reiterates threat to sanctuary city airports
The travel industry is on edge after Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reiterated his threat to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called “sanctuary cities” in a move that could jeopardize international flights.
Who has the better chance of inheriting Trump’s Maga movement: Vance or Rubio?
Analysts say the American vice-president and secretary of state are trying to prove loyalty without becoming political liabilities.
Trump’s Pursuit of a Partnership With China Raises Concerns in India
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has a “gargantuan task” during his visit to Delhi: defuse tensions over President Trump’s anti-India aggression and overtures to China.
Mysterious Earthquakes Strike Like Clockwork – We May Finally Know Why
The secrets of predictable faults.
Tulsi Gabbard resigns as director of national intelligence, citing husband’s health
She is the latest Trump Cabinet member to depart the administration, after Kristi Noem was fired as DHS secretary in early March.
As China tensions loom, US temporarily pauses Taiwan weapons sales due to Iran war, acting Navy secretary says
The U.S. temporarily paused weapons sales to Taiwan to ensure munitions are ready for potential Iran escalation, Acting Navy Secretary Cao testified.
Trump Says Poland Will Get an Extra 5,000 U.S. Troops
In a recent call, Trump asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth why a previous deployment to Poland was canceled.
Could the secret to diagnosing endometriosis be hiding in plain sight?
Although menstrual blood is typically discarded, researchers are beginning to use it to reveal new clues about women’s health.
Judge recommends Maine transgender sports referendum be invalidated
A judge has ruled that the proponents of the referendum, “An Act to Designate School Sports Participation and Facilities by Sex” has too many invalid signatures. It will be up to Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to make a final decision on whether or not it will appear on the November ballot.
Homeland Security’s Plan to Strong-Arm ‘Sanctuary’ Cities
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told travel executives he may target airports in cities that don’t help ICE.
Republicans could abandon $1bn proposal for Trump’s ballroom
Republican senators have queried the timing and lack of detail in secret service bid to add money to the Department for Homeland security bill
Runoff surprises and shockwaves: What Tuesday’s results may reveal about Georgia’s political mood
According to the Georgia Secretary of State's website, with a nearly 28% turnout of active voters, more than two million people cast a ballot in the May 19 Georgia primary election. A panel of political analysts discussed what the results and voter turnout will mean for the November midterm election.
Google Saved a Couple of New Android Secrets for I/O
Now that I'm back from Google I/O, I've been trying to catch up on anything I may have missed while traveling, like some of the streamed sessions that followed the main keynote. In the "What's new...
Lunar launch
When Artemis II launched in April, sending astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, the mission broke records — and will help scientists understand undiscovered secrets, including the history of Earth and our solar system.As lunar science lead for NASA’s Artemis II mission, Kelsey Young, ’12 MS and ’14 PhD in geological sciences, led the team that developed the lunar science plan and trained the crew to study the moon.
RFK Jr. terminates heads of preventive services task force amid overhaul
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. quietly removed the two top leaders of a key preventive services panel last week as he seeks to overhaul its membership.
WATCH: Duffy flips script on Dem senators with pointed questions about their own campaign cash
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy clashes with Democratic senators over corporate-funded Great American Road Trip as Americans face high gas prices.
US Health Secretary Kennedy fires heads of key preventive health panel
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier this month fired the chair and vice chair of the influential task force that decides which preventive medical care is provided at no cost to patients.
US Health Secretary Kennedy Fires Heads of Key Preventive Health Panel
NEW YORK, May 20 (Reuters) - US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier this month fired the chair and vice chair of the influential task force that decides which preventive medical care is provided at no cost to patients. The Preventive Services Task Force, which typically has 16 ...
Two New Mechanisms Could Help Explain How Greenland Sharks Live For So Long
Researchers studying the Greenland shark think they may have found two more of its anti-aging secrets.
Britain Politics
Britain Minister of State for Trade Chris Bryant, left, takes a group photo with Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and delegation members during a signing
RFK Jr. Fires Leaders of Key Health Task Force
The health secretary has undermined the work of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force over the past year.
The Knicks' MVP of their 22-point comeback in Game 1? James Harden
"There is no secret, we were attacking Harden."
Sen. Gillibrand of New York Clashes With Sean Duffy Over Funding Freeze
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, criticized the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, for posting a video that bragged about withholding money from the state.
Exclusive: US Health Secretary Kennedy backs away from some recent changes to CDC vaccine panel
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s latest effort to reconstitute a CDC vaccine advisory committee backs away from some reforms he announced just weeks ago and could complicate his efforts to alter federal immunization policy, according to a copy of the plan reviewed by Reuters.
Rubio criticizes WHO’s Ebola response as US continues sweeping public health cuts
US secretary of state says WHO was ‘a little late’ in identifying deadly Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda
Oronde Gadsden II is the Chargers’ best-kept secret
I think I can, without a doubt, say that second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden II is one of the most exciting Chargers fans are looking forward to watching in 2026 after a great rookie season. He became a dangerous weapon for Justin Herbert once he cemented himself in the team’s starting lineup and will once […]
Britain Business
Small business representatives, British Business Secretary Peter Kyle, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, centre right, pose for a group photo as Starmer hosts a reception to mark the introduction
"Pollution over politics" Environmental Advocates NY responds to EPA PFA rollbacks
On Monday, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the repeal of drinking water regulations for four different P
Secretary Kennedy Brings ‘Take Back Your Health’ Tour to California, Highlights Microbiome Research and Addiction Recovery
HHS Secretary Kennedy traveled to California for his “Take Back Your Health” tour where he visited the City of Hope cancer center and met with local officials.
Woodbridge school counselor named 2026 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of Year - State of Delaware News
Taylor Richey, a school counselor from the Woodbridge School District, is the state’s 2026 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year. Secretary of Education Cindy Marten made the announcement at a statewide banquet honoring the district and charter network behavioral health professionals of the year. The Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center counselor said […]
Hegseth unleashes on Massie in GOP primary showdown against Trump-backed Navy SEAL vet
Trump-backed Ed Gallrein gets boost from Defense Secretary Hegseth on the eve of Kentucky's GOP primary challenge against Rep. Thomas Massie.
Kudos to Cheer Club, College of Business faculty, Cybersecurity team and more
Becky Cottrell, Ph.D., Department of Social Work, and Bridget Arend, Ph.D., School of Education Becky Cottrell from the Department of Social Work and Bridget Arend, Ph.D., from the School of Education co-authored an article recently published in an international journal. Read the article. Biff Baker, Ph.D., College of Business Biff Baker, Ph.D., received a Best in Track award from the Society for Advancement of Management for research examining bureaucratic inefficiencies within Section 8 subsidized housing programs. The study focuses on how administrative delays and communication breakdowns can create housing instability for families and discourage landlord participation. It also offers recommendations to improve accountability and trust in public housing systems. Brendan Fry, Ph.D., Department of Mathematics and Statistics Brendan Fry, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, co-authored the article “Modeling the Impact of Venous Collapsibility on Retinal Oxygenation,” published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. The interdisciplinary research brought together scholars from the University of Delaware, Indiana University Indianapolis, McGill University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. Access the article. Bridget Arend, Ph.D., School of Education Bridget Arend, Ph.D., professor in the School of Education, co-published the book “Facilitating Seven Ways of Learning: A Resource for More Purposeful, Effective, and Enjoyable College Teaching, Second Edition” with James R. Davis. The book explores practical approaches to improving college teaching and student learning experiences. Buy the book. College of Business Faculty At the 2026 Western Decision Sciences Institute international conference, Sally Baalbaki-Yassine, Ph.D., Debora Gilliard, Ph.D., and David Lynn Hoffman, Ph.D., from the College of Business received the Best Case Study Paper Award for “Oreo: A Global Success Story in Brand Evolution and Market Leadership.” Lisa McVicker, Ph.D., and Apryl Brodersen, Ph.D., also had their paper, “Electronic Performance Monitoring: Employer Panacea or Legal Quagmire?” accepted for publication in the Journal of Business Leadership. Community Engagement Exchange Program Metropolitan State University of Denver was selected to host international Fellow Aleja Henao Espitia of Bogotá, Colombia through the Community Engagement Exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State. View Espitia's LinkedIn profile. David Varel, Ph.D., College of Letters, Arts and Sciences MSU Denver historian David Varel, Ph.D., has been awarded a 2026 ACLS Fellowship by the American Council of Learned Societies. The fellowship program supports outstanding scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, and selected just 63 scholars from more than 2,000 applicants this year. Varel’s project, “The Black Chicago School: Academic Activism in the Age of American Apartheid,” explores the work of Black scholars who challenged scientific racism, built alternative institutions and helped lay the foundation for the modern civil rights movement. The fellowship provides up to $60,000 to support full-time research and writing. Learn more about the fellowship. MSU Denver Office of Financial Aid Team Several MSU Denver employees were recognized for leadership and service during the Colorado Association of Financial Aid Administrators (CAFAA) conference held in May in Crested Butte. Don Holtzen, interim associate director of systems, chaired the conference and was recognized for his service as CAFAA conference chair and technology chair during the 2025-26 term. Holtzen also received the Postsecondary Institution Professional of the Year award, which recognizes financial-aid professionals who have made significant contributions to their institutions and to CAFAA. Tori Pacheco, associate director of Student Services, helped design décor and facilitate the conference and was recognized for her service as CAFAA secretary during the 2025-26 term. Destiny Candelaria, call center coordinator, served on the conference planning committee and presented on One Stops during the event. Michael Nguyen, executive director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, assisted as a CAFAA board member and was recognized for serving as president-elect during the 2025-26 term. Richard Balbag, program assistant I, received the Distinguished Support Staff Member of the Year award, honoring staff members who have made exceptional contributions to their financial-aid offices. Military Friendly Recognition Military Friendly has awarded MSU Denver Gold Status as a military-friendly university and ranked the University No. 7 nationally for military spouses. The recognition reflects MSU Denver’s strong support systems for veterans and military spouses, including transfer credit assistance and retention-focused resources. As of 2026, 1,050 military-connected students are enrolled at the University, advancing institutional priorities around serving veterans and supporting student retention. MSU Denver Cheer Club The MSU Denver Cheer Club earned third place in the 4-Year College Small Coed Intermediate division at the USA Spirit Nationals. Celebrate the win on Instagram. MSU Denver Cybersecurity Team An MSU Denver cybersecurity team earned first place in the Strategist category at the 2026 CYBER RECon National Competition hosted at Fort Meade, Maryland, by U.S. Cyber Command. Led by Jeffrey London, Ph.D., and undergraduate student Matthew Bopp, the team competed against universities and law schools nationwide with its 30-page legal analysis on cybersecurity and free speech titled “Freedom of Speech and MDM: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation.” The paper also earned Bopp a personal invitation to apply to the University of Maryland School of Law. MSU Denver Debate Team MSU Denver Debate won the 2026 Sierra Sustainability Summit hosted at Yosemite National Park in April. Students Kat Conte and Simon Bernhard bested teams from George Washington University, Gallaudet University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the University of San Francisco and Tennessee Tech in the modified present-and-defend style competition. Their proposal recommended adapting Colorado’s Keep Colorado Wild Pass model to support California state parks facing budget constraints. Learn about the summit. MSU Denver Women’s Golf MSU Denver Women’s Golf was represented on the national stage this month as junior Neige Dunn competed as an individual at the NCAA West Regional. She became the first Roadrunner in 10 years to qualify for NCAA Regionals as an individual. Get the details.
Pete Hegseth boosts Trump-backed challenger to Rep. Thomas Massie ahead of Kentucky primary
It’s highly unusual for the defense secretary to participate in a political event. Massie has opposed the Trump administration’s handling of the war in Iran.
Why the WakeMed - Atrium Health hospital merger matters
Hospital execs worked in secret on the deal for two years.
Additions to David Blunkett’s alternative king’s speech
Letters: Readers praise – and point to omissions from – the former home secretary’s proposed programme for government
Viewers Are Dragging This Show Online But Are Also Secretly Obsessed With It
A new season of a beloved series is already sparking intense reactions online, with viewers calling it everything from painfully relatable to full-on “rage bait.” See what all the chatter is about here.
Public Health Law and Policy Experts Urge Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Reject the Latest Effort to Destabilize Childhood Vaccines | Milken Institute School of Public Health | The George Washington University
In comments filed on May 19th, a group of public health and administrative law scholars urged HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reject a petition seeking to dramatically expand the scope of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.
Trump admin rolls out Workforce Pell Grants to fast-track workers into high-demand jobs
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the new Workforce Pell Grant program will help Americans train quickly for in-demand jobs.
Buttigieg rallies for Montana election initiative, stays mum on political plans
During an hour-long speech in a packed Mother Lode Theatre, Pete Buttigieg made a rousing plea to ban corporate money from Montana politics while repeatedly sidestepping talk of a 2028 presidential run. The 2020 Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. transportation secretary drew cheers from the audience of 1,200 in Butte as he suggested that special interests and corporate spending in campaigns had drowned out the concerns of average voters.
US states reject anti-vaccine bills as public health groups fight MAHA
Dozens of state anti-vaccine bills backed by "Make America Healthy Again" supporters have failed after public health groups won over Republican state lawmakers, marking a series of defeats for the backers of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Business Starts for May 18, 2026
In February, 993 new businesses filed incorporation paperwork with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, in order to do business in the state.
UK-registered firms linked to payments for small-boat crossings, BBC finds
Smugglers are directing migrants to pay using a network of British businesses, secret filming reveals.
Pete Buttigieg visits Butte to discuss removing corporate money from Montana politics
BUTTE, Mont. — Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came to Butte on Sunday for a town hall focused on Initiative 194, also known as the Montana Plan.
Pete Buttigieg visits Butte to discuss removing corporate money from Montana politics
BUTTE, Mont. — Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came to Butte on Sunday for a town hall focused on Initiative 194, also known as the Montana Plan.
Crowds pack into Washington's National Mall for prayer rally
President Donald Trump was expected to address the gathering, which got underway as a light rain fell, in a video message. Other top Republicans, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., were also on the schedule as part of the celebrations this year marking 250 years of U.S. independence.
Big tobacco is exploiting fears of the illicit market to unwind health gains, Australian experts warn
Cigarettes kill 66 Australians every day, coalition says, criticising MPs who heard evidence from Philip Morris in secret
Pro-Israel groups are spending big to sink Thomas Massie in the most expensive House primary in history
“AIPAC’s views on Thomas Massie are no secret,” the group's spokesman said. “We use different tactics in different districts. Our goal is to win.”
Scientists Uncover an “Alien” Metal Hidden in a 3,000-Year-Old Year-Old Treasure Stash
A Spanish museum guarded a 3,000-year-old secret. Two corroded objects in Europe's richest Bronze Age gold hoard were made from metal that fell from the sky.
Mysterious fault's quake brakes may hold secret to stopping tremors: Study
Who's fault is it?
Aura Takes Renny Harlin's The Beast with Samuel L. Jackson for U.S.
Joel Kinnaman co-stars in the film, about U .S. president trying to fight against a coup using the secret capabilities of the presidential limousine, nicknamed 'The Beast.'
Aura Entertainment Takes Renny Harlin’s Samuel L. Jackson Actioner ‘The Beast’ for U.S. (Exclusive)
Joel Kinnaman co-stars in the film, about U .S. president trying to fight against a coup using the secret capabilities of the presidential limousine, nicknamed 'The Beast.'
U.K. health secretary will run for prime minister after challenging Starmer's leadership in scathing resignation letter
Rubio: Iran won’t be able to leverage US politics into forcing ‘bad’ deal on Trump
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said Iran attempting to use U.S. politics, specifically rising energy prices and its impact on Americans, will not pressure President Trump and lead him i…
Secret Science Garden
Sunday, May 31 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Brookwood Public Library...
What you need to know about the new health secretary James Murray
What are the most pressing priorities for the new minister in charge of health?
Britain Politics
Britain's newly appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care James Murray leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Friday, May 15, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Britain Politics
Britain's newly appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care James Murray leaves 10 Downing Street in London, Friday, May 15, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Chartbook 449: Voldemort on Threadneedle street. The Bank of England and the "haunted house" of English politics.
Imagine the scene: In some Harry Potter version of 21st-century London, a group of deathless UK Treasury officials gathered from across the last century huddle over warm pints and glasses of Chardonnay. Around the table there are officials from the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s, 2022 and today. Inevitably, in May 2026, the subject of conversation is the disintegration of the current Labour government. Despite its huge majority in parliament, it has been reduced to tatters by catastrophic local election result. These exposed the fact that rather than having a government with a clear popular majority, the UK is like most other modern societies divided into 5 segments each of which commands between 26 and 16 percent of the vote. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leadership at Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street - where the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (Treasury Secretary) work - seem paralyzed. They are caught between mounting discontent over unfairness and the cost of living, and tough fiscal strictures that push them into making unpopular spending decisions. In the London pub, the Treasury officials from across the ages, can barely hide their satisfaction at the latest display of democratic politics caught in the vice-grip of financial logic. “Remember the mur d’argent and the banker’s ramp?” “Just like yesterday!” There are smirks around the table. Then the representative of 2026 pipes up: “One thing you have to say about the current lot (referring to the latest hapless Labour government), you don’t have to teach them about the bond market!” There is a murmur of ascent from the Treasury Mandarins. The trauma of the fiscal crisis of September-October 2022 sits deep. Back then, in the final stages of Tory decay, a ‘mini budget’ that challenged fiscal orthodoxy led to a brief but fierce panic in one of the oldest government bond markets in the world (aka gilt market). Now all you have to do is to mention the “bond market” to hush debate. [ Paul Mason@paulmasonnews In the name of public service, and as ex-economics editor of BBC Newsnight, I offer to do a zoom call, tonight, with any Labour MP who wants to understand why bond markets do not "fall into line" with governments. 1/ 3:57 PM · May 12, 2026 · 466K Views 224 Replies · 674 Reposts · 3.93K Likes ](https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2054229532404519082?s=20) “And the funny thing is”, the young man in the huddle continues, “they don’t even want to talk about … ”. There is a sudden hush. Significant looks are exchanged around the table. About? One of the senior figures puts down his glass with a decisive “clink”. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has entered their thoughts. Meanwhile, a few miles away in a grubby pub in Bloomsbury, two conspirators from the camp of Critical Macrofinance huddle over cans of low-alcohol IPA. They look at each other and blurt out loud: “The Bank!” “Everyone in the bloody Labour party is talking about the bond market. But why aren’t they even mentioning … the Bank of England!?” “Why is no one talking about Voldemort?” In Paul Mason’s blogpost, after much chest-thumping about basic fiscal logic, the basic point about the Bank of England is buried in the fine print at #3 in his list of suggestions as to what a radical Labour government might actually be able to do! [ Conflict & Democracy Down with the bond market! Down with gravity! It may seem unfair to focus on Labour MP Paula Barker for her off-the-cuff assertion that the bond market would have to “fall in line” with Andy Burnham, should he replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. But Burnham himself told the New Statesman that Labour had to “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets… Read more 2 days ago · 100 likes · 3 comments · Paul Mason ](https://htsf.substack.com/p/down-with-the-bond-market-down-with?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Back in Bloomsbury they shake their heads and ask: “Didn’t we learn anything from the Eurozone crisis?” Meanwhile, as if summoned to the conversation by some higher force, the “pink pages” announce: “The days of ultra-cheap government borrowing have come to an end” and Martin “Whizzard” Wolf publishes the graph of the season Look at the UK in 2026, perilously positioned on the upper edge of the pack. No wonder no one in London needs any lessons about the “bond market”. But, look again. Imagine how they feel in Rome. What is London’s nightmare in 2026? The nightmare is that you end up like Italy in the early 2010s during the Eurozone crisis. Once comfortably situated in the middle of the pack, watching with horror as your ten-year yields explode to 7 percent and “spreads” become a national nightmare. One of the largest economies in Europe, a founding member of the euro, stigmatized. But the message of the Italian experience is ambiguous. After all, the stigma didn’t last. In 2026, Italy borrows at rates lower not only than the UK but the US. The US, which, as everyone knows, enjoys the “exorbitant privilege” of being the issuer of reserve, safe asets. What kind of magic is this? How did Italy, in the space of fifteen years, go from being good, to bad and back again? Which brings us back to our dissident friends in their Bloombury boozer and their memories of the Eurozone crisis. Italy never was Britain - with its ongoing fiscal deficits. Without interest payments, on primary balance, from 2000 to 2020 Italy ran a tight fiscal ship. Even in 2008 it barely went into deficit and when it was being put on the rack in the early 20210s its primary surplus matched that of austere Germany. So, what happened? How did it end up stigmatized? Of course Italian politics didn’t help. Berlusconi was at the helm and he had legal issues. But amongst friends in the Bloomsbury pub, Berlusconi is a sideshow, the name we whisper to each other is “Trichet”. From 2004 to 2011 the ECB was headed by Jean-Claude Trichet, ex of the French Treasury, more German than the Germans. After 2009 as the news of the Greek fiscal disaster broke, the European bond markets wento into panic mode and Trichet began a brutal game of cat and mouse. Between 2009 and 2011, Trichet intervened in the bond market to help, only when he thought he had compliance with austerity. When he thought they were uncooperative, he withdrew. In the summer of 2011, he even made direct suggestions to his Italian counterparts in Rome, as to how Italy should be governed. It was this cat and mouse game that drove the bond markets crazy and exposed Italy to a violent squeeze. When Mario Draghi took over the ECB at the end of 2011 and declared “whatever it takes”, the pressure on Italy, gradually eased. It is that starring role that has made Draghi into the towering figure in European politics that he remains today. So now you see why voices in London hush when it comes to the Bank of England. “The bond market” isn’t an irresistible objective force like the weather or an avalanche. It can appear like that. But that depends on the way it is being handled, or not handled by the central bank. Which is why the silence about the Bank of England in London right now is so significant. If you think this all sounds a bit fishy, coming from a left-liberal Keynesian like myself, well, let me introduce you to Robin Brooks, who, to put it mildly, plays on a different quidditch team to me. Here, from the position of a fiscal hawk is Robin’s celebratory account of the Bank of England’s role since 2022; In October 2022, at the height of the bond market blow-up in the UK, something incredible happened. Governor Andrew Bailey told British pension funds the Bank of England would end its support program for the country’s fragile gilt market, drawing a line under how much help the central bank was willing to give to exposed pension funds and - implicitly - the government. By the end of that week, Kwasi Kwarteng - the finance minister - had resigned. Prime Minister Liz Truss would soon follow. This episode is so incredible because it contrasts with what happened in the Euro zone earlier that year. Bond markets in Spain and Italy were under pressure amid high inflation and rising interest rates. In the middle of this, Mario Draghi - Italy’s Prime Minister - resigned, compounding pressure on bond markets of high-debt countries on the Euro periphery. Unlike the Bank of England, the ECB caved. It bought Italian and Spanish government bonds in an effort to cap yields and introduced a new tool that signaled to markets it might do such caps more frequently going forward. Faced with pressure on bond markets, the ECB capitulated to political pressure from high-debt countries like Italy and Spain. The Bank of England stood its ground and toppled the Truss government. This kind of thing has long-lasting consequences. It means markets price a higher probability of yield caps in the Euro zone, which keeps Italian and Spanish yields artificially low, while markets feel free to push up UK yields without fear of central bank intervention. As I flagged in yesterday’s post, this means you really can’t compare UK yields to those of other high-debt countries. The UK looks worse, but only because its central bank isn’t interfering with markets. There’s more to this than just that 2022 episode. The Bank of England has also been much more aggressive in its quantitative tightening (QT) than other central banks. If one motivation for quantitative easing (QE) is to lower bond yields - especially longer-dated ones - then it stands to reason QT pushes yields up. The left chart above shows a four-quarter moving average of UK government debt issuance (black line) in percent of GDP and which sectors absorb this issuance, including the Bank of England (blue bars). The right chart above compares the Bank of England’s accumulation or run-off of government bonds (blue line) with that of other central banks, where this blue line is the same as the blue bars in the left chart. The Bank of England was quicker and more aggressive than other central banks in downsizing its bond holdings, so UK yields will have risen more than elsewhere also for this reason, not just because of Governor Andrew Bailey’s remarks in October 2022. Back in October 2025, after a conversation in New York with friends in British politics, my sense of dysphoria was such that I raised the issue of the Bank of England openly in the FT Since 2008, the UK has slid into a deep economic and political predicament. Growth has stagnated to a degree far worse even than in the 1970s. The Tory leadership’s wager on the Brexit referendum spectacularly backfired, leaving the UK isolated from Europe and at the mercy of its special relationship with the US, many of whose political class regard the UK as a basket case. After years of austerity, the Labour party lurched to the left and then back to the centre. The Tory party has been eclipsed by the populist nationalism of Reform. Any British government should be worrying first and foremost about how to restart growth. Instead, Keir Starmer is beset by shades of the gilt market panic triggered by the Liz Truss government in 2022. The debt level is higher than in recent years, but there is no cause for panic. UK debt is at far from critical levels and of long duration. Whether you want to “take back control” or launch progressive economic policy, a democracy dogged by fear of bond market vigilantes is unhealthy. In a country that is a monetary sovereign, this climate points to one thing: a disconnect between the government and the central bank. Since 1997, the independence of the Bank of England has become a sacred cow. But independence is what you make of it. And in the wake of the gilt market crisis of September 2022, relations between the Bank of England and the UK government need a reset. In normal times, there is no doubt that an inflation-targeting independent central bank can serve a country well. But since 2008, the UK and other advanced economies have not had the luxury of such simple problems. To their credit, central bankers around the world have not stood on orthodoxy. After 2008, the US Federal Reserve rescued the global banking system and, through quantitative easing, it stabilised the Treasury market in the face of huge deficits. In Europe, things were trickier. Both the Bank of England under Mervyn King and Jean-Claude Trichet’s European Central Bank played cat and mouse with national governments. This was a high stakes wager that between 2010 and 2012 escalated bond market tension and triggered a disastrous turn to austerity. Shaken by the impact of those shocks, their successors, Mark Carney and Mario Draghi adopted a more protective stance (assuming you were not the government of Greece). Recall that Draghi’s legendary slogan, “Whatever it takes”, was uttered to face down the City of London’s bond vigilantes. In 2015, Draghi launched QE — financial repression by another name. In 2016, Carney used the authority of the Bank of England to stabilise markets following the vote for Brexit, an exemplary demonstration of how central banks can underpin democratic choice, even when those choices are wrong headed. All these were independent central bankers steeped in the best practice of the 1990s, who recognised that historic crises demanded radical action. It was the price surge of 2021-2023 that poisoned the atmosphere. Though the shock came mainly from the supply side, central banks ended up in the dock. Nowhere more so than in the UK. The Bank of England reacted with aggressive normalisation. Faced with a cost of living crisis, the governor called for workers to accept real wage cuts. In early 2022, as gas prices were at record levels and Russia’s army was poised to invade Ukraine, the Bank adopted a stringent programme of quantitative tightening, elevating interest rates. When the Truss government got itself in trouble, the Bank took almost a week to come to the rescue. Rather than enacting a charade of normality, it is time to recognise that in 2025 the UK faces a period of historic transition. To meet this challenge, what is needed is a new concordat with the Bank. This should not ignore inflationary pressures or the long-run trajectory of debt, but should affirm the priority of reviving investment-led growth. One could follow Donald Trump in demanding interest rate cuts. The Bank could shadow the ECB in its commitment to capping Eurozone yields. But the top priority should be to lay the ghost of September 2022. The Bank’s slowing of QT last month was a concession. An immediate and complete end would send the right signal. Such a concordat will not by itself restore sanity to politics, solve the housing problem or rebuild the NHS. But it would help to lift the fear of bond market crisis, which is paralysing the effort by democratic politicians to answer the fundamental questions facing the nation. Now, that call for a new concordat between government and Bank of Englands seems more urgent than ever. The problem is that in October 2025, Starmer still had some authority. Today the government is in tatters. And when you are the “under the harrow” - to echo a phrase of Montagu Norman’s from the 1920s - it is the worst possible time to consider institutional change. To make general arguments at a time of crisis can only seem like special pleading rather than a general argument for long-term change. The same, unfortunately, is also true for the other basic institutional reform that Britain urgently needs i.e. the abolition of the out-dated first past the post electoral system and its replacement by a moderated form of proportional representation. And thirdly - whilst we are saying the quiet parts out loud - Britain needs to reopen the question of EU membership. What the local election results of 2026 show is that this remains a key issue. And what they also show is that there is a clear majority that would favor a return. Until these basic features of Britain’s political economy are addressed the country will carry on its politics as though in a haunted house, governed by governments that lack actual majorities, conjuring up false constraints whilst ignoring the real ones. This one is for DG and MI. I love writing the newsletter. If you enjoy it too and fancy buying me a coffee once a month, you know what to do. Click below! Subscribe
The brain’s “feel good” chemical may be secretly fueling tinnitus
Scientists have uncovered evidence that serotonin — the same brain chemical boosted by many antidepressants — may actually worsen tinnitus. Using advanced light-based brain stimulation in mice, researchers identified a serotonin-driven circuit linked directly to tinnitus-like behavior. The findings may explain why some people experience louder ringing in their ears while taking SSRIs.
When Businesspeople Run Government, the Government Doesn't Become a Business
Central planning from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump, and others reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes private markets work.
Border Patrol chief Michael Banks resigns his position
US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks told CNN Thursday he was stepping down from his post, effective immediately, marking the latest senior immigration official to leave the Department of Homeland Security since Secretary Markwayne Mullin stepped into the top job.
Wes Streeting, U.K. Health Secretary Who Banned Puberty Blockers, Has Resigned
Wes Streeting was reponsible for ending the prescription of puberty blockers to minors.
U.K. health secretary resigns in scathing letter, setting up challenge to Starmer's leadership
WATCH LIVE: Navy Acting Secretary Hung Cao testifies on budget as Trump discusses Iran with Xi
UK health secretary resigns, creating a potential power struggle with PM Keir Starmer
Health Secretary Wes Streeting became the first senior minister to quit Starmer ’s Cabinet on Thursday in what is expected to be a precursor to challenging his leadership.
Britain Politics
FILE - Britain's then Heath Secretary Wes Streeting gestures as he speaks during the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)
Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary - his letter in full
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced his resignation from government.
Scientists discover hidden math secret inside Chinese money plant leaves
Scientists have uncovered a hidden mathematical secret inside the leaves of the Chinese money plant: a naturally occurring geometric pattern known as a Voronoi diagram, something typically associated with city planning, computer science, and network design. By mapping tiny pores and looping veins in the plant’s leaves, researchers discovered that the plant organizes itself using the same kind of elegant spatial logic humans use to solve complex distance problems — without ever “measuring” anything.
Why everyone’s suddenly talking about quitting antidepressants
A new push by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is putting SSRI tapering — and its risks — into the spotlight.
Downtown Businesses on the Move, Plus More Retail & Restaurant News
Several downtown Traverse City businesses are on the move – including swapping locations, preparing for summer relaunches, or getting ready to open their doors for the first time. The Ticker has the latest on those and other restaurant and retail updates from across the region. Downtown MovesThe recent sale of the building at 122 Cass Street …
As Trump fuels Vance vs. Rubio speculation, his vice president makes anti-fraud push
Vice President JD Vance — who compared himself to the kid in “Home Alone,” with both President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in China this week — had the White House campus to himself on Wednesday for an event on fraud.
Rubio calls China ‘top political challenge’ for US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stresses the importance of managing America’s relationship with China on ‘Hannity.’
Missouri risking chaos due to dueling congressional maps, foes of new maps say
The organization behind a referendum campaign challenging Missouri’s newly-drawn congressional maps says Secretary of State Denny Hoskins risks electoral chaos the longer it waits to decide whether or not to certify if the referendum process can move forward to a statewide vote.
Trump keeps secret Vance letter in Resolute Desk if crisis erupts, official reveals
Gorka reveals Trump left a letter addressed to VP JD Vance in the Resolute Desk drawer with a plan should Vance ever need to succeed the president.
Republican senators say they need more detail on $1B White House security request
Republican senators left a meeting with the director of the U.S. Secret Service on Tuesday saying they need more details on a $1 billion security plan for the White House, including a proposed $220 million to secure President Donald Trump’s new East Wing ballroom.
RFK Jr. Swaps Vaccine Rhetoric for Story Time as GOP Woos Voters
By Amanda Seitz | KFF Health News TOLEDO, Ohio — The little boy, dressed in a Toy Story sweatshirt, wrapped himself around the nation’s health secretary. “What do you guys want to be when you grow up?” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked a carpet full of preschoolers. “A ...
IUCN signs One Health Partnership MOU in Viet Nam with Nature for Health commitment
On April 24, 2026, IUCN and UNDP staff attended the One Health Partnership (OHP) MOU signing ceremony and the review of the OHP 2026-2030 Master Plan. IUCN and UNDP representatives signed the MOU with 57 other signatories. In Viet Nam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s International Cooperation Department (ICD) serves as OHP Secretariat.
Britain Politics
Britain's Health Secretary Wes Streeting arrives in Downing Street for a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, Wednesday, May 13, 2026.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Wes Streeting set to meet Keir Starmer ahead of King’s speech
A number of the health secretary’s allies called for the prime minister’s resignation but Streeting has yet to call for a formal leadership challenge
Validity of 330 signatures could determine future of trans sports initiative
The signature gathering practices of the campaign behind the anti-transgender sports initiative are being cast into doubt, potentially derailing a referendum set to appear on the November ballot. Evidence submitted over several hours to the Secretary of State’s Office Tuesday suggested a pattern of negligence within the campaign behind the citizen’s initiative, with signature collectors […]
Secret Service Makes Case for Security Funding Amid G.O.P. Unease on Ballroom
The presidential protection agency detailed how it would use a proposed $1 billion as Republicans asked for more detail and Democrats went on the attack.
Trump Administration Expected to Tap Longtime ICE Official to Lead Agency
David Venturella’s expected appointment is in line with a push by Markwayne Mullin, the homeland security secretary, to keep his department under the radar and out of headlines.
Exclusive: CIA escalates secret war on cartels with deadly operations inside Mexico
Since last year, CIA operatives inside Mexico have directly participated in deadly attacks on several, mostly mid-level cartel members, the sources said.
US adversaries using the 'political theater' Democrats created as a point of weakness: DHS Secretary Mullin
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin discusses Chinese infiltration efforts in the United States and DHS funding issues on 'The Story.'
Marty Makary out as head of US Food and Drug Administration
Makary is the latest top health official to be ousted under Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.
FDA chief plans to resign amid agency turmoil
The ouster of Makary is the latest shake-up at the Department of Health and Human Services, with some officials selected by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being swapped out for more conventional choices.
Raffensperger Event Is Disrupted by ‘Active Threat,’ Bomb Squad on Site
The discovery of a suspicious object disrupted a campaign stop for Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state in Georgia, who is running for governor.
Hegseth faces bipartisan grilling about weapons drawdown during the Iran war
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing tough questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the Trump administration’s end game for the Iran war, the cost of the conflict and its
The Apprentice: Boafo fills coffers with support from Hoyer’s political network
It’s no secret that Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th), the dean of Maryland’s federal delegation, is working hard to elect Del. Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s) to succeed him. But the full extent of Hoyer’s investment in Boafo’s campaign is only now coming into focus.
Britain Politics
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy leaves after a cabinet meeting in Downing Street, London, Tuesday, May 12, 2026 as Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is
Britain Politics
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband arrives for a cabinet meeting in Downing Street, London, Tuesday, May 12, 2026 as Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Britain Politics
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed arrives for a cabinet meeting in Downing Street, London, Tuesday, May 12, 2026 as Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Starmer to face key cabinet meeting with ministers split over his future
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is among a minority of ministers calling for the PM to set out a timetable for his resignation.
RFK Jr. Says Men in the '70s Had Twice as Much Sperm as Teenage Boys Today: 'Existential Crisis'
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. characterized the United States' declining birth rate as an "existential crisis," claiming that men in the 1970s had "twice the sperm count" as teenagers today during a White House event on maternal health on Monday, May 11.
Secretary Kennedy Takes ‘Take Back Your Health’ Tour to Ohio, Driving Prevention-First Strategy to Make America Healthy Again
CLEVELAND—MAY 11, 2026— HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. visited Ohio this week as part of his “Take Back Your Health”.
Health Officials Say "Country is Prepared" to Deal with Hantavirus
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Oz tells reporters in the Oval Office that the country is prepared to deal with the Hantavirus outbreak and treat the disease, despite cuts to federal agencies. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy also says the CDC has been on it from day one and has been in contact with officials in Nebraska dealing with people exposed to the virus. "We have this under control, and we're not worried about it," Kennedy says. The secretary also disputes that it took four days after the World Health Organization issued an alert for the U.S. to follow suit. "It's just not true," he says.
DHHS Assistant Secretary for Health speaks after hantavirus passengers arrive in Omaha
Admiral Brian Christine, MD, with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spoke at a news conference Monday morning.