I Was One of Lena Dunham’s Haters. I Want to Say I’m Sorry | Dave Schilling
Dave Schilling, a Los Angeles writer, publicly apologizes for his past hostility toward Lena Dunham, acknowledging that jealousy and cultural envy fueled his criticism. Dunham, now releasing a memoir, reflects on the intense backlash she endured after HBO’s *Girls* made her a millennial icon. The piece highlights how misogyny, accusations of nepotism, and the era’s oversharing culture amplified the vitriol. Schilling argues that today’s Gen Z audience is rediscovering *Girls* as a genuine exploration of twenty‑something loneliness, rather than the superficial target it once became.
New Dads Like Me Want to Do Fatherhood Differently. Where’s Our Support? | Zac Seidler
Zac Seidler, a men’s health psychologist, highlights a growing desire among Australian fathers to redefine fatherhood, yet they face a stark lack of structural support. A Movember Institute survey of 1,216 dads found that two‑fifths reject the way they were raised,...
The Guardian View on Defence Spending: Should the UK’s Security Rest with Donald Trump? | Editorial
Former NATO secretary‑general Lord George Robertson claims the UK faces a £28 bn defence funding shortfall, accusing the government of “corrosive complacency”. He argues the shortfall stems from an overstretched global posture that ties Britain to the United States, exemplified by...
Trump Has Turned Title X Upside Down: From a Contraception Program Into a Pro-Natalist Machine | Moira Donegan
The Trump administration removed Title X funding from its budget and issued new HHS guidance that recasts the decades‑old contraception program as a pro‑conception initiative. The guidance bans birth‑control services, pushes fertility education, and threatens to shift federal dollars to crisis‑pregnancy...
What Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Right Really Mean when They Invoke ‘Greater Israel’ | Daniel Levy
Benjamin Netanyahu is using Israel’s recent war on Iran to advance a broader vision of a “Greater Israel.” The strategy combines territorial expansion—flattening Gaza, extending control in the West Bank, and eyeing Syria and Lebanon—with a new geopolitical network of...
After Her Remission From Cancer, Christine’s Friends Abandoned Her Just when She Needed Them Most | Bianca Denny
Christine entered remission after a year of intensive cancer treatment, only to find her social circle retreating as she sought emotional support. While friends had provided practical aid during her illness, they shifted to upbeat encouragement, leaving her feeling isolated...
Australia Must Be More Self-Reliant – but It Can’t Afford to Throw the US Baby Out with the Bathwater |...
Former ambassador Arthur Sinodinos argues that Australia must boost self‑reliance in defence, economics and security while preserving its core alliance with the United States. He warns that President Trump’s transactional style does not diminish the strategic value of the US partnership...
The Sheila Is Returning to Australian Culture, Riding on a New Wave of ‘Bogan Feminism’ | Maria Lewis
Australian pop culture is witnessing a revival of the "sheila" archetype, now framed as a badge of "bogan feminism." Front‑runners like Amy Taylor of Amyl & the Sniffers, surfer‑skater Milla Coco Brown, and Indigenous rapper Barkaa are flaunting mullets, denim and unapologetic swagger....
Why Was a Florida Woman Forced to Have a C-Section? | Tayo Bero
A ProPublica investigation revealed that two Black women in Florida, including doula Cherise Doyley, were forced into cesarean sections despite clear refusals, after a court permitted emergency surgery in the name of the unborn child. The case illustrates how state...
The Guardian View on Trump, Iran and the Ceasefire: A Devastating War Has only Losers | Editorial
President Donald Trump announced a two‑week ceasefire in the Iran‑Israel conflict, but hostilities resumed within days, with Israel striking Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed. Both the U.S. and Iran claimed victory, yet neither achieved their stated...
The Iran Crisis Is Far From over – Instead We Are Entering a New and Uncertain Phase | Sanam Vakil
On April 8, the United States and Iran announced a ceasefire, halting active hostilities but leaving the Strait of Hormuz closed. The pause sets the stage for diplomatic talks in Islamabad, where sanctions relief, Iran’s nuclear program, and regional security...
Sea-Level Rise Is a Health Crisis and We Must Hold Polluters Accountable | Christiana Figueres
Christiana Figueres warns that sea‑level rise has moved from a future projection to a present‑day health crisis, contaminating freshwater, overwhelming sanitation, and threatening nutrition and cultural identity. The newly announced Lancet Commission on Sea‑Level Rise, Health and Justice, backed by...
Two Trump Moves Last Week Could Kill Off Future Accountability for His Deeds | Jan-Werner Müller
The Justice Department released a 52‑page opinion declaring the 1978 Presidential Records Act unconstitutional, a move authored by T. Elliot Gaiser, a jurist linked to election‑denial efforts. Simultaneously, Trump promoted an AI‑generated rendering of a Miami waterfront skyscraper billed as...
A New Economic Superpower Could Spark a Global Retreat From Fossil Fuels | Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope
A “coalition of the willing” comprising 85 nations will meet in Colombia on April 28‑29 to draft a market‑driven roadmap for phasing out oil, gas and coal. The group’s combined gross national product of $33.3 trillion dwarfs the United States and China,...
Why Do some Killer Motorists Get Short Prison Sentences? UK Road Safety Laws Are Letting Them Off the Hook |...
In 2024 Britain recorded 1,602 road fatalities, yet prosecutions remain rare. Recent court cases in Birmingham and Lincoln illustrate how the Crown Prosecution Service frequently labels lethal conduct as "careless" rather than "dangerous," limiting judges' sentencing powers. Both defendants received...
We've Gone Mad for Puzzles. This Makes Sense – It’s Reassuring to Have Answers in These Perplexing Times | Joseph...
Puzzle games have surged beyond the pandemic, becoming a daily habit for many Americans. New York Times app users now spend more time on Wordle‑style challenges than on news articles, while quiz‑book sales jumped 24% last year. Neuroscience links the dopamine hit...
As a Celebrant, I Prefer Funerals to Weddings. This Is Why | Jackie Bailey
Jackie Bailey, a seasoned celebrant and author, announced she will stop officiating weddings to focus solely on funerals. Her decision stems from the personal healing she experiences when guiding families through end‑of‑life rituals, a practice she began after her sister’s...
The Guardian View on Japan’s Hidden Century: Cheap Money, Global Risk | Editorial
The Bank of Japan’s ultra‑loose policy has turned the yen into the world’s cheapest funding currency, fueling a massive carry‑trade that amassed roughly $435 billion between 2022 and 2024. A modest rate hike in March 2024 barely dented the trade, but the...
The US-Israel War on Iran Is Accelerating De-Dollarization and America’s Decline | Ahmed Moor
The United States and Israel are spending roughly $12 billion each week on the war against Iran, a conflict that is reshaping global finance. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has forced about 100 vessels to pay a $2 million toll...
Australia’s Land Value Has Gone Through the Roof. Where Does that Leave Young People Who Want to Buy a Home?...
Australia’s household wealth surged in 2025, with land contributing about $567 billion USD (≈$860 bn AUD), pushing land’s share of assets to 42% of total holdings. Over the past 25 years land values have jumped 832%, outpacing deposits and making land three times...
The UK Has a Chance to Pioneer Pornography Regulation – It Must Take It | Susanna Rustin
The UK House of Lords has accepted an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would mandate consent verification for online pornography, potentially making Britain the first nation with comprehensive consent‑based regulation. The proposal, championed by Conservative peer Gabby...
The Guardian View on Trump’s Iran War: Escalation without End | Editorial
The Guardian editorial warns that Donald Trump’s fifth week of war against Iran lacks a coherent strategy, with U.S. strikes and Iranian missile attacks creating a stalemate. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has driven oil prices above $80...
Pete Hegseth Is Imbuing Violence with a Religious Righteousness | Arwa Mahdawi
Pete Hegseth, the newly appointed U.S. Defense Secretary, has framed violent action against Iran as a religiously justified mission, publicly calling for “overwhelming violence.” Since taking office, he has overseen the dismantling of a Defense Department program designed to limit...
What Is Israel’s Plan for Lebanon? | Fiona Katauskas
The Guardian cartoon commentary asks what Israel’s strategic objectives are in Lebanon amid rising border tensions. It highlights Israel’s concern over Hezbollah’s missile stockpiles and cross‑border attacks. The piece suggests Israel may be preparing a limited ground incursion or intensified...
Governments Controlling Prices? It Has Long Been Unthinkable – but May Now Be Inevitable | Andy Beckett
Governments that once shunned price controls are reconsidering them as repeated inflation shocks strain households. Mexico and Spain have introduced caps on essential goods and rent freezes, helping ruling parties boost electoral support. In the UK, Labour, Greens and some...
Black Music Has Been the Driving Force in Britain’s Music Industry and Culture. It’s Time We Treated It that Way...
The UK Music "Black Music Means Business" report shows Black‑origin music generated $31 billion of the UK’s $38 billion recorded‑music market over the past 30 years. Founder Kanya King reflects on the MOBO awards’ 30‑year journey, noting she remortgaged her home to...
What’s the Current Crisis Telling Us About Our Fossil Fuel Future? | Fiona Katauskas
Fiona Katauskas argues that the latest energy crisis—driven by geopolitical tensions, supply chain bottlenecks and soaring commodity prices—exposes the inherent fragility of a fossil‑fuel‑centric system. She highlights how price volatility is eroding profit margins for oil and gas firms while...
Struggling to Cope with the Relentless and Bleak News Cycle? Go to Bed Early | Jodie Wilson
Jodi Wilson argues that an early bedtime is the simplest antidote to the anxiety‑driven news cycle. She explains how constant digital alerts raise cortisol and disrupt sleep, while predictable bedtime rituals trigger oxytocin and promote calm. Wilson introduces the “reverse...
There Are No Missiles Raining Down on Havana. But What I Saw There Was Still Warfare | Owen Jones
Owen Jones reports that the Trump administration’s recent fuel embargo has deepened Cuba’s humanitarian crisis, crippling hospitals, blacking out the grid, and halting tourism. The lack of diesel has left the Ramón González Coro maternity hospital without essential medicines, while...
Labor Is Copping the Blame for the US ‘Excursion’ in Iran. Can They Get Trump Out of the Driver’s Seat?...
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government is bearing political fallout from President Donald Trump’s military excursion into Iran, which has spiked global oil prices and driven up Australian fuel costs. A Guardian Essential poll shows only 25% of Australians...
The Peaky Blinders Film Is Pandering to These Populist Times – I Should Know, the Nazi in It Is My...
The new Peaky Blinders film *The Immortal Man* introduces a fictional British Nazi named John Beckett, a character that the author—who is the real John Beckett’s son—argues bears no resemblance to his father, a former Labour MP imprisoned by 1940. Beckett places the...
Why Axe so Many Juries? My Plan Would Solve the Courts Crisis without Harming Justice | Alan Moses
Alan Moses argues that the heated debate over restricting jury trials distracts from the urgent crisis of an 80,000‑case criminal backlog in UK courts. He critiques the Leveson proposal to replace juries with bench divisions for lesser offences, suggesting it...
Tasmania’s Mount Arthur: A Place Awash with the True Sort of Quiet that Soaks Into Your Skin | Joseph Earp
Joseph Earp’s essay celebrates Tasmania’s Mount Arthur as a sanctuary of quiet that revitalizes the mind and body. He contrasts the restorative power of the mountain’s untouched landscapes with the artificial distractions of urban, corporate life. The piece highlights the...
Digested Week: Hegseth Chides Media for Focusing on Trivial Issue of His Iran Strategy
Pete Hegseth, newly appointed U.S. defense secretary, publicly rebuked the press for fixating on the “trivial” details of his Iran war strategy. He argued that the media’s focus on the absence of a comprehensive plan distracts from the administration’s broader...
Trump Now Calls War Reporting ‘Treason’. His Attacks on the Press Are Escalating Fast | Margaret Sullivan
Former President Donald Trump escalated attacks on the press, calling war reporting treason and urging punitive measures. FCC Chair Brendan Carr and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed his rhetoric, threatening license revocations and demanding patriotic coverage. Media companies, including CNN...
Australia's Universities Have Found Themselves in Crisis. But It Has Been Decades in the Making | Hannah Forsyth
Australian universities are in a deep crisis marked by governance failures, opaque finances, and relentless staff cuts. Decades of globalization‑driven expansion created bloated managerial structures that turned education into a metric‑focused business. Rising student debt, unaffordable housing, and AI‑induced job...
The Guardian View on the Iran War and International Law: It’s Worse than a Mistake; It’s a Crime | Editorial
The Guardian editorial labels the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran as a clear breach of international law and a war crime, pointing to over a thousand civilian deaths and a school strike that killed 175, most of them children. It...
Six Years After Breonna Taylor’s Death, America Is Weakening the Rules that Could Have Saved Her | Jamil Smith
Six years after Breonna Taylor’s fatal March 2020 raid, the Justice Department quietly eliminated the federal rule that limited the use of no‑knock warrants. The policy, adopted after her death, had required law‑enforcement to announce themselves before entering a home,...
Will the Telegraph’s New Owner Curb Its Wilder Excesses – or Make Them Worse? | Jane Martinson
Axel Springer has completed a £575 million acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group, ending a three‑year ownership battle that involved foreign suitors and regulatory hurdles. CEO Mathias Döpfner, who called the paper his "north star," promises to transform the historic title...
Israel and the US Are Fighting Iran Together. Are They on the Same Page Though? | Yousef Munayyer
The United States and Israel have entered their first fully coordinated joint war against Iran, now in its third week. While Washington frames the conflict as a response to Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions, Israeli strikes have targeted Iranian oil infrastructure,...
Labor Must Stop Juicing House Prices and Make Buying a Home the Australian Dream – Not Negatively Gearing One |...
Greg Jericho argues that Labor’s housing incentives are inflating Australian property values. In the December quarter, national dwelling prices jumped 2.7%, with Western Australia posting a 7.5% surge and median prices topping $1 million. The 5% first‑home‑buyer guarantee lifted prices sharply...
The Guardian View on the Expanding Iran Crisis: No Clear Aim and No End in Sight | Editorial
The United States and Israel have launched a war that has already killed more than 1,000 civilians, including children, and sparked a cascade of Iranian retaliation across the Middle East. Iran has targeted U.S. bases, civilian sites in Oman, and...