2 hours ago McCarthyism stalked my family. Its paranoia contains a lesson for Trump’s second term | Richard Sennett

Trump’s eerily familiar evocations of the ‘enemy within’ may be harder to shake off than the man who targeted my parentsThe rise of Donald Trump aroused in me an old fear of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Both McCarthy and Trump rose to power as demagogues who fed on the American public’s fear of “enemies within”. My family had cause to fear on the biggest of these counts: my parents were communists from an early age, although they had quit the party in 1939 after Hitler’s pact with Stalin. In the heyday of US power, families such as mine were persecuted for a cause in which they no longer believed. We developed ways to avoid or resist persecution that worked pretty well, and I think these help to illuminate the combat that is to come with Trumpism.Some connections between McCarthy and Trump are straightforward, both having been charismatic performers with a base of willing believers, both exploiting patriotism, both making up “facts” on the spur of the moment. There is a personal bridge ...

Politics

18 hours ago 'Say it's carol singers': Love Actually mews house listed to rent for £15,200 a month

The house is on St Luke’s Mews, where Mark (Andrew Lincoln) makes his famous declaration of love to Juliet (Keira Knightley) in Richard Curtis’ film

Society

20 hours ago Family buying hotdogs at Christmas market mortified after seller's £618 mistake

Laura Brumpton, 34, and her husband Alan, 37, were enjoying a festive outing to a Christmas market when they decided to treat their children to two hotdogs – but they got a shock when they checked their bank balance

Economics

99 minutes ago Romeo And Juliet actress who sued movie company and had 'enduring impact' dies

Actress Olivia Hussey, best known for her role as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet, has died at the age of 73, her family have confirmed in a heartbreaking statement

Events

18 hours ago Woman hatches clever plan to find perfect man in 2025 – using ChatGPT hack

A woman took to TikTok to share the unusual ways she's using ChatGPT to help her find 'her future husband' in 2025 by changing her daily routine - but people can't decide if it's genius or insane

Technology

25 hours ago Embarrassing symptom that led to fitness trainer being diagnosed with cancer at just 25

Fitness trainer Dilan Patel recalled how in his mid-20s he was living a normal life for someone his age, working hard and hanging out with friends with no idea he had a potential cancer symptom.

Science

2 hours ago Christine McGuinness gives relationship update after heartbreaking split from Paddy

EXCLUSIVE: Christine McGuinness has opened up about her love life and her romance goals – following her heartbreaking split from husband Paddy McGuinness in 2022

Politics

21 hours ago We're stuck in Britain's downsizing gridlock: As the price of bungalows soars, the retirees struggling to buy a smaller home with the proceeds of selling their larger family house

Anne Savory (pictured) and her husband Ted want to sell their three-bedroom bungalow in West Suffolk and move closer to their children.

Society

2 hours ago Huge pop star tragically died at 35 weighing just 4 stone after tragic health battle

Late actress Lena Zavaroni was catapulted to fame on popular TV show Opportunity Knocks at the age of 10, but she tragically died aged 35 following a devastating health battle

Events

10 hours ago Princess Diana’s ghost found me my husband, says ex royal butler Paul Burrell

Former royal butler Paul Burrel believes the People's Princess made sure he bumped into his husband despite never disclosing his sexuality to Lady Diana - 'she sent him'

Politics

30 hours ago The terrible secret I can never tell my husband: I slept with his brother before I met him... and I still get a rush of desire over the family dinner table even 25 years later

This year's Christmas dinner was the hardest so far; I could barely handle the tension. As the roast potatoes were handed down the table at my in-laws', excitement passed through me.

Society

4 hours ago Olivia Hussey dead at 73: Golden Globe winning star of Romeo And Juliet passes away 'peacefully' at home

Olivia Hussey - who rose to fame starring in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film Romeo And Juliet - has died at the age of 73 on Friday, December 27.

Events

10 hours ago Ange Postecoglou confident Tottenham revival will turn him from 'joke to genius'

Tottenham are on a difficult run of poor results which has heaped pressure on boss Ange Postecoglou over his attacking style of play amidst their troublesome injury crisis

Politics

5 hours ago Olivia Hussey dies aged 73 as tributes paid to Romeo and Juliet and Black Christmas star

Star of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet Olivia Hussey Eisley has died at the age of 73, her family have confirmed in a heartbreaking statement released on her Instagram page

Events

11 hours ago Nebraska's governor to leave hospital after he was bucked off a horse and broke his ribs

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen will be released from the hospital Friday, two days after getting nine titanium plates installed during a surgery to stabilize the ribs he broke when he was bucked off a horse

Politics

6 hours ago ‘A joke’: Jordan Thompson hits out at doping ban for doubles partner Max Purcell

Australian has accepted provisional suspension for anti-doping breachThompson to play with Chris O’Connell at Brisbane InternationalThe doping ban of Australia’s two-time doubles grand-slam winner Max Purcell has been described as “a joke” by his US Open-winning partner Jordan Thompson.The 26-year-old Purcell was provisionally suspended over an alleged violation of tennis’ anti-doping program. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Monday that Purcell had voluntarily accepted the suspension, after admitting to a breach relating to a prohibited method. Continue reading...

Events

14 hours ago Only Fools and Horses' John Challis' widow makes heartbreaking discovery at his grave

Carol Challis, the widow of Only Fools and Horses star John Challis, has shared a heartbreaking discovery she made at her late husband's grave over the Christmas period

Politics

8 hours ago Pictured: Woman who prepared 'poison' Christmas meal that led to the deaths of her two sisters and niece

Tatiana Denize Silva dos Anjos, 43, and Maida Berenice Flores da Silva, 58, died after having the cake on December 23.

Events

14 hours ago Emotional Jonny Clayton admits his time in darts is running out as he reveals age is no barrier if you produce 2 things

The Ferret beat Daryl Gurney to keep his Ally Pally title dream alive and kicking

Politics

10 hours ago Billie Lourd opens up about her ‘deeper appreciation’ of life eight years after mother Carrie Fisher’s death

The ‘Star Wars’ star died in December 2016 at the age of 60 after suffering a stroke

Events

17 hours ago BBC's Gabby Logan branded 'weird' by husband Kenny after tearful moment

Gabby Logan was left in tears after driving past a school and being reminded of her children's time at school, with husband Kenny branding her reaction as "weird"

Politics

12 hours ago Atlanta rapper OG Maco, who had viral hit with ‘U Guessed It’, dead at 32

The rapper’s 2014 debut single ‘U Guessed It’ became a trap landmark

Events

13 hours ago Emmerdale revenge twist 'sealed' as Will Taylor's real killer 'exposed'

Emmerdale viewers saw Dawn Taylor and her husband Billy Fletcher believe they had rumbled the truth about her father Will Taylor's sudden death at Christmas on the ITV soap

Events

18 hours ago Tributes paid to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's 'wonderful' younger brother, who died on Boxing Day

Nick Starmer died on Boxing Day at the age of 60.

Politics

14 hours ago Rapper dies at 32 after being rushed to hospital following a gunshot wound

Rapper OG Maco, best known for the viral hit U Guessed It, has died at the age of 32, with his family paying tribute to his "resilience, creativity, and boundless love"

Events

18 hours ago The best Christmas decoration storage hacks to make them easy to pack away – and get out next year

Taking down your Christmas decorations isn’t nearly as fun as putting them up, but these handy storage hacks and solutions will make it a breeze – and future you will thank you

Politics

14 hours ago Fife plane crash: Pilot killed two days before Christmas named as 'inspiring' family man

Nicholas Denison-Pender, from Perthshire, has been named as the pilot of a light plane that crashed near to Fife Airport, Kinglassie, two days before Christmas

Events

19 hours ago Hawk Tuah girl's 'spit on that thang' eerily spotted in 1992 The Simpsons episode

The internet has gone into overdrive with memes after spotting a connection between viral sensation Haliey Welch and a character from The Simpsons TV show

Politics

15 hours ago U Guessed It rapper OG Maco, 32, dies weeks after tragically shooting himself

U Guessed It rapper OG Maco has died at the age of 32, just weeks after suffering a gunshot wound to the head as he was admitted to hospital and put in critical care

Events

20 hours ago Black school worker told he was 'punching above his weight' for having age

Jamiu Alagangan sued Ormiston New Academy in Wolverhampton for discrimination after he was told by a colleague he had 'punched above his weight', an employment tribunal heard.

Politics

15 hours ago Lauryn Goodman's most unlikely plan yet: A year after her explosive text detonated footballer Kyle Walker's marriage, the wannabe WAG is cooking up an astonishing pivot, reveals KATIE HIND

It's exactly a year since Lauryn Goodman sent that explosive text to Kyle Walker's then pregnant wife Annie Kilner to inform her that her husband was the father of her baby daughter.

Events

20 hours ago Traditional New Year's resolutions cast aside as Brits embrace fun in 2025

A new study of 2,000 UK adults found that people are moving away from setting themselves strict goals, and are instead prioritising happiness and self-kindness.

Politics

16 hours ago Pictured: Pilot, 50, killed when light aircraft crashed into field just days before Christmas

Nicholas Denison-Pender, 50, from Perthshire, was pronounced dead at the scene after the aircraft crashed near Fife Airport, Kinglassie on Monday.

Events

21 hours ago Chris Kamara leaves Jeff Stelling in stitches with Tottenham joke during Amazon coverage

Chris Kamara returned to Premier League reporting on Boxing Day for Tottenham's trip to Nottingham Forest, in the process reuniting with former Sky colleague Jeff Stelling

Politics

17 hours ago Colleague pays tribute to ‘inspiring’ pilot who died following plane crash

Nicholas Denison-Pender, 50, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Events

21 hours ago ‘Everyone is crazy about tennis’: Sinner’s success inspires Italy to pick up rackets

Italians are taking to the court with factors including the pandemic and broadcasting also said to be fuelling enthusiasmAt the age of 47, diehard AC Milan fan Ninni Licata has hung up his football boots in exchange for a tennis racket.Like thousands of Italians in recent years, Licata has been unable to resist the lure of a game that for years had been relegated to the sidelines of the country’s national sports, overshadowed by football and Formula One. Continue reading...

Politics

17 hours ago Tragic pilot who died after his light aircraft crashed just two days before Christmas is named by police

Nicholas Denison-Pender, 50, from Perthshire, was pronounced dead at the scene after the aircraft crashed near Fife Airport, Kinglassie, at about 11.40am on Monday.

Events

22 hours ago Dragons, demons and Grand Theft Auto VI: the games to look out for in 2025

Vice City returns, but there are plenty of new games and reboots, from Monster Hunter Wilds and Atomfall to Civilization VII and DOOM: The Dark AgesExplore, expand, exploit, exterminate: the rules of Civilization haven’t changed, but this devilishly compelling strategy series has long been due an overhaul. Next year’s instalment lets you pick and choose between many more different leaders and peoples to guide to world domination, from antiquity and through the age of exploration to the modern era – peacefully, or otherwise. • Released 11 Feb 11; all platforms Continue reading...

Politics

19 hours ago Keir Starmer pays tribute to ‘wonderful’ brother Nick who died on Boxing Day

Nick Starmer died from cancer at the age of 60 on 26 December

Events

22 hours ago 'We did scavenger hunt every Christmas – I didn't discover sad reason until I grew up'

A woman spent her childhood Christmases hunting for presents in a fun scavenger hunt – but didn't realise the heartbreaking reason until she was an adult herself

Politics

20 hours ago First picture of pilot who died in horror Fife Airport plane crash days before Christmas

Nicholas Denison-Pender, 50, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Monday, December 23.

Events

23 hours ago Betwixtmas fun: 13 things to do with kids in London between now and the New Year

Keep the Christmas magic going for a little longer, says Anjana Gosai

Politics

25 hours ago Researchers discover the hobby that cuts your risk of dementia in half

Scientists think processing the vast amounts of information encountered online can benefit people's brains, while social media use may help to combat loneliness

Events

23 hours ago My holidays were blighted by moany voicenotes, so I imposed a Whatsapp ban – with mixed results | Poorna Bell

The incessant notifications make me pine for the days when staying in touch required greater effortThough my internal age is set to about 28, the time when I feel profoundly 43 is when I get nostalgic for things rendered obsolete by technology. One of those things was being able to go on holiday without being continually contacted, because the price of sending a text message was the same as a glass of wine. WhatsApp has obliterated that.Over the past year, I’ve noticed how much harder it has been to switch off as a result of the incessant flow of information. I have walked in the Polish countryside foraging for mushrooms under a crisp blue sky, while listening to a friend’s voice note about their work worries in minute detail. After I spent a glorious day out with my 10-year-old niece in Barcelona, eating dumplings and buying stickers, a friend decided to share a non-urgent but emotionally difficult update about a mutual friend’s bad health. While I was in the Maldives, after I had ...

Politics

25 hours ago You be the judge: should my daughter stop spending so much on beauty products?

Denise says Marsha is obsessed with her appearance and is wasting her money. Marsha says times have changed. You decide whose argument lacks foundationFind out how to get a disagreement settled or become a jurorWhy does a 19-year-old need to use £200 night cream? Plus she already wants ‘baby Botox’Kids now have 10-step skincare routines. Mum doesn’t understand the pressure I’m under Continue reading...

Events