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Is 50 the new 60?
Subscribe TL;DR: Younger generations are showing signs of worse health compared to earlier-born cohorts at the same age This backward “drift” is showing up both in mortality risk and chronic disease Worsening trends in obesity and diabetes are the most consistent signals Taking the long view, we’ve made astonishing gains in health and life expectancy in the last century. Global average life expectancy has more than doubled from 32 years in 1900 to 73 years in 2024. (But don’t forget, there were still old people when life expectancy was 32). As people lived longer, they also generally lived healthier along the way. It turns out that avoiding things that can kill you early, like malnutrition and lots of childhood infections, also keeps you healthier later in life. In a classic 2004 paper, Finch and Crimmins proposed that cohorts of children who benefited from fewer early life infections had less lifetime exposure to inflammation and cardiovascular disease later in life, accelerating mortality improvements at older ages. Poor nutrition in the womb has also been linked to a higher risk of later chronic disease. The upshot is that improvements in childhood health can pay dividends many decades later. The combination of better living conditions (nutrition, sanitation) and medical advances (antibiotics, vaccines, blood pressure meds, etc) meant that people’s healthy lifespan generally expanded, even as they lived longer. Aging researchers call this best-case scenario “compression of morbidity”—meaning we delay the onset of disease and disability even faster than the years of life we are adding. During my 20+ year research career, we could generally bank on the idea that younger generations would not only live longer but also keep getting healthier along the way. “60 is the new 50” as they say… Enter “Generational Health Drift” Sadly, this expectation of steady progress may be changing. You’ve probably heard that US life expectancy gains have slowed to a crawl in the past couple of decades. Mortality improvements are also slowing (though less dramatically) in many other high-income countries (you can read more about that in a review paper I wrote here). Mortality is a very blunt health measure, but it is often a good barometer for the broader population health trends happening underneath. And we are now seeing that younger generations may be in worse health at similar ages compared to earlier born cohorts. My collaborator Prof. George Ploubidis at University College London coined this worsening health in more recently born cohorts “generational health drift.” “Generational health drift” is bad news on multiple fronts. Most obviously, we don’t want our health progress to go backward. But the timing is also bad, since our populations are aging. In demographic terms, “population aging” means that the proportion of the population at older ages (i.e >65 years) is increasing. Fun demography fact: Current population aging is not due to the recent declines in the birth rates making the news, but declines in fertility decades ago, after the “baby boom.” As baby boomers reach older ages, the smaller cohorts behind them mean the percentage of older adults will increase. For example, the share of the population age 65 and older in the US increased from 12.4% in 2004 to 18.0% in 2024. This story of population aging was written long ago. Many worry that population aging will put pressure on health care and pension systems. But if people reach older ages in better health than in years past, those fiscal pressures would be less dire than projected. Healthy older people can also continue to contribute to society in many valuable ways, including paid work, caregiving, community service….even high political office 🤷. On the flip side, if younger generations reach retirement age in worse health and with more disabling conditions, this could magnify the societal challenge of population aging. Evidence for worsening generational health A recent paper that I LOVED in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Leah Abrams and colleagues examined which birth cohorts (aka generations) were behind worsening US mortality. Behold the Lexis diagram (cue swooning demographers). Calendar time is on the x-axis, age on the y-axis. Birth cohorts can be followed over time as they age on the diagonal lines moving up and to the right. This figure plots the year-on-year % change in all-cause mortality at a given age. Green shading indicates mortality improvements over time, white is stagnation, and gray shading indicates worsening mortality. Following the diagonal line for those born in 1950, you can see a noticeable shift from green to gray that follows this cohort for most of their lives. This gray shading shows generally worsening mortality for the 1950 to 1959 birth cohorts compared to their predecessors across all ages. Concerningly for my GenX and elder millennial peeps, there was also a deterioration in mortality for birth cohorts born in the 1970s and 1980s, visible as dark gray areas at ages 30 to 45 during the 2010s. While some of these mortality changes reflect specific shocks such as the opioid epidemic, most deaths still occur from major causes of death such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. For cancer, the gray in the top left corner of the figure below reflects the legacies of smoking for older cohorts, followed by a period of green with improvements in cancer mortality as smoking rates declined. But the white/gray shading in the bottom right corner highlights a stagnation and reversal of the cancer trends, with cohorts born around 1970 to 1985 experiencing worsening cancer mortality. This deterioration was most noticeable for colon cancer mortality, possibly linked to obesity or dietary factors. Not just dying more, but less healthy along the way. A recent paper by Dr. Laura Gimeno of University College London (of which I am a co-author), found evidence that more recently born cohorts in Great Britain have stagnating or worsening health. A stylized picture of what“generational health drift” might look like: The review paper found: Rates of childhood overweight and obesity were highest among Gen Z. Rates of diabetes in the 40s almost doubled from 3.1% among the Baby Boomers to 5.9% in Generation X. Gen Z reported higher rates of poor mental health in adolescence compared to earlier-born groups. These UK results are consistent with studies showing worsening health across generations in the US as well. A 2021 US study found that more recently born cohorts had worse biological markers (like blood pressure and blood sugar) than earlier generations at the same age. A separate 2022 study of Americans aged 50 and over found that more recently born generations had a higher number of chronic diseases, with younger age of disease onset. A 2024 Lancet paper found that in the US, women born in 1945 had 33% obesity prevalence at age 50, rising to 48.2% for women born in 1970 turning 50. So what’s going on, and can we turn it around? We don’t have a definitive answer for what’s causing the deteriorating health of younger cohorts, but circumstantial evidence points to worsening trends in obesity and diabetes in both the US and UK. Remember that cohort trends reflect lagged effects of early environments, and younger generations have faced both earlier onset and more severe obesity across their lifetimes. Despite these very concerning trends, the future is not set in stone. We’ve reversed poor generational health trends before: drops in smoking are a major reason cancer and heart disease deaths fell so dramatically in recent decades. GLP-1 drugs may finally turn the tide against rising rates of obesity and diabetes, though it is still early days. But things could also get worse…for example from a return to higher levels of childhood infectious diseases that can have a lasting impact on health. See for example: [ ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) [ Don’t You Forget About Me(asles): The Virus That Erases Immune Memory ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Jenn Dowd, PhD · March 24, 2025 [ Read full story ](https://jenndowd.substack.com/p/dont-you-forget-about-measles-the) Even as an optimist, emerging data on the “generational health drift” has my full attention. For most of my research career, we took it for granted that each generation would be healthier than the last. But if present trends continue, **50 could be the new 60….**and Gen Z celebrities will soon look older than Paul Rudd :). Stay well, Jenn Share the Health! If you found this post useful, please share it with a friend. Share
Telehealth companies keep exposing their customers’ medical data. What should they do?
Increasingly, government regulators are accusing companies of deceptive, unethical business practices, including disclosing customers’ health data, signing them up for hard-to-cancel subscriptions and bypassing real-time consultations with doctors.
How lip-syncing to AI let Forced Entertainment ‘play the game of theatre’
Today we have a fascinating piece by long-time Forced Entertainment fan Ben Kulvichit, speaking to Tim Etchells about their latest show Cold Sweat, how they are integrating lip-sync and AI voices into their work, the question of ‘authenticity’ on stage, and how lip-sync has even opened the door for them to make “something a little bit like drama”. This piece is a paid partnership with the Southbank Centre, where you can see Cold Sweat next month – we’re very grateful to the Southbank Centre for their ongoing support for Exeunt. Holly Williams ‘It was immediately interesting and uncanny’ **By Ben Kulvichit** “Is the microphone on?” So goes one of the opening lines of Signal to Noise, delivered by a human performer lip-syncing to an AI-generated voice. The voice is American, cheery but sluggish, slowed down into a gelatinous drawl. It repeats ad infinitum in a farce of stuckness; an answer never materialises. I find myself asking the same question as I hop on a Google Meet call with Tim Etchells, the artistic director of Forced Entertainment. We spend five or ten minutes frowning at each other, muting and unmuting, me gesticulating in semaphore into my webcam, checking if I am coming through now, restarting the laptop. To Etchells, I appear exaggeratedly mouthing words, my voice missing. In this gloopy purgatory of broken communication, life imitates art imitates life imitates art. We try a Zoom instead. Forced Entertainment, the pioneering British theatre company who have been at the avant-garde of performance since the 1980s, turned an interesting artistic corner with Signal to Noise, created on the occasion of their 40th anniversary. The whole performance employed this lip-sync technique to AI voices; on the face of it a left-field move from a company whose identity has long been grounded in the earthy, immediate presences of its performers and its unassuming, low-tech approach to theatricality. The technique, however, turned out to provide the company with a “rich new seam” of artistic enquiry, and has now spawned a trilogy of works. The second instalment, Cold Sweat, plays at Sheffield Theatres, Southbank Centre, and Lancaster Arts in October, while the third part, Everything Must Go, has been touring in Europe and is slated to come to the UK in 2027. As is often the case with Forced Entertainment shows, the main conceit for this work didn’t arrive until quite late. They were “four or five weeks into rehearsals for Signal to Noise,” Etchells recalls, and getting nowhere. Away from rehearsals, he had been playing around with feeding “weird texts” to AI voices to see how they would cope with them – “basically for my own amusement” – and was compelled by the uniformly “serviceable, benign, good-natured” tone they would read in, no matter how poetic, fractured or experimental the writing. On a hunch, he brought some examples into rehearsals and the performers gave lip-syncing a go. “It was immediately interesting and uncanny,” he recalls, with the performers having to deal in the moment with the problem of mapping themselves onto another artificial ‘performer,’ which itself was dealing with the problem of a very human text. “Almost all the writing for these projects would be useless to us unless it was done in this way,” says Etchells. “We wouldn’t know what to do with it. It’s too poetic. It’s too fictional. It’s too tangled.” But exploring lip-syncing along to the text has opened “an enormous reservoir of ways of thinking about writing and performing.” Subscribe to Exeunt, and get two in-depth pieces on theatre a week, direct to your inbox Subscribe Forced Entertainment have long been sifting through the detritus of popular culture, from daytime TV to end-of-the-pier vaudeville, magic acts and clown shows, to find frameworks for their own unusual entertainments. Lip-syncing, then, makes sense for them to experiment with. As a mode of performance, it’s wired into popular consciousness through pop stars trying to convince stadium audiences of their liveness, or those same voices as channeled through the made-up lips of contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race, or movie dialogue spreading virally through the host bodies of TikTok users. For Etchells, lip-syncing is often about “approaching real voices and trying to take on their aura,” subsuming that original human presence into yours. “There’s a very basic, elemental sort of theatre magic to it, produced in this very easy way.” This broad approach resonates with instances of lip-syncing within contemporary performance, too. In works like Re-Member Me and Showmanism, performance artist Dickie Beau acts as a kind of spirit medium for archival recordings (this process of re-membering – as in, giving corporeal form to voices – relies on his masterfully precise actor’s technique), while Frankie Thompson is similarly possessed by a host of characters ranging from a nine-year-old Jacob Rees-Mogg to Cliff Richards, all of whom she finds compellingly nauseating, in the exorcism ritual that is her latest show, Horrible Things. What’s different about Forced Entertainment’s use of lip-syncing is that here, there is no original presence to be channeled. The performers are instead taking on what Etchells describes as “the voices of nobody,” or rather the “phantasmic, aggregated echoes” of the many many voices on whose data the AI has been trained, and which are now conjuring into existence words they never actually said. There is a sort of mournful, empty quality to these voices, having “washed up” far away from the people they originally belonged to, to find themselves in stranger’s mouths listing objects, wondering if anyone can hear them and glitching in interminable loops. There is a cold, sad anonymity to it all. Etchells remarks that occasionally the software company he used has notified him that particular people are withdrawing their voices from the platform, instructing him to cease use of those voices. Using these technologies in performance certainly brings up ethical questions around digital rights, consent, identity and ownership, although in the grand scheme of things, Etchells is fairly blasé about it: of all the purposes someone’s voice might be put to without their knowledge, “an avant-garde performance is probably the least of their worries.” [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) [ Frankie Thompson: How I manage my own ‘horrible things’ at the Edinburgh Fringe ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) Exeunt · Aug 25 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) For the performers, though, lip-syncing to these strange, artificial voices is an odd task, requiring them to bend their live, human presence into the shapes produced by machines. Politically, it mirrors processes that are already at play in the continued computational automation of human life. Etchells brings up James Bridle’s writings on new technologies as a reference point: one example Bridle gives is of “chaotic storage”, a logistics technique employed by Amazon fulfilment centres whereby items are stored not according to traditional methods of categorisation or alphabetisation, but in a way that an algorithm determines to produce the most efficient routes for ‘picking’ based on customer purchase patterns. This appears completely random and incomprehensible to humans, with paddling pools sitting next to USB sticks sitting next to blowtorches, and so for the warehouse workers, the process of picking items becomes completely reliant on technology which tells them where to go. Our world is increasingly being designed not with humans in mind, but rather machines. As Etchells puts it, “technology malforms the space, and then you end up having to live in it.” Initially, Forced Entertainment tried their best to live in the world of machines: “I was in the it’s-got-to-be-perfect school of lip-sync,” says Etchells. But with their aesthetic being so tied to the failing act, the slipping mask, the shoddy costume, “it’s no surprise really that that didn’t last.” Instead, the performers got to enjoy being late for a line, or playing games with each other, “stealing” each other’s voices. Etchells compares it to the principles of ventriloquism, in which a free-floating voice unattached to a body is fundamentally discomforting and “sort of traumatic”. That discomfort is equally as alluring to Forced Entertainment as the satisfaction of precision, the pretence of authenticity only interesting if shown to be a pretence. Lip-sync has also opened up new avenues for the company. Having been allergic all their lives to Plays-with-a-capital-P, with Cold Sweat Forced Entertainment find themselves approaching something a little bit like drama. Rather than the presentational arena of Signal to Noise’s open white stage, Cold Sweat places us more decisively in a “fictional locale”: what appears to be “the aftermath of some disastrous party or backyard drinking binge” where three figures – family members, or neighbours, perhaps – are the last ones standing. “It’s all quite acrimonious and accusatory, everyone’s talking over each other.” For Etchells, this more fictional mode is “a door that we’ve never been able to open. We’ve just never really gone there.” Perhaps it is the technique of lip-syncing, an extra buffer of mediation, that allows them to venture away from the here-and-now without feeling that they have to commit to the “psychological claptrap” that comes along with acting; to be able to “play the game of theatre, without getting one’s hands too dirty.” As I wonder how else the impulses behind Forced Entertainment’s work have changed over time, it occurs to me that over the last ten years of new creations, with the exception of If All Else Fails, the company’s performers haven’t ever spoken on stage: there were two shows without any language at all, Out of Order and Under Bright Light, and then this trilogy of lip-sync works. Etchells agrees it’s a shift away from earlier productions, that were so often about “the actual voices of the performers and their actual presences. We had a lot of money, in some ways, on an authentic approach to what it might mean to speak on the stage.” But this sense of authentic presence itself had a fakeness to it; these days, Etchells can’t stand that mode of being onstage where performers “are here to be cheeky and witty versions of themselves. I don’t want to be charmed.” Pulling back into a more anonymous space has resulted in works that feel slightly sharper-edged, more brutal in a way. “All of these shows are post-Brexit, post-Trump, post-truth, post-everything,” Etchells notes. Speech, charisma, authenticity – these things feel politically loaded, and perhaps warmth and openness just don’t feel like the right tools to reflect the world we’re living in. “It feels like the space is closing down, and we’re trying to deal with the fact that the system, the structure that you’re in, is more oppressive and more powerful. It probably always was, but I think we’re just more tuned to it now.” Yet even without their voices, the performers’ distinctive presences – ones that many audiences have followed around for years, if not decades – still, inevitably, shine through as they physically navigate whatever unending task the system of the piece has set for them. They’re still trying to keep up with the onslaught of text, still running about, changing costumes, moving stuff around. The human is always stuck in the teeth of the machine, jamming the smooth, frictionless cheeriness of the not-real, gesticulating silently, trying desperately to communicate. Cold Sweat is at Sheffield Theatres, 2 to 3 October; Southbank Centre, London, 9 to 10 October; Lancaster Arts, 14 October [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) [ Exeunt recommends... the best autumn theatre ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) Exeunt · Sep 16 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) This piece was paid for by the Southbank Centre. Such support helps Exeunt to keep publishing the most interesting writing, about the most exciting theatre. Interested in partnering with Exeunt? Visit our Advertise with Exeunt page, where you can get more information, download an advertising pack, and find our contact details.
‘I Was Sold a Bill of Goods’: Americans and the Distrust Election
Americans have a pervasive sense they are being lied to. That has created an unpredictability in politics unseen since Donald Trump said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue without losing voters.
Insurance Coverage Lags as Cancer Science, Treatment Move Forward
“Brain cancer” or “H4 G34-mutant”? As knowledge about genetics advances, some doctors say cancers should be defined by their mutations, not the tissues where they manifest.
Insurance Coverage Lags as Cancer Science, Treatment Move Forward
“Brain cancer” or “H4 G34-mutant”? As knowledge about genetics advances, some doctors say cancers should be defined by their mutations, not the tissues where they manifest.
Yankees news: Sweep or weep
Can Yanks pull off unlikely sweep?; Wild Card roster decisions; chip on Cabby’s shoulder
Observability should start with business outcomes, not infrastructure
A dashboard full of metrics is only useful if it can tell you what those numbers mean for customers and the business.
The House Freedom Caucus has to transform — it could preview the GOP's post-Trump era
The conservative House Freedom caucus grew in prominence along side President Trump, now they are considering what the future of their movement looks like.
Why are United thriving away from Tannadice?
You could make a case we should have beaten Rangers and Falkirk at Tannadice, but we didn't. The trips to Kilmarnock and St Mirren, though, produced two magnificent performances. Tannadice on match days can be an unforgiving place.
AI is turning workers into managers without promotions or raises
Workers are now spending their time managing AI agents, supervising their work, and fixing mistakes. Many aren't getting manager promotions or raises.
Mixed martial arts -- without the wire cage and the blood -- bids to make the Olympics
Mixed martial arts could be coming to the Olympics — but it's a long shot
Jiang Feng: The Unravelling of German & European Politics
A state election in eastern Germany has become a revealing test of the changing political landscapes of Germany and Europe, writes Jiang Feng, Professor and Chairman of the Council of the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies (SAGGAS) at Shanghai International Studies University. His analysis follows the decisive victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) (which has been classified as right-wing extremist by German authorities)in the state of Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September, in which it finished far ahead of its mainstream rivals. Jiang previously served as Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. The following article was published on 8 September 2026 on huanqiu.com, the online platform of the Global Times. On 6 September, the results of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, were announced. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), classified as far-right by German authorities, made history by becoming the largest party in the state parliament, winning 43.8 per cent of the vote — twice its share in the previous election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had governed the state continuously for 24 years, won just 17.2 per cent, its worst result ever in Saxony-Anhalt. On the night the results were announced, the atmosphere at the CDU gathering was unusually calm. There was neither shock nor argument, as if the defeat had long been expected. Several veteran party members who had spent years working in the state government said: “Defeat is not a bad thing. It is time to make changes.” This state election has not only upended Saxony-Anhalt’s political landscape, but also laid bare the deep tensions between Germany’s traditional party structure and model of governance, on the one hand, and an increasingly polarised society on the other. Its repercussions are already being felt at the federal level, making Saxony-Anhalt a useful case study of the broader trend towards political polarisation and realignment in Europe. Governing Difficulties after Electoral Victory The most immediate consequence of the election is a historic setback for the mainstream party order that took shape in post-war Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD has leapt from a peripheral party to the largest political force in the state. Its electoral base has expanded beyond the traditional category of “marginal protest voters” to take on the characteristics of a cross-class coalition. The party has not only consolidated its support in rural areas, but also attracted many middle-class voters and even members of the social elite with stable jobs, their own homes, and substantial incomes. It has thus evolved from a “protest party” into one with the potential to govern. Despite its commanding lead in the vote, however, the AfD faces an institutional obstacle to governing the state: the mainstream parties’ long-standing “firewall” against it. Neither of the two potential routes to forming a government appears likely to break the current political deadlock. The first would be a coalition of establishment parties, led by the CDU and bringing together the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, the Left Party (Die Linke) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in a cross-camp government. In terms of parliamentary arithmetic, such a coalition could prevent the AfD from forming a government and preserve the outward stability of the traditional political order. Yet these parties are fundamentally divided over key issues including immigration, the energy transition, economic management, and cultural and education policy. Coalition negotiations would therefore be extremely difficult, and even if a government could be formed, it would most likely prove short-lived. More importantly, an alliance of establishment parties aimed at keeping the largest party out of government would play directly into the AfD’s narrative that “political elites are suppressing public opinion”. It could deepen perceptions of political unfairness, further strengthening the AfD’s political capital, and creating a dynamic in which “the more it is suppressed, the more people vote for it”. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s candidate for state premier, has said that if efforts to form a government fail because other parties refuse to cooperate, the AfD will push for a fresh election, which he believes could deliver the party an absolute majority of seats. This points to more intense political battles ahead. The second option would be a coalition between the AfD and the BSW. Together, the two parties would command a simple majority in parliament, making this, on paper, the quickest route to forming a government. The BSW is the only elected party that has not ruled out cooperation with the AfD, and the two parties share some common ground, including on policy towards Russia. There is therefore a degree of political basis for cooperation. Were such a coalition to materialise, Germany would see its first state government jointly formed by a party defined as far-right and one with a far-left background, creating what might be called a “bipolar anti-establishment alliance”. Such an outcome would fundamentally break with the ideological boundaries of post-war German party politics. It is worth noting that even if the AfD ultimately fails to enter the state government, its roughly 47 per cent share of parliamentary seats would give it a powerful blocking minority. Without its consent, major decisions requiring a two-thirds majority — including constitutional amendments, significant budgetary adjustments, and state-level institutional reforms — would be extremely difficult to pass. Therefore, whoever ultimately forms the government, the AfD will be an unavoidable force in Saxony-Anhalt politics, with a direct influence on the state’s legislative process. Systemic Failures in Germany’s Governance Model The Saxony-Anhalt election result reflects a systemic failure of Germany’s post-war mainstream-party model of governance to adapt to rapidly changing socioeconomic conditions. It stems from multiple, mutually reinforcing structural tensions and highlights the existing political system’s difficulty in adapting to “an increasingly polarised society First, collective anxiety has replaced individual material hardship as a central driver of political mobilisation. The rise of the AfD can no longer be explained simply by poverty or social marginalisation. Its increasingly cross-class electoral base suggests that what is driving voters towards the party is, above all, concern about the broader direction of society. This anxiety about the future of the political community goes beyond individual gains and losses. In political discourse, economic anxiety has become closely intertwined with immigration, while immigration and refugee issues are, in essence, questions of social fairness. This perception turns conflicts over the distribution of social resources into negative assessments of governing parties, providing a broad social basis for far-right political narratives. Second, regional disparities and East German identity have undermined the strategy of addressing eastern Germany’s structural challenges at the regional level. More than three decades after German reunification, eastern states such as Saxony-Anhalt have experienced periods of economic growth, but their underlying economic structures remain weak, and household incomes and wealth remain significantly below those in western Germany. At the same time, they continue to face population outflow, an ageing population, labour shortages, and other structural challenges. At a deeper level, historical experiences — including the collapse of the former East German economic system, mass unemployment during the transition, and the westward shift of decision-making power over major issues — have left some residents with a sense of being “second-class citizens” and of being excluded. For years, the German government treated the “syndrome” of reunification as a regional problem to be gradually addressed at the local level. That approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable, as regional development disparities emerge as a core structural factor shaping national politics. Third, the erosion of institutional trust is perhaps the most decisive factor. AfD supporters tend to distrust establishment institutions, including parliament, government, and the mainstream media. Their concerns about economic security, pensions, and social fairness are significantly greater than the social average. Increasingly, their support for the AfD reflects not an expectation that the existing system can be improved, but a search for an alternative to the current political order. Such a systemic deficit of trust will be extremely difficult for the traditional parties to repair in the short term. Fourth, a generational shift in political mobilisation has amplified political polarisation. Unlike traditional parties, which rely heavily on offline rallies and mainstream media coverage, the AfD has developed a social-media mobilisation strategy built around “raising an issue — identifying who is responsible — offering a simplified solution — building a shared identity”. It turns complex social tensions into concise political narratives, rapidly channelling public sentiment into political support. The contrast on the eve of the election was particularly telling. The establishment parties, together with trade unions and churches, organised an offline march attended by more than 10,000 people, but its reach was largely confined to those present and to traditional media coverage. The AfD held a much smaller indoor event, yet livestreaming on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, combined with the involvement of online influencers, gave it a reach and mobilising capacity far beyond that of the march. The contrast illustrates how the traditional parties’ methods of political mobilisation are increasingly struggling to keep pace with a political environment transformed by changes in media technology. A Microcosm of Structural Political Change in Europe The shockwaves from the Saxony-Anhalt election quickly travelled beyond the state to the federal level. Calls for political accountability followed immediately after the results were announced. The governing CDU and SPD are now under enormous pressure, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil face an unprecedented test. Political polarisation in Germany is no longer simply a regional phenomenon. The post-war model of multiparty government by establishment parties is breaking down and being reshaped. Viewed in a broader European context, the Saxony-Anhalt election is part of a continent-wide wave of party polarisation, mainstream-party decline, and rising right-wing forces. Far from an isolated phenomenon, it is a microcosm of the structural political changes unfolding across Europe. Weak economic growth, cultural tensions over immigration, and declining trust in institutions are fuelling the rise of right-wing forces in several countries, challenging the liberal internationalist order established in post-war Europe. As a core member state of the European Union, Germany’s ability to adapt its political system and the direction of its politics will have profound implications for both European integration and the evolution of the international order. Subscribe [ Pekingnology China’s Germany watchers take stock of Berlin’s uneasy turn On 7 December 2025, nearly 50 Chinese scholars and policy researchers gathered in Beijing for the 2025年德国形势年终研讨会 “2025 Year-End Seminar on the Situation in Germany… Read more 9 months ago · 31 likes · 1 comment · YIRUI LI and Yuxuan JIA ](https://www.pekingnology.com/p/chinas-germany-watchers-take-stock?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1151841) [ Jiang Feng on Germany's 2025 and beyond: no easy exit ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond) Yirui LI and Yuxuan JIA · Jan 24 The following is an op-ed by Jiang Feng, published on 29 December 2025 at Shanghai Observer 上观新闻, the digital platform of Jiefang Daily, the official newspaper of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). [ Read full story ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond)
Remind me again why we are voting on such things?
I should warn you, dear readers, that today’s column deals with two subjects that are often viewed as both boring and tedious: tax policy and voter initiatives. If you find such things interesting, please read on. If not, consider watching funny cat videos. Where was I? Oh, right … Anyone who has read my various […]
Texans Move on Former Dolphins, Patriots Starting Defensive Tackles
DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans took action on a pair of interior defenders amid their current roster situation. The post Texans Move on Former Dolphins, Patriots Starting Defensive Tackles appeared first on HEAVY.
Giants, Saints Get Intriguing Trade Idea After Jaxson Dart Injury
The New Orleans Saints might have a valuable backup QB that teams with injured starters could call on, despite being only two weeks into the 2026 NFL season. New Orleans has its franchise guy in Tyler Shough, but its backup QB, Spencer Rattler, could be a trade piece. On Sept. 21, the New York Giants […] The post Giants, Saints Get Intriguing Trade Idea After Jaxson Dart Injury appeared first on HEAVY.
Sports Take: Students should attend more than just football games
There's more to College than just football. Other sports allow students to explore opportunities they may never get after graduation.
Dexter Lawrence has completely changed Bengals' defense, per Jeremiah
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah said the Bengals' Dexter Lawrence showed "utter dominance" against the Houston Texans' offensive line.
Studs and duds from Rams' bounce-back win vs. Giants
Without Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett, several Rams players stepped up in a big way on Monday night.
‘College sports is in chaos’: Protect College Sports Act advances through Senate
The U.S. Senate could vote as soon as this week to move the Protect College Sports Act of 2026 to the U.S. House of Representatives after the Senate voted on Sept. 17 to advance the bill to final debate. This sweeping new bill would protect Olympic sports, reshape how universities compensate athletes and regulate name,...
Yellowtail Drive Could Be Expanded To Accommodate Hi-Tech Business Parks In Sheridan
One road on the north side of Sheridan could soon be widened, in anticipation of increased motor vehicle traffic in the area. At its recent board meeting, the Sheridan Economic and Educational Development Authority (SEEDA) approved a motion to begin preparing bids to add 5-foot gravel shoulders on Yellowtail Drive, from the Weatherby building northward […]
Astronomers Detect Radio Signals Coming Directly From an Exoplanet For The First Time
It's not aliens, though...
Monkey business: Hundreds line up to shop UT, Roller Rabbit pajama partnership
The line of eager faces stretched nearly a quarter of a mile. Hundreds of customers, some of whom waited almost six hours, patiently anticipated the Roller Rabbit and University of Tennessee collaborative pop-up Monday morning. The two-day event brings a limited edition collection of pajamas designed exclusively for Vols, featuring the brand’s “iconic” monkey-covered pattern...
Vikings’ 2-0 Start Sparks Candid Thoughts From Adam Thielen
Two games against NFC North rivals and the Minnesota Vikings are off to a 2-0 start after wins over the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Moreover, the team could reach 3-0 as they face the 0-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. Nonetheless, with a 2-0 start that gives the Vikings good odds of […] The post Vikings’ 2-0 Start Sparks Candid Thoughts From Adam Thielen appeared first on HEAVY.
San Antonio VA plans fixes after OIG review of inpatient mental health unit issues
VA watchdog flags South Texas VA mental health unit issues: delayed bed reporting, gaps in involuntary commitment processes, and VA police video monitoring without policy or signage. Report makes 13 recommendations.
Giants WR Malik Nabers returns to game vs. Rams after leaving with shoulder injury
Nabers came up clutching his shoulder in pain after failing to grab a contested pass late in the first quarter.
Malik Nabers exits MNF with shoulder injury
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers left the Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half due to a shoulder injury
Local business owner says Somewhere Fest street closure is costing her thousands
A downtown Wichita street closure approved for Somewhere Fest has the owner of The FUN Venue claiming thousands of dollars in financial losses due to canceled events and restricted access
Can you forget how you feel about Meta?
‘Pervert glasses.’ Thousands of lawsuits. Mark Zuckerberg wants to sweep it all away with a new bid on AI.
Rome Waterfront DRI Project Reviews New Proposals for Entertainment and Housing
The Rome waterfront revitalization project is moving forward as city officials reviewed new proposals for the area.
11 reality stars who regret putting their lives on camera
From the New Jersey housewife whose legal troubles unfolded on camera to the photojournalist who watched reality TV upend his career, these stars came to regret letting cameras into their lives.
Former First-Round Pick Named Breakout Candidate for Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets didn’t make any big-time additions over the offseason. So, in addition to health, the Rockets will need some of their younger players to step up if the team is going to take a step forward in the coming campaign.One particular young Rockets player has been named a potential breakout candidate heading into the […] The post Former First-Round Pick Named Breakout Candidate for Houston Rockets appeared first on HEAVY.
Maple Leafs Already Dealing With Mystery Injury
The Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to win a game so far in the expedited preseason schedule, though it’s good for the club to work out any bugs between now and the start of the regular season while also not icing their full roster of starters.However, the Maple Leafs are already dealing with an injury […] The post Maple Leafs Already Dealing With Mystery Injury appeared first on HEAVY.
After Years as the Star of Must-See TV, Trump Faces the Sting of Cancellation
A boycott of the White House press pool by the major networks deprives the president of the oxygen of screen time. But he is still finding ways to get on the air.
Grading the Game: Eastern Washington
Washington closed out non-conference play with a comfortable win over an FCS opponent, piling up 546 total yards and averaging 8.8 per play. Both the scoreboard and box score looked good, but with EWU sitting a tier below the Huskies in FCS, this was a game that should have been a comfortable victory. Yes, I […]
Brewers' Chourio's Third Straight 20/20 Season Makes MLB History
The 22-year-old phenom shatters records with unprecedented power and speed, fueling the Milwaukee Brewers World Series dreams.
Ryans owns Texans’ 0-2 start as Houston scrambles to avoid another 0-3 hole
The Texans fell to 0-2 for the third time in four years with Sunday’s 20-6 loss to Cincinnati.
St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Series Preview
I don’t know about you, but I already miss baseball even though there are still two series to go. For the St. Louis Cardinals, those final 6 games of the 2026 campaign will be completed on the road with the first stop being in Pittsburgh starting Tuesday night. There’s little at stake other than pride, […]
NFL Monday Night Football preview: Rams, without Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua, already in big spot vs. Giants
How Local Politics Influence Housing Affordability
California needs at least 2.5 million new homes by 2030, but most cities are still falling short. A new study examines whether this shortfall is associated with the politics of who lives in these cities, and how those politics determine…
Record diesel prices threaten small businesses and local housing supply
High diesel prices are impacting East Tennessee businesses and the housing market amid concerns over inflation and wages.
Should Eagles bring Zach Ertz home after Dallas Goedert’s injury?
Dallas Goedert’s MCL sprain leaves the Eagles considering outside help at tight end, including a reunion with Zach Ertz
Police, business owner frustrated after series of arrests made near Aliquippa restaurant
Aliquippa Police were called three times in just about 24 hours to the Good to Go restaurant on Sheffield Road between Friday and Saturday.
Plastic business in Endicott cited for DEC violations, faces thousands in fines
Resident complaints led to a DEC evaluation of the facility and surrounding area
Sean Payton ‘energized’ on sideline despite health challenges
Payton is not confused about where to put his hands without a play sheet. He's adjusting to health challenges.
Texas Longhorns offer rising ACC LB commit
Texas is still without a linebacker prospect in its 2027 recruiting class. On Monday, the Longhorns dished out an offer to a new target that’s currently committed elsewhere. Prattville (Ala.) three-star LB Jason Crenshaw plays for one of the top high school football programs in Alabama. Back in June, amidst official visit season, he made […]
BU students displaced after health officials condemn Brookline apartment building
A Brookline apartment building housing some Boston University students has been condemned after health inspectors discovered what they say is an active sewage leak and other health and safety violatio...
Maine’s Office of Affordable Health Care seeks public input
Mainers are encouraged to attend the Office of Affordable Health Care’s annual public hearing this week to share their experiences of navigating today’s healthcare system.Surveys show nearly half of Maine households have taken on medical debt in the past two years and the majority point to hospital-based services like surgeries or emergency care as the
Trump shows off new White House helipad, but networks skip coverage during First Amendment fight
President Trump has unveiled a new White House helicopter landing pad while trying to downplay a First Amendment firestorm.
Networks halt White House pool after Trump bars outlets
Major TV networks have stopped pool coverage after Trump denied CNN and other outlets White House access in a growing media standoff.
Mobile Health Units continue service to Valley communities
Fresno State’s Mobile Health Unit program is back on the road for the fall 2026 semester, offering free healthcare services to residents throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Services include diabetes and blood pressure screenings, health and wellness assessments, referrals and flu vaccinations at most locations. Coordinated by the School of Nursing, the program provides nursing […]
Opinion: A historic bridge still has to be a bridge
The landmark Cortland Street Bridge has been closed to cars for a year. A civil engineer argues preservation shouldn’t come at the expense of function.
MTV VMAs nominations 2026: Madonna, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter lead the pack
This year’s Best New Artist race is also heating up, with divisive pop-country nepo baby Stella Lefty and English vocal powerhouse Sienna Spiro among the evening’s buzziest nominees.
New $5.3M Texas Health center coming near south Arlington
A spokesperson said the location just off I-20 will be home to a facility housing outpatient services and physician practices.
Pa. lawmakers stress youth engagement at annual anti-abortion rally
HARRISBURG — Thousands of people gathered on the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol Monday morning to call for restrictions on abortion in the state.
Florida’s Minimum Wage is Rising Sept 30: Is Your Business Ready to Comply?
Florida employers need to prepare for a minimum wage hike to $15 an hour on September 30. And if you have tipped employees, you’ll need to pay them at least $11.98. This is the last of the annual increases voters approved in 2020. We’ll tell you what’s changing and the steps you should consider taking now to comply.
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to open new 1M square-foot agricultural complex
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo broke ground on The Farm, a 1 million-square-foot agricultural complex along Hwy. 288 slated to open in March 2029.
Congressional leaders warn White House against adding controls over NIH grants
Political officials are weighing the creation of a commission to review awards by the National Institutes of Health, The Post reported.
Trump inaugurates new White House helipad as networks skip coverage
Trump used oversized gold scissors Monday to cut a red, white and blue ribbon at the helipad
Trump inaugurates new White House helipad as networks skip coverage
Trump used oversized gold scissors Monday to cut a red, white and blue ribbon at the helipad
Opinion: 'Pothole Politics' Should Mean Fixing Our Schools
"Green Schools ... connect so many of the mayor’s priorities: child care, safe work, good jobs, and fixing what’s broken in our day-to-day."
Prince Harry steps out in London without Meghan amid royal drama
LONDON – Prince Harry is stepping out, under a cloud of royal drama.
Vikki Goodwin files police report saying Dan Patrick broke law with AI-generated campaign ads
Goodwin said that two ads depicting "deepfake" images of her violate a campaign law passed by the Texas legislature in 2019.
Key senators reject White House proposal on NIH grants
Sens. Susan Collins and Patty Murray are rejecting efforts by the Trump administration to give the White House control of National Institutes of Health grant funding.
iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max earlier this month, arriving four years after the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Four generations of changes make for a substantial upgrade, bringing larger displays, an all-new design, improvements to every camera, significantly longer battery life, faster charging, USB-C connectivity, and support for Apple Intelligence.
Eagles await MRI results on Saquon Barkley’s shoulder injury
The Eagles are awaiting MRI results on Saquon Barkley while monitoring Dallas Goedert’s knee injury entering Bears week
Sporting KC Weekly Schedule: Sept. 21-26, 2026
Sporting Kansas City will travel to Texas this weekend to take on Houston Dynamo FC at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at Shell Energy Stadium. The Western Conference match-up will be available to watch in English and Spanish on Apple TV in addition to local radio coverage on Sports Radio
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Memory Performance Scaling
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D set new benchmarks in gaming performance with its impressive 96 MB L3 V-Cache. But how does memory latency factor into this powerhouse's performance? Our latest analysis dives deep into memory performance scaling, and could change how gamers approach system optimization.
When will Ben White return from injury?
Ben White was not called up to the England squad for their matches in September and October because of an injury he suffered recently, although Arsenal do not believe it is a serious problem.The Gunne...
Should we be worried about LSU’s passing game?
The Tigers fought against Ole Miss after another slow start, but Sam Leavitt and the passing attack raised questions.
Demolition phase of Central Warehouse project starts Monday night, officials say
“This is the moment we’ve been waiting for," Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said.
Person with measles traveled through Kern County: CA Dept. of Public Health
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A person with measles was confirmed to have traveled though Kern County, according to the California Department of Public Health. The department said this person …
Person with measles traveled through Kern County: CA Dept. of Public Health
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A person with measles was confirmed to have traveled though Kern County, according to the California Department of Public Health. The department said this person traveled ...
I tried to upgrade myself to business class without my kids. I knew it would never work
Chalk it up to a failed experiment.
L’Humanité festival renews commitment to popular front politics in France
PARIS—“I’m always on the side of the people, of those who fight to defend their livelihoods, of those fighting for the dignity to feed their children and pay their bills,” declared Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF) to a crowd of thousands last weekend. “I know which side I am on when there are barricades.
FAA grounds planes at major airports for hours
The FAA grounded flights at Newark Liberty International Airport, JFK Airport and LaGuardia after Philadelphia TRACON lost its primary circuit.
Suozzi To Be Recognized as First Democratic Member of Congress To Be Awarded U.S. Chamber’s “Advocate for American Business” Award
GLEN COVE, NY — Congressman Tom Suozzi (NY-03) was recognized today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with its “Advocate for American Business” Award during a stop of the Chamber’s national Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour at Standard Bots in Glen Cove. U.S.
Private youth sports facilities face no cardiac safety requirements across Kansas City metro
While schools must have cardiac emergency plans and automated external defibrillators, private venues operate without cardiac safety mandates.
Political Pulse: Ken Jeakins eyes two open District 35 House seats as Democrat
Air Force veteran Ken Jeakins is running as a Democrat for South Dakota's District 35 House, calling for a culture shift to address veteran and military suicide.
Jaquet's performance against Bournemouth 'a step forward'
Defender Jeremy Jacquet's performance in Sunday's 1-0 win at Bournemouth was "a step forward" in his development, according to Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola. The 21-year-old centre-back was named player of the match against Iraola's former side after another assured display, completing his third full 90 minutes in a row in the Premier League. A five-year deal was agreed in January to sign Jacquet from Rennes this summer, but he suffered a shoulder injury soon afterwards that ruled him out of the rest of the campaign.
Hidden Deal Risks Pennsylvania Business Buyers Should Check First
Buying a business can look straightforward when the company shows strong monthly revenue and a loyal customer base. But a business can look highly profitable on paper and still carry
Bham firms trade Hoover apartments for $7M
A Birmingham-based firm flipped a Hoover apartment property after nine months of new management and renovations.
Houston high school football: Week 4 takeaways and top performers
Week 4 of the Houston high school football season produced several intriguing results, including high-scoring wins for Klein Cain, Friendswood, Dickinson and Summer Creek.
Read the lawsuit: CNN, MS Now and Politico sue Trump admin over White House access
Read the full lawsuit CNN, MS Now and Politico filed against the Trump administration over White House access.
Local moving business owner charged with grand theft, accused of taking thousands in payment and not showing up
IDAHO FALLS — A Bonneville County business owner is accused of taking payment for a job but failing to provide services. Golden Barrett, 44, faces one grand theft charge and, if convicted, could receive up to 14 years in prison. The court set his bail at $20,000. A plea agreement was signed and filed on […]
Opinion: When bigger businesses are reclassified as ‘small,’ small firms lose
Small-business policies should help small businesses grow. It should not redefine them out of opportunity, Dan Seals writes.
Oregon Health Plan to issue notices regarding new work rules for 600,000 members
Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) --- The Oregon Health Authority is holding a virtual media briefing Monday to outline upcoming federal changes to the Oregon Health Plan that will impact approximately 600,000 members. The updates are required under new federal mandates in House Resolution 1, which states must implement to maintain federal funding. Notices will begin going
Germany’s political center suffers historic blow, Turkey weighs coming to Saudi Arabia’s aid, Major TV networks support outlets banned from White House
Two weeks ago, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was “shocked” when his conservative CDU party got creamed by the hard right AfD in local elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. That was just the start.
Decatur woman sentenced for role in $158,000 email scam targeting agriculture business, AG says
An agricultural company thought it was spending $158,000 to buy strawberry seeds. Instead, Georgia prosecutors say they were the victim of an email scam.
CNN, MS Now and Politico are suing Trump over White House ban
Three news organizations are suing President Trump and three of his top advisers in federal court, demanding that access for their reporters be immediately restored.
Trump's 'grand conspiracy' probe presses on with subpoenas after the lead prosecutor’s exit
Investigators face not only legal hurdles and personnel upheaval but an impatient White House after more than a year of fits and starts.
Archaeologists uncover centuries-old mystery of Tampa Bay’s secret community of migrant potters
Key Points Archaeologists have debated for decades over how Mississippian-style pottery ended up in Tampa Bay, an area long left off of maps showing the Mississippian culture stretching across the Southeast and into northern Florida starting a thousand years ago. Trevor Duke, a doctoral stud
Vikes Views: Sunday King
The Minnesota Vikings visited the Chicago Bears and the result was the same as it has been for quite a while now: a Vikings victory. Minnesota has now won seven consecutive games at Soldier Field, a stadium that used to be a house of horrors for Vikings fans. The offense never really found its rhythm, […]
THE WEEK OF SEPT 21, 2026
- White House floats $100K fee for graduate workers - OMB seeks more power over NIH grants - Federal layoffs balloon spending on paid leave
The Best States for Small Businesses Have 1 Tax Advantage in Common
Income tax cuts are reshaping the small-business map. However, experts say tax rates are only one factor entrepreneurs should consider before relocating.