Jonathan Derbyshire

New York shivers in one of the most severe winters since the Gilded Age [FREE TO READ] Only three in history have endured a colder stretch with more snow

My colleague @okr.bsky.social crunches the numbers on NYC's big freeze as.ft.com/r/cb54e5e5-d...

How Principled Conservatives Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Trump Join the Moynihan Center for a panel discussion featuring Sohrab Ahmari, Jonathan Derbyshire, Naomi Schaefer Riley, and Matthew Sitman.

Looking forward to moderating this discussion www.eventbrite.com/e/how-princi...

Pam Bondi vs the courts [FREE TO READ] The US attorney-general believes there is a co-ordinated judicial attack on the authority of the executive

In which I discuss Alexander Hamilton on the 'least dangerous' branch of government and Pam Bondi's war against the courts
as.ft.com/r/983435f2-9...

Infinite Jest is a novel for 2026 Podcast Episode · The New Society | culture from the New Statesman · 31/01/2026 · 26m

Thanks to @tanjilrashid.bsky.social for
inviting me on to the @newstatesman1913.bsky.social’s excellent new culture podcast to revisit one of the first pieces I ever wrote for the magazine and to talk about David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest at 30 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

One of my first and most vivid childhood memories is of my father’s bewilderment as a relative drove us into Manchester from the airport after we'd been living abroad for a few years, through streets entirely denuded of familiar landmarks. “Where are we,” he kept asking, “where are we?”

The mighty Hudson at bay

Occupied America [FREE TO READ] The Trump administration is over-reaching in Minneapolis and creating a sense of dread and anxiety in the process

My latest Swamp Note: as.ft.com/r/ae01cce7-b... Occupied America @jderbyshire.ft.com

The year ahead in US politics [FREE TO READ] Friends of the Swamp look forward to what is likely to be a pivotal period, culminating in November’s midterm elections

In the latest FT Swamp Notes newsletter (and before the seizure of Maduro), I asked @constelz.bsky.social, @michaelrstrain.bsky.social, @sohrabahmari.bsky.social, Lauren Fedor and Rebecca Katz to offer some guidance to the year ahead in US politics as.ft.com/r/faed7e98-5...

Year in a word: Affordability [FREE TO READ] Americans are feeling the pinch and some Democrats are reaping the electoral dividends

My contribution to the FT’s Year in a Word series: Affordability as.ft.com/r/f5b79447-4...

Donald Trump’s affordability crisis [FREE TO READ] The issue reflects deeper shifts in the US economy that probably cannot be reversed ahead of next year’s midterms

In the latest edition of the FT's Swamp Notes newsletter, James Politi and I discuss whether Trump is now a lame duck as.ft.com/r/d490805c-9...

It’s time to restore the civic function of US universities [FREE TO READ] Focusing on research at the expense of teaching has left institutions vulnerable to Trumpian attack

It's time to restore the civic function of US universities, argues Carlo Invernizzi Accetti
as.ft.com/r/fd995cdd-c...

Casinos could deal New York’s poker dens a losing hand [FREE TO READ] They are among the few truly democratic spaces left in the city

In this piece for @financialtimes.com, @lioneltrolling.bsky.social fears for the future of New York's poker clubs if the casino approvals go ahead as.ft.com/r/e6eb3203-3...

America, the western hemisphere and the laws of war [FREE TO READ] The new national security strategy advocates the use of force in the US’s backyard

Me on the 'Trump corollary' to the Monroe Doctrine and the laws of war for FT Swamp Notes (with Steff Chavez weighing on where this all leaves Hegseth) as.ft.com/r/2537067d-3...

Europe’s fateful moment [FREE TO READ] The EU faces a historic choice: whether or not to unlock frozen Russian assets and save the Ukrainian war effort

"Trump, in his way, is as much of a wolf as Putin. Europe has run out of excuses to pretend otherwise". My Swamp Notes with @martinsandbu.ft.com on why Europe must make those frozen Russian assets work for Ukraine. The time for that is now. as.ft.com/r/9144c41b-7...

It's that time of year. This seems about right.

US foreign policy in the age of the envoy [FREE TO READ] Trump favours ‘dealmakers’ over diplomats — what does that mean for peace in Ukraine?

In the latest edition of the FT Swamp Notes newsletter, Alec Russell and I examine American foreign policy in the 'age of the envoy' on.ft.com/48bZ0lR

How will Democrats handle the Mamdani effect? [FREE TO READ] Centrist incumbents are facing challenges from leftwing insurgents

As @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social prepares to meet Trump at the White House, in today's edition of FT Swamp Notes I ask how the Democrats will deal with the 'Mamdani effect' - with a response from the great Lauren Fedor on.ft.com/3JNZYvj

In today's FT Swamp Notes, @ranaforoohar.bsky.social and I pick the bones out of last week's election results in the US on.ft.com/49chSlE

Trump's defence of the destruction of the East Wing of the White House essentially relies on running a version of the Ship of Theseus paradox: "Over the years, many presidents have made changes."

Will Zohran Mamdani’s rise mark a new dawn for American socialism? [FREE TO READ] Tens of thousands of volunteers mobilised by the Democratic Socialists of America are working to elect a torchbearer for a beleaguered US left

In which I explore the history of socialism in America from Eugene Debs to DSA and the Milwaukee ‘sewer socialists’ to Zohran Mamdani on.ft.com/47quBib

Tu rigoles?!

A new financial impetus for peace in Ukraine [FREE TO READ] We need the mobilisation of resources on a scale that will secure Kyiv’s military resilience

A new financial impetus for peace in Ukraine -- Friedrich Merz writes for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/48176hn

Trump’s U-turn on China [FREE TO READ] There has been a discernible shift in how this administration is dealing with Beijing

In which @ranaforoohar.bsky.social and I discuss the 'Donroe doctrine' on.ft.com/4mCkigl

Donald Trump’s adventures in Windsorland [FREE TO READ] The US president luxuriated in a warm bath of royal pomp and circumstance

"Trump namechecked Shakespeare, Dickens, Orwell — authors whose works he has undoubtedly devoured."
@jemima.bsky.social on the US president's adventures in Windsorland on.ft.com/4nbU45u

Charlie Kirk and America’s inability to escape political violence [FREE TO READ] The killings of an activist, politician and CEO in the past year show the resurgence of violent means across the spectrum

Desmond King, professor of American government at Oxford, for @ftopinion on Charlie Kirk and America’s inability to escape political violence on.ft.com/46iaWQL

American capitalism: inspired by China? [FREE TO READ] How are we to understand Trump’s meddling in the US economy?

In today's edition of FT Swamp Notes I examine the idea of 'state capitalism with American characteristics'. @ranaforoohar.bsky.social responds on.ft.com/4mNZmno

Donald Trump says DC is a ‘horror show’. How should Democrats respond? [FREE TO READ] Simply denying the president, who rose to prominence in New York’s 1970s crime wave, is not effective politics

@sohrabahmari.bsky.social and I debate Trump’s federalisation of the Washington DC police force on.ft.com/3JiOmjb

China’s vision of America [FREE TO READ] A book published more than 30 years ago by a close confidant of Xi Jinping now looks uncannily prescient

Great to have @gideonrachman.bsky.social writing today's edition of FT Swamp Notes on Wang Huning's vision of America (with a brief response from me) on.ft.com/41L6BE6

George called Dave who called his mate Johnny who owns the manor then George called Robert and Chris to come for drinks and Nigel for breakfast! All united by their determination to bring down the elites!

One of the many consequences of Trump is that he strips all our old ambitions down to simple preservation. A year ago I wanted a better Fed, with better tools, one that actually thought about productive loans, like the law says it should. Now I just want the old Fed to survive.