SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " D6 " 28,219 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
2026 Preakness Stakes horses, odds, time, predictions: Expert who hit 11 winners reveals horse racing picks
Jody Demling, who has called 11 Preakness winners, reveals his 2026 Preakness Stakes picks with Golden Tempo not running
Saturday Sports: North Country softball, baseball, and flag football
Here’s a recap of your North Country sports this Saturday.
Entertainment: Bruno Mars' hits a historic milestone
I Just Might is now in its 12th consecutive week atop the Billboard Radio Songs Chart.
Is China becoming Europe’s top science partner amid an American brain drain?
‘Massive changes in the global flow of talent’ are creating opportunities, according to the head of Germany’s Max Planck Society.
Dodgers Lineup vs. Angels: Freddie Freeman Back, Kyle Tucker Out
The Dodgers are hoping to keep the good times rolling on Saturday, facing the Los Angels for the second game of the road Freeway Series.
Analyst explains why China’s pursuit of Taiwan is ‘all politics’
Heritage Foundation senior research fellow Steve Yates evaluates the strategic picture of China’s foreign policy on ‘Fox Report.’
2026 Preakness Stakes horses, odds, predictions, time: Expert who hit 11 winners reveals horse racing picks
Jody Demling, who has called 11 Preakness winners, reveals his 2026 Preakness Stakes picks with Golden Tempo not running
McIlroy charges into the hunt for epic major comeback win
Rory McIlroy charged into the hunt for the greatest three-day fightback victory in major golf history with a sizzling four-under par 66 in Saturday's third round of the PGA Championship.Not since Jack Nicklaus in 1975 has a player won the Masters and PGA Championship in the same year.
NBC Reveals New ‘Law & Order’ Time Slot for Fall 2026
NBC is betting big on reality TV, sports, and legacy franchises as it reshuffles ‘Law & Order,' cancels ‘Brilliant Minds,' and rolls out new dramas and comedies.
Steelers OTAs: Big storylines to watch this week
The Steelers kick off the next round of OTAs on Monday and here are the big storylines to keep an eye on.
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.'
Tudor House holds Paws for Mental Health event in Roanoke
The Paws for Mental Health event was organized by a local suicide prevention group called Tudor House.
Morgan Stanley turns bullish on Ford's EV storage business
Ford Motor stock surged 13% in a single session the week of May 10 after Morgan Stanley issued a bullish call on the automaker's energy storage business. That was Ford’s biggest one-day gain since March 2020. For context, that kind of move doesn't happen without a serious catalyst. And this one ...
'Menacing and threatening atmosphere' forced Hearts exit
Hearts say "the menacing and threatening atmosphere inside the stadium" forced them to leave Celtic Park immediately after the final whistle of their Scottish Premiership decider.
Small business owners voice concerns over data privacy legislation
Days after National Small Business Week, entrepreneurs and small business owners were back on Capitol Hill, turning the spotlight on a technical issue: data privacy.
Small business owners voice concerns over data privacy legislation
Days after National Small Business Week, entrepreneurs and small business owners were back on Capitol Hill, turning the spotlight on a technical issue: data privacy.
Small business owners voice concerns over data privacy legislation
Days after National Small Business Week, entrepreneurs and small business owners were back on Capitol Hill, turning the spotlight on a technical issue: data privacy.
Small business owners voice concerns over data privacy legislation
Days after National Small Business Week, entrepreneurs and small business owners were back on Capitol Hill, turning the spotlight on a technical issue: data privacy.
Small business owners voice concerns over data privacy legislation
Days after National Small Business Week, entrepreneurs and small business owners were back on Capitol Hill, turning the spotlight on a technical issue: data privacy.
Small business owners voice concerns over data privacy legislation
Days after National Small Business Week, entrepreneurs and small business owners were back on Capitol Hill, turning the spotlight on a technical issue: data privacy.
Small business owners voice concerns over data privacy legislation
Days after National Small Business Week, entrepreneurs and small business owners were back on Capitol Hill, turning the spotlight on a technical issue: data privacy.
Rockets 2025-2026 season in review: Steven Adams
Another season in the books for Aquaman!
King scores twice in Warrington's win at Toulouse
Warrington Wolves move within two points of Super League leaders St Helens with victory against Toulouse.
Digital piracy is on the rise and the entertainment industry is losing billions
The industry faces a growing problem that’s comes at a high cost
Elliot Cadeau announces return to Michigan, laying foundation for potential repeat run
The Wolverines got some great news on Saturday with the return of the 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four Most Outstanding Player
ENTERTAINMENT: Opera in the Ozarks sets summer season; CALS screens ‘The Grocery List Show’
Opera in the Ozarks, the summer music festival and opera training program, will feature two fully staged operas and one opera pairing, June 26-July 24 at Inspiration Point Center for the Arts, five miles west of Eureka Springs.
Timberwolves' Mike Conley plans to play 20th NBA season as he becomes unrestricted free agent
Frequent burials and at least 80 dead as Congo grapples with Ebola outbreak
Alleged burglars caught inside Colorado Springs business overnight: Police
Two suspects were arrested after police say they were caught red-handed inside a Colorado Springs business overnight.
3 Free Agent Forwards That Could Revitalize Jets Depth Offense
Celtic 3-1 Hearts: What O'Neill said
Celtic have been leaving it late in recent weeks but we were never out of it and we have done brilliantly in recent weeks. The only time I felt like we had won the game was when Callum Osmand put the ball in the back of the net.
Dear Abby | Old friend reappears after years of no contact
Dear Abby: I had three close girlfriends in college. We lost touch with one of them more than 35 years ago. She has family in our area but moved to
Polarizing prospect Darryn Peterson is ready to put his health concerns behind him. Are the Utah Jazz willing to do the same?
Darryn Peterson has the talent to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. But his health raised questions for teams like the Utah Jazz this season.
Andalucíans to vote in election seen as gauge of Spain’s wider political change
Conservatives expected to keep majority as socialists face drubbing and ballot tests trajectory of far-right Vox party
Fake lawyers, scientists, chefs and punters: meet the ‘white monkeys’ paid to make Chinese businesses look global
A foreign face is often thought to add prestige to a product or business – what’s behind this unregulated economy?
Country music fans heartbroken as two popular groups split: ‘Loved your music’
The groups have gone their separate ways.
How eBay won over fashion shoppers again
Through savvy partnerships, showing up at key cultural moments, and improving its user experience, the resale OG has become cool again.
NHL Playoffs Tracker: Series Results, Top Scorers, May 16 Schedule
These grandparents sit on benches, ready to talk to strangers who need them
Through Friendship Bench DC, a team of about a dozen older adults fan out across the District to sit and listen to people share their lives.
Monaghan must take Armagh down the stretch
Monaghan legend and BBC pundit Conor McManus outlines what Monaghan must do to upset free-scoring Armagh in Sunday's Ulster SFC final at Clones.
Tri-state political maps unlikely to change despite national redistricting debate
While a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling has lawmakers in some states talking about redrawing their congressional maps, it’s unlikely Iowa, Illinois or Wisconsin will see any changes ahead of
Analyzing potential Mets starting pitching replacements following Clay Holmes injury
Groups rally to defend Black political representation in civil rights birthplace
The rally will begin in Selma, where a violent clash between law enforcement and voting rights activists in 1965 galvanized support for passage of the Voting Rights Act.
Declare climate crisis a global public health emergency, experts tell WHO
Exclusive: Commission says alert would trigger coordinated international response that could help avoid millions dying
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition sails to Great Lakes Science Center
TITANIC: The Artifact Exhibition sails into Cleveland at the Great Lakes Science Center on May 21, and will stay through Jan. 18.
Syracuse Academy of Science 2026 junior senior prom: See 82 photos
See photos taken by a syracuse.com photographer who was at the event.
Mets' Clay Holmes fractures fibula vs. Yankees
Mets starter Clay Holmes broke his leg in Friday's game against the Yankees, fracturing his fibula, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters after the team's 5-2 loss.
Fox Cities sports tourism on the rise: Visitors spent record $14.1M in 2025
More and more Midwesterners are heading to Appleton for their youth sports tournaments.
Baltimore businesses count on Anderson Festival as Preakness 2026 kicks off in Laurel
Indiana Business Journal welcomes local leaders to Fort Wayne during ‘Innovate Indiana’
The Indiana Business Journal held the first of nine ‘Innovate Indiana’ events on Friday.
Community supports student severely burned during school science experiment
The accident happened at Greeneview High School when a science experiment caught on fire.
New Business: Campo Enoteca to expand to Nashua; Yamas Greek Eatery opens in Concord
Eric Maxwell bought Campo Enoteca, a farm-to-table Italian restaurant on Elm Street in Manchester, three years ago with the idea he would eventually expand.
Caitlin Clark reaches impressive Indiana Fever assists milestone
Caitlin Clark continued her ascent in the Fever record book on Friday night.
Washington Nationals vs Baltimore Orioles Game Thread
Follow along as the Nats and the O’s kick off this years edition of the Battle of the Beltway
United Way opens applications for small business grant funding in Charlottesville, Albemarle
Small businesses in Charlottesville and Albemarle County could soon receive help expanding through a new round of grant funding.
Blue whale skeleton will soon be on display at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport
A blue whale skeleton is being assembled at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. The project is the culmination of more than 10 years of effort.
Vague Comments Add to Puzzle Over Tom Kean Jr.’s Absence
Representative Tom Kean Jr. hasn’t voted on Capitol Hill since March as he deals with an unspecified medical issue.
Hayden Panettiere reflects on dating 30-year-old Milo Ventimiglia when she was 18, predicts her daughter will do the same
Hayden Panettiere is preparing for her 11-year-old daughter to date an older man after the actress dated her 30-year-old 'Heroes' costar Milo Ventimiglia when she was just 18.
Santa Maria Business Expo brings public and businesses together Thursday
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce's 2026 Business Expo and Job Fair took place Thursday at the Santa Maria Fairpark, where attendees interacted with various business for networking and
2026 KPAX-Scheels Sports Awards: Hellgate's Elly Reed and Parker Link
It's Day 3 of the KPAX-Scheels Sports Awards, and today we introduce you to the finalists from Hellgate High School in Elly Reed and Parker Link.
San Antonio begins tracking heat-related deaths
Even with more data, the deaths are likely an undercount.
The Steyer campaign pays influencers. Their posts don't always make that clear
Tom Steyer's campaign appears to have relied on paid influencers more than any candidate for governor, according to the most recent campaign finance filings.
Entertainment: Book of Mormon Sales begin, Hoku Finalists
"The Book of Mormon" returns to the Blaisdell Concert Hall later this year after a sold out Honolulu run nearly a decade ago.
County getting into the Entertainment (Zone) business
Hoping to help local businesses and attract more visitors ready to spend some money, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on May 12 conceptually approved the establishment of Entertainment
A political dynasty heiress and a former trade minister advance to Peru’s presidential runoff
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peruvian voters will choose their next president between a political dynasty heiress and a former trade minister who has promised to reform Peru’s mining sector, after advancing on Friday to Peru’s June presidential runoff election.
NYC restaurateur accuses city officials of bombarding small businesses with red tape
NYC restaurateur Stratis Morfogen joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to sound off on mounting red tape delaying outdoor dining permits and warn how socialist-backed policies could hurt small businesses across New York City.
Rome's Bellamy Harbor Park Hosts Free July 11 Concert and More
A free outdoor concert series will bring music and community celebration to Rome this summer as part of the Water Music NY: More Voices Festival.
Ranking college football's 26 most-feared defensive players ahead of the 2026 season
The 2026 season will largely be defined by these elite pass rushers, linebackers and defensive backs
WSFA welcomes Sports Reporter Maya Kitchens
Our sports department is back to full strength! Welcome to the team, Maya!
LEGO 2K Drive Is Being Delisted From Digital Storefronts Next Week
Just three years after release
Rocket Science Health validates targeted olfactory-cleft deposition in non-human primates ahead of the 4th Nasal Formulation & Delivery Summit
As the pace of modern drug discovery accelerates, the industry is increasingly recognizing that a breakthrough molecule is only as effective as its ability to reach the target site.
More taxes on sports betting? NC lawmakers discuss the possibility as industry pushes back
Lawmakers have weighed increasing tax rates on sports betting operators and an additional tax on lottery sales and individual sports bets, sources tell WRAL. No decisions have been made. And the proposals could pose enormous hurdles — and industry opposition.
These Are the Most Obvious Signs That You Travel for Business, According to Flight Attendants
Flight attendants share how they identify business travelers, from clothing to behavior, and explain why these passengers are often the easiest to serve.
Health Care and Family Resources Coming to Burlington
Building a Better You brings its health-focused event to Alamance County
West Ridge business accused of bilking millions from unsuspecting customers in nationwide scam
The Federal Trade Commission and the state of Illinois filed a lawsuit against Premium Home Service and founder Yosef Banath for violating consumer protection laws.
Art, but Make It Sports
The creator behind the viral meme account that pairs famous artwork with sports photography is stopping at Mia for his book tour.
Exclusive: At Samsung, the global AI boom spurred a looming strike and deep divisions
A looming 18-day strike at South Korean chip giant Samsung that has triggered worries within the government, rattled foreign investors and threatened global supply chains rests on one crucial question: who should share in the spoils of the AI boom?
Your Baby’s Gut Health: What Matters Most in the First Weeks of Life
A baby’s gut microbiome starts developing from the moment they’re born, and those early days can have a lasting impact on immune health and development.
Brad Raffensperger can’t outrun 2020 election. Neither can Georgia politics.
It's been six years since Donald Trump lost Georgia. But that election is still driving campaigns in both major political parties.
Lexington news startup debates its unique business model
While the “Local News Hub” program has helped the Observer pay for its own local reporting at a time when news outlets are in search of new revenue streams, some of its leaders are questioning whether it should continue.
‘Football City USA’ adds players, including Steelers’ Mason Rudolph, to York County Sports Hall of Fame
Rock Hill hosted the York County Sports Hall of Fame ceremony, featuring the induction of NFL quarterback Mason Rudolph of the Pittsburgh Steelers, plus other former athletes and coaches.
Senator proposes bill to lower youth sports costs
Many families are paying about $5,000 per child to get them involved in competitive sports outside of school, according to Sen. Chris Murphy.
Britain's pound, stocks and bonds fall on political uncertainty, global inflation angst
British government bonds, stocks and sterling fell on Friday, as domestic political uncertainty clashed with global worries about an inflationary shock, leaving UK assets in the mire.
The Daily Hilaro: La da da da
Your daily dose of off-topic shenanigans
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
Lamar Alexander on Six Decades in Power — And the Future of the GOP
Ahead of his new memoir, the former senator reflects on nearly 60 years of public service, the presidents he’s served and Trump’s GOP.
A chemical found in fish could help reinvent your sunscreen
It’s been over 25 years since the FDA approved a new ingredient for sunscreen in the United States. But a molecule called gadusol found in fish and coral reefs is a promising candidate. It absorbs U.V. rays — acting like a built-in sunscreen for fish. But there’s a big hurdle if scientists want to turn gadusol into human sunscreen: They’d need to make a lot of it. A new study out this week in the journal Trends in Biotechnology takes us a big step closer. Their solution? Using the bacteria best known for making your stomach hurt: e. Coli. Interested in more science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
Marner’s big night helps Vegas reach Western Conference Final
Mitch Marner is playing like the star that the Vegas Golden Knights hoped he would, and he's now helped them reach the Western Conference Finals.
David Letterman got in one last 'Late Show' jab at CBS when he visited Stephen Colbert: 'Good night and good luck, motherf---ers!"
David Letterman didn't hold back in his message to CBS when he joined Stephen Colbert on 'The Late Show' one last time: 'Good night and good luck, motherf---ers'
St. Louis Science Center’s YES program pauses abruptly, leaving students without resources
For more than two decades, Youth Exploring Science, known as the YES program, served as a safe space for St. Louis area students who wanted hands-on STEM learning, mentorship, and college preparation.
Burglars break into 7 Maine Township businesses to steal cash
Angus Taylor’s tough talk on migration puts politics over policy and risks feeding damaging stereotypes
If the opposition leader is serious about fixing the migration system, he should start by creating clearer pathways for people already contributing or stuck in limbo indefinitely
California Academy of Sciences chief Scott Sampson resigns
The departure follows layoffs of 53 workers earlier this year at the Golden Gate Park museum.