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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
Birmingham restaurant expands its business while others fight to stay open amid string of closures
O’ Taste and See expanded its space and added a new dine-in experience after years of operating primarily as a to-go business. It celebrated its expansion on Mother’s Day.
Seattle business owners press police on slow investigations after string of burglaries
Knicks' OG Anunoby out with hamstring strain for Game 3 vs. 76ers, still considered 'day-to-day'
Knicks' OG Anunoby out with hamstring strain for Game 3 vs. 76ers, still considered 'day-to-day'
OG Anunoby injury: Knicks forward diagnosed with hamstring strain, considered questionable for Game 3, day-to-day
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
Luka Doncic’s injury situation is not looking good for Lakers
Luka Doncic continues to recover from a Grade 2 hamstring strain he suffered during an NBA regular-season game on April 2. He missed the first-round series against the Houston Rockets, but the Los Angeles Lakers were able to advance to…
Braves News: Ronald Acuna hamstring injury, Alex Anthopoulos speaks, more
Atlanta Braves news and notes from Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr. exits game with apparent left hamstring ailment
Can the injury bug leave this team alone, already?
Hannibal told not to 'antagonise' crowd at Elland Road
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Police apprehend man sought in string of business robberies in Wilmington, Del.
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Internet Restrictions Spur Russians to Openly Question Putin’s Moves
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‘A String Of Erratic Decisions’: National Science Foundation Advisory Board Abruptly Dismissed
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'Put blame where it belongs:' Mayor, business owners & lawmakers react to Moxham shootings
Mayor, businesses react to Moxham shootings
Political violence is rising. Can we stop it? Tell us.
The White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting is the latest in a string of assassination attempts and killings of political figures. Can we stop it?
OpenAI and Microsoft strike new deal. See what changed.
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US Regional and Mid-Sized Banks Are Dramatically Reinventing Their Business Models
Regional and mid-sized banks have traditionally held stable positions within the US banking sector. But fluctuating interest rates, shifting depositor preferences, stringent regulatory requirements and technological advancements are driving many institutions to undertake significant transformations to maintain their competitive positions.
Colorado lawmakers propose sweeping security overhaul after rise in political attacks nationwide
Colorado legislators unveiled a 60‑page bill that would dramatically expand protections for elected officials, staff, and judicial employees, responding to a string of high‑profile attacks nationwide and growing safety concerns inside the state’s courthouses and Capitol. Introduced earlier this week, House Bill 1422 contains nearly 30 sections. Among those provisions is the establishment of an […]
Jalen Williams sustains hamstring strain, to be week-to-week
Jalen Williams sustains hamstring strain, to be week-to-week.
Thunder guard Jalen Williams leaves Game 2 win over Suns with apparent hamstring injury
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Australian Gas Exporter Santos Streamlines Business to Cut Costs
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Luis Diaz continues stellar first season at Bayern Munich 🔥
Liverpool will be watching and reminiscing on Sunday as Luis Diaz's talents are on full display but for a different club in red.The Colombian winger is pulling the strings for his new club Bayern Muni...
Man City v Arsenal: Team news
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola seems to have settled on a starting XI for the run-in, naming the same side that beat Chelsea last Sunday. It means full-back Nico O'Reilly is fit to start after hobbling off at Stamford Bridge with an apparent hamstring issue. There is a return to the squad for John Stones, who has not featured since 7 March in the FA Cup win over Salford.
Ubisoft’s New Action RPG Is Devil May Cry Meets Cyberpunk
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Alleged burglars break in, steal thousands from businesses on Indy’s northwest side
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a string of early morning break-ins on the northwest side of the city. A police report lists five businesses in Pike …
String of missing or dead scientists 'too coincidental' not to be major concern, congressman says -- as 11th mystery emerges
Mystery clouds deaths, disappearances of scientists with UFO research ties: timeline
Karoline Leavitt says the Trump administration will likely investigate a string of mysterious deaths and disappearances of high-level scientists.
How Dangerous Is Anthropic’s New AI Model? Its Chief Science Officer Explains.
Just how fast is the future coming at us, and how worried should we be? Last week, Anthropic announced Claude Mythos, the latest in what has become the leading family of AI models. In a very short time, AI models from Anthropic and other companies have become shockingly powerful at coding. But Mythos stands out because it is not just able to write code that can hack into critical systems, like those that run financial companies, but also to analyze systems and find and string together vulnerabilities in them, allowing Mythos to evade even sophisticated defenses. Anthropic chose to release Mythos to only about 40 leading corporations, so they could analyze the model’s capabilities and prepare countermeasures, in an effort it calls Project Glasswing. The release of Mythos—and the prospect of similarly powerful AIs to follow—has caused tremors at the top levels of Washington and corporate America. Jared Kaplan, co-founder and chief science officer at Anthropic, is at the center of this breakthrough. We sat down with Kaplan so he could walk us through just how powerful Mythos is, what the implications are for issues like our personal privacy, and what comes next. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Sean Fischer: For the layman, how is Claude Mythos different—more powerful, more dangerous—from previous models released by Anthropic? Jared Kaplan: I think most people have experienced the fact that our computers get faster and faster over time and over many decades. There’s this very smooth trend where every 18 months, maybe, computer processing power doubles. I think AI is on a trend in which it’s improving maybe 10 times faster than that. A lot of the earliest work that I did in AI was around identifying this scaling trend in AI. Claude Mythos is the latest model from Anthropic, but it’s not different because it’s qualitatively different. It’s really just kind of the culmination of the trend of AI models getting smarter and smarter at all kinds of general capabilities, from reasoning to software engineering to scientific research to knowledge work. For us, it was the first model to demonstrate very elite-level cybersecurity capabilities. It wasn’t because we trained Claude Mythos to focus on cybersecurity, but it was because, as a byproduct of its general intelligence and its general ability with software, it’s particularly good at identifying vulnerabilities in software and how to exploit them.
Brewers expecting 'bad news' after losing Christian Yelich to hamstring injury, dropping 5th straight in sweep by Nationals
Brewers lose Christian Yelich to hamstring injury vs. Nationals
Christian Yelich was off to a strong start at the plate this season before leaving Sunday's game early.
Christian Yelich leaves Brewers' game against Nationals with hamstring tightness
Christian Yelich left the Milwaukee Brewers' game against the Washington Nationals on Sunday with tightness in his left hamstring. It wasn't immediately clear how Yelich got hurt. He was the designated hitter and went 0 for 2, hitting grounders each time.
Seniors: Carol Watson, 72
Owner of Carol Watson Greenhouse and Landscaping in LaFayette enjoys her growing business — still puts in six-, seven-day weeks By Mary Beth Roach Carol Watson, the owner of Carol Watson Greenhouse and Landscaping, has been in gardens since she could walk. Literally. She said she learned to walk in her grandfather’s garden, which was next door to her current home and business in LaFayette. Today, at 72, she is running the business that her mother, Claire, opened in 1981 as Watson Greenhouse. Watson worked part-time for her mom until 1990, when she joined her full time. While she may not have had any formal horticultural experience, she said she learned so much about growing and raising plants from her mom, who had an abundance of energy and talent. Now, after 35 years in the business full time, Watson has no plans to retire, although she joked that she’d like a couple of days off a week. On her seven-acre site, complete with four greenhouses, Watson said her favorite parts of the job are working with and educating her customers; helping some of her young customers build terrariums; conducting occasional class field trips; and supporting local art by decorating the shop with an eclectic mix of pottery from at least four area craftspeople. A one-time employee of the former Dey Bros. department store in Syracuse, Watson said she loves merchandising and enjoys displaying unique pieces of art on shelves and even suspending from ceilings. “We’re creative. We also had top quality plants. We got a reputation of quality plants and unusual products,” she said. It’s tending to her customers and her plants, showcasing the unusual products, and hosting special events to benefit the community that keep her motivated to work six to seven days a week. “I just love it. I love taking care of the plants. I’m one of the few people that really enjoys watering,” she said. And while she has cultivated a solid customer base over the years, she remains savvy in her marketing efforts to draw in new customers. For example, she does a gardening segment on CNY Central television; her active Facebook page has thousands of followers; and she hosts a number of unique events and classes that not only introduce her shop to potential new clients, but some benefit nonprofits as well. About 13 years ago, when the local symphony orchestra was struggling, she said she wanted to help. So, partnering with the group, she began offering concerts, called Soirees, featuring the Syracuse Orchestra’s string quartet. Following up on a suggestion from a customer whose brother is a deejay in retirement, specializing in sock hops, she hosted the greenhouse’s first sock hop. Plants got moved back toward the walls to make room for dancing; a caterer was brought in, offering diner-like food; guests came in period outfits; and proceeds went to the Food Bank of CNY. She is excited about doing it again in October. Via her website, she promotes the greenhouse as an “oasis in the snow,” offering visitors the opportunity to pick up some decorating and gift ideas while taking in the floral and citrus scents. And she also caters to her four-legged friends. Over this past winter, she said, she came up with a “brilliant idea,” although at the time she didn’t appreciate just how brilliant it would become. Feeling it too cold outside to take her dog for a walk, she opted to bring it into the greenhouse. And before long, she was inviting people to bring their dogs into the big greenhouse as well. She looks forward to extending that invitation again this upcoming winter season. For Watson and her customers, the greenhouse is always in season.
Photo Of Cameron Brink, LeBron James Grabs Basketball World's Attention
WNBA star Cameron Brink was at Crypto.com Arena on Friday night to watch LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers square off against the Phoenix Suns. Unfortunately for the Lakers, this month hasn't been very kind to them. A few days ago, All-Star guard Luka Doncic suffered a grade 2 hamstring ...
Mets news: Clay Holmes exited Friday’s game with hamstring injury
The injury bug bites again.
Altoona business owner accused of fraud
The owner and operator of Tipton Construction in Altoona was taken into custody Wednesday for allegedly committing a string of home improvement frauds. John Bailey Tipton II, 44, was arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones on seven felony counts of making a false statement to induce agreement for home improvement services, five […]
Steam client files point to "framerate estimator" feature in the works
JSON text strings suggests performance charts based on "framerates of other Steam users."
76ers lose Cameron Payne to hamstring injury amid playoff chase
The Philadelphia 76ers are in the midst of a chase to clinch a spot in the NBA playoffs, but they just suffered a loss to their a core member of their bench.
String of deadly police shootings raising questions about mental health and law enforcement
There are five deadly police shootings under investigation in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including calls tied to mental health crises.
Recent string of police shootings puts mental health in focus
From Boston to New Hampshire, a series of deadly police shootings has left five people dead in just a few weeks. Some of those encounters began as mental health calls… all are now under investigation.
Lakers' star Doncic to miss rest of regular season
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will miss the rest of the regular NBA season with a hamstring injury, which could rule him out of the league's major awards.
Season on the brink: State of Luka Dončić's hamstring holds fate of Lakers' hopes, NBA honors
Lakers get demolished by Thunder, lose Luka Dončić to hamstring injury in disaster of a game
Chicago police investigating string of business robberies in Logan Square
Chicago police are investigating a string of robberies Friday morning in Logan Square.
Lakers get demolished by Thunder, lose Luka Dončić to hamstring injury in disaster of a night
It was a very bad night for the Lakers.
Luka Dončić exits with hamstring injury in disastrous night for Lakers vs. Thunder
It was a very bad night for the Lakers.
The Race to Succeed Newsom Has All the Democrats’ Problems
After more than a year in disarray, Democrats finally seem to be getting it together. The party is heading into the midterm elections with an edge in both polling and messaging. Voters are energized — see this weekend’s No Kings rallies — and that has led to a string of wins in special elections, including one last week that flipped a district in Florida that takes in President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
Penguins are ‘furious’ over string of disputed NHL decisions
Frustration is building inside the Pittsburgh Penguins organization after a series of disputed NHL decisions against them during a critical stretch. The Penguins are pushing for a playoff spot after a three-season drought. The issue gained attention after comments from…
Roland Garros pulls heartstrings with Rafael Nadal viral throwback video
A recent social media trend is the “Dad what were you like in the 90s” where famous people show throwback photos or videos of themselves with the Goo Goo Dolls 90s hit “Iris” playing in the background. Roland Garros, also…
Govee’s Outdoor Chromatic String Lights Sound Obnoxious in the Best Way
These smart light bulbs support Matter, but there's a catch.
Every bulb on Govee’s new outdoor string lights can display multicolor effects
Level up your patio.
Data centers under scrutiny by California lawmakers as fears rise about health and energy impacts
Due to health and energy concerns, the California Legislature is considering bills to prohibit data centers from being exempted from the state's stringent environmental law and impose new tariffs on new major energy users that strain power supplies.
Ballard set to miss Northern Ireland's Italy play-off
Dan Ballard is set to miss Northern Ireland's crucial World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy on Thursday because of a hamstring injury.
Everything you need to know about 'BTS: The Return,' the new Netflix documentary
On Friday, Netflix will release a documentary about the biggest band in K-pop, BTS. It is titled “BTS: The Return.” It is from director Bao Nguyen. He is known for his work on “The Stringer”...
Everything you need to know about 'BTS: The Return,' the new Netflix documentary
On Friday, Netflix will release a documentary about the biggest band in K-pop, BTS. It is titled “BTS: The Return.” It is from director Bao Nguyen. He is known for his work on “The Stringer”...
Sacramento businesses recover after string of burglaries; 1 suspect arrested
Sacramento police have arrested a man believed to be connected to 11 burglaries affecting local businesses, as authorities work to prevent further incidents.
Intel Stock (NASDAQ:INTC) Plunges as it Rolls Out More New Processors
Chip stock Intel ($INTC) has been on a roll lately with a string of new processors. We have seen several of these emerge just in the last few weeks. And
Book review: Hands, Wrists, Fingers: Creative Health for Musicians
Philippa Bunting reads Pedro de Alcantara's volume on boosting health for the curious musician, including some novel arm, wrist, hand and finger exercises for string players
Davids Visits Merriam Manufacturer to Highlight Small Businesses Challenges
MERRIAM, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited K.C. Strings, the largest instrument string manufacturer in the state of Kansas, to see the company’s manufacturing operations and hear directly from the owners about their new ventures and the challenges they face due to chaotic federal policies set by the administration.
Tennessee lawmakers skeptical over strings attached to Trump rural health grant program
The Trump administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is being met with skepticism from Tennessee lawmakers.
The ideal temperature for happiness: The science behind 57 degrees| Starting Point
Next week, we’ll see a string of days around this important number, when science says we feel "maximized" happiness.
Noemward Bound: DHS Secretary Shown the door after string of mishaps
Overnight burglary spree hits six Chicago businesses
Chicago police are warning business owners after a string of overnight burglaries targeted six businesses across several South and Southwest Side neighborhoods.
CPD warn about string of South, SW side business burglaries
Chicago businesses hit in early-morning burglary spree across South Side: police
Chicago police are warning the public about a string of recent commercial burglaries on the South Side.
Merriam to buy iconic KC Strings business in historic downtown
The city of Merriam is spending up to $3 million to buy the iconic KC Strings building — and three others under the same ownership — in downtown.
Poking a nanostring: Scientists uncover energy cascades in tiny resonators
Scientists at TU Delft have designed a nanostring that, when poked, doesn't lose its energy to the environment immediately. Instead, the energy leaks out within the string, triggering a cascade of distinct ...
Scott Stringer talks changes in city politics, raising taxes, NYC's budget
Textbooks challenged by new discovery about how cells divide
Scientists have uncovered a surprising new way that giant embryonic cells divide—without relying on the classic “purse-string” ring long thought essential for splitting a cell in two. Studying zebrafish embryos, researchers found that instead of forming a fully closed contractile ring, cells use a clever “mechanical ratchet” system.
Duren, Cunningham lead Pistons past short-handed Thunder, 124-116
Jalen Duren had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Cade Cunningham added 29 points and 13 assists and the Detroit Pistons beat the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder 124-116 on Wednesday night in a matchup of conference leaders. The Thunder started the game without five of their six leading scorers — Shai Alexander-Gilgeous (abdomen), Isaiah Hartenstein (calf), Chet Holmgren (back), Ajay Mitchell (abdomen) and Jalen Williams (hamstring). The only one of the top six to start was Isaiah Joe, and he left at halftime because of a bruised hip.
String of closures at The Market Common raises concerns among business owners
A string of recent business closures at The Market Common has raised concerns among shop owners in the area.
Private equity to buy Arcosa's barge business for $450 million
Arcosa Inc., Dallas, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its barge building business to Wynnchurch Capital LP, Rosemont, Ill., for $450 million in cash, continuing a string of
Eagles' A.J. Brown urges mental‑health awareness after string of suicides in NFL, Hollywood
Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is urging people to seek help when they are struggling, sharing a message about mental health following several recent tragedies in sports and entertainment.
2 charged for stealing $21,500 worth of metal products from Del. businesses
Two men were charged in connection to a string of thefts where they are accused of stealing $21,500 worth of metal materials from Delaware businesses.
‘Home Improvement’ star Zachery Ty Bryan sentenced to 16 months in prison after string of legal woes
"Home Improvement" actor Zachery Ty Bryan has been sentenced to 16 months in jail after pleading guilty to felony DUI charges in California.
Alameda police make arrests after business break-ins
Alameda police say several suspects have been arrested in connection with a string of commercial burglaries.
Olympics recap: The sports staff share moments that stuck out to them during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games
From USA vs. Canada ice hockey to Alysa Liu tugging at heartstrings all across the nation — the 2026 Winter Olympics was full of unforgettable moments for our sports writers.
With health a top priority, Mets to ease Robert into spring games
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- To be clear, Luis Robert Jr. is not hurt. Yet Robert, the Mets’ new center fielder, has been sidelined often in his career -- the casualty of hip, wrist, knee, hip (again), hamstring, hamstring (again) and other injuries over his last five seasons with the
L.A. business owners slam city after entire block of stores flooded: ‘No one was doing anything’
A string of stores in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles were damaged by flooding during Monday’s torrential downpours, and business owners say this is a reoccurring issue that the city fails to f…
Sacramento police investigate string of seven business burglaries within roughly 24 hours
Sacramento police investigate string of seven business burglaries within roughly 24 hours
String Of ‘Devastating’ Suicides In Hawaiʻi Prisons Continues
Corrections officials are asking for millions of dollars this year to hire dozens of health care workers to improve mental health services inside.
Show your love: Entertainment abounds at Bankhead for Valentine’s weekend and beyond
"Valentine's Day weekend falls during a busy February for the Bankhead Theater in downtown Livermore, fortunately for those of us who might still be searching for an outing to celebrate with our dearest."
Search continues for additional suspects in string of Placer County business break-ins
Burglars target 5 businesses in less than 24 hours; authorities track SUV to Sacramento
JJ Redick gives update on Luka Doncic
Lakers coach JJ Redick gave an update on when he thinks Luka Doncic will return from a hamstring strain.
Anthropic to donate $20m to US political group backing AI regulation
Move puts AI firm in opposition to ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which has advocated for less stringent AI regulations
Man charged in string of Montgomery business robberies
A 36-year-old man has been charged in a string of Montgomery business robberies, according to police.
The sports bar Athletic Club Oakland has closed
A game-day destination for Oakland sports fans poured its last beers on Super Bowl Sunday. The bar is the latest in a string of closures in in the city over the past few months.
‘A free limo is hard to turn away’: how car diplomacy turbo charges politics in the Pacific
A luxury Chinese sedan gifted to Fiji is the latest in a string of vehicles donated by foreign countries to deepen partnerships and seek influence in the region
On Harvey Elliott, the Business of Sport, and Loyalty
Liverpool are a club that, for the big spending that took place over the summer, look a bit light given a string of injuries across different departments of the first team. While the biggest concerns are on the defensive end, with right-back and center-back being particularly light with injuries to Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, and […]
That dry, bitter taste may be waking up your brain
New research suggests the astringent sensation caused by flavanols could act as a direct signal to the brain, triggering effects similar to a mild workout for the nervous system. In mouse experiments, flavanol intake boosted activity, curiosity, learning, and memory—despite these compounds barely entering the bloodstream. The key appears to be sensory stimulation: the taste itself activates brain pathways linked to attention, motivation, and stress response, lighting up regions involved in arousal and memory.
Luka Dončić exits Lakers game vs. 76ers with left hamstring soreness
The Lakers are holding their breath on Luka Dončić.
Chicago police issue alert for string of business burglaries, armed robbery on Northwest Side
Chicago police issued an alert on Sunday about a string of business burglaries and an armed robbery on the city's Northwest Side.
Bellingham suffers injury on Real duty
England midfielder Jude Bellingham is substituted with what appears to be a hamstring injury early in Real Madrid's La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano.
FSU wins second straight ACC matchup, takes down Stanford
Florida State (9-12, 2-6) played host to the Stanford Cardinals (14-7, 3-5) in Tallahassee on Saturday, looking to string together its first win streak in ACC play under Luke Loucks. The two teams went back and forth early in the first period, with FSU eventually pulling away to build an eight-point halftime lead. FSU then […]
North Seattle business owners sounding alarm after string of burglaries
Robin Dreisbach is the co-owner of Ravenna Refills, a body and home goods store. They just had their first anniversary – and first break-in.
Patriots Defender Squashes ‘Crazy’ Drake Maye Playoff Narrative
Despite stringing together three dominant postseason outings, the New England Patriots defense doesn’t want to hear about carrying Drake Maye to Super Bowl LX. Maye led New England to a 14-3 season and AFC East championship by accounting for 35 touchdowns with a league-leading 72.0 completion percentage. The MVP finalist hasn’t lived up to those […]