34 h. ago Having as many babies as possible is not the only way to show you love humanity | Zoe Williams

Elon Musk is obsessed with falling birth rates, as is the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán. Why would leftwingers want to buy into their ‘pronatalist’ agenda?‘Perpetuating humanity should be a cross-politics consensus,” read an article in the Atlantic last week, “but the left was mostly absent at a recent pronatalism conference.” It’s such a simple proposition – everyone loves babies and wants the species to perpetuate, right? – but pronatalism has provoked a ferocious battle on the American left. Should they be trying to engage meaningfully at a preposterous far-right conference? Or should the left stop self-flagellating and start organising?But what is pronatalism – and is it really borderline fascist? I don’t want to think about slippery, bad-faith, rightwing claptrap any more than you do, but in an era in which US politics can sneeze and the world catches encephalitis, we do, regrettably, have to think about bad-faith everything, all the time. Continue reading...

Politics

53 h. ago Liberal staffers plant ‘stop the steal’ pins at Canadian conservative conference

Operatives placed buttons at CSFN trying to link Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre with Donald TrumpCampaigners with Canada’s Liberal party had some very American-esque politicking over the weekend, when Liberal operatives were found to have planted “stop the steal” buttons at a conservative conference to link the Conservative party to Donald Trump.Two Liberal party staffers infiltrated last week’s Canada Strong and Free Network Conference (CSFN) in Ottawa at which they strategically placed provocative buttons designed to create the false impression that Conservative supporters of party leader Pierre Poilievre were embracing Trump-style rhetoric, highlighting internal party divisions. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago What does China really think about Trump? They know about humiliation and won’t take it from him

Economically, the trade war may be bad news for Xi Jingping, but ideologically and politically it is a giftLast week, Mao Ning, head of China’s foreign ministry information department, posted a blurry black-and-white clip of a moment in history. In 1953, Chairman Mao made a defiant speech of resistance to what he called US aggression in Korea.Kim Il-sung, the North Korean leader and founder of the Kim dynasty, now in its third generation, had invaded US-backed South Korea. When Kim’s attempt to unite Korea by force appeared to be failing, China threw nearly 3 million “volunteers” into the war and succeeded in fighting to the stalemate that has prevailed ever since. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Bernie Sanders rally in LA draws thousands to protest Trump: ‘We can’t just let this happen’

US Vermont senator’s tour with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes has been drawing record-breaking crowds since FebruaryThe Vermont senator Bernie Sanders drew a record-breaking crowd at his rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, which included musical acts from Joan Baez and Neil Young, who encouraged the crowd to “take America back”.Sanders’s Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go from Here tour has been drawing massive crowds. Aided by the progressive New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the team set the record in Tempe, Arizona, for biggest-ever political rally in that state three weeks ago. In Denver, Colorado, more than 34,000 people showed up – a career-high crowd for the 83-year-old Sanders. Saturday in Los Angeles saw another record: at least 36,000 people packed a downtown park. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Stephen A. Smith now says he’s ‘serious’ and ‘leaving all doors open’ on presidential run

‘Time to stop messing around. Life is great. Especially at ESPN/Disney. Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess,’ Stephen A. Smith tweeted this week

Politics

9 d. ago 'Musk is a bully who uses his wealth as a weapon to enforce an authoritarian agenda'

Elon Musk is set to step away from his political role in the coming weeks, White House insiders have told as his company, Tesla, faces plummeting sales and tanking share prices

Events

9 d. ago Why pensioners don't trust Labour: Brits over the age of 66 face a 'crisis of leadership' with cuts to social care, dementia support and spiralling bills

Belief amongst pensioners that Labour will fix social care has already fallen by 50 per cent.

Politics

1 week ago ‘More will come to us now’: what does Le Pen verdict mean for far

Despite mixed views across France over RN leader since conviction, people are still joining her party in supportNear a roast chicken stand at a rural market, Jocelyn Dessigny was giving out leaflets bearing a photograph of the French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and the words “Save democracy!”“It is a political attack,” he said of Le Pen’s criminal conviction this week. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Wes Streeting’s plan to fix the NHS – Politics Weekly Westminster

The government has put improving the NHS at the heart of its plans, but will it be able to deliver on its promises? And how long could it take to turn the health service around? Pippa Crerar asked health secretary Wes Streeting at a special Guardian Live event. In a wide-ranging discussion, he also took questions on others issues including assisted dying, transgender rights and the war in Gaza. To purchase the full event video on demand, go to the theguardian.live Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Why so many countries are turning to PROTEST and rioting in the streets... and what Donald Trump has to do with it

Major civil unrest has rocked Turkey for more than a week following the arrest of the popular Istanbul mayor and opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu.

Politics

3 w. ago Spring statement: Should a Labour government be making these cuts? – Politics Weekly UK

Amid poor economic growth forecasts and global instability, Rachel Reeves is trying to balance the books by cutting spending on benefits. So why is a Labour government choosing this path? John Harris is joined by the Guardian’s political editor, Pippa Crerar, and political correspondent Kiran Stacey to unpick what was in the spring statement, and what it will mean for you Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Spring statement: What to expect – Politics Weekly Westminster

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey walk us through what we can expect to hear when Rachel Reeves makes her spring statement on Wednesday. With the government facing downgraded growth forecasts, rising borrowing costs and the threat of Donald Trump’s tariffs, how can it boost the economy and save public services? And how will major spending cuts go down with the party and the public? Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago A tale of two conferences: women against women as ‘poison of patriarchy’ returns and abortion fight intensifies

Last week, anti-choice campaigners emboldened by current US politics met in New York at the same time as UN delegates gathered to address the widespread inequalities women face. The battle to protect rights has never felt more urgentIn a meeting room on the 27th floor of a swish Manhattan hotel, Denise Mountenay is telling the audience that the right to abortion is “Nazi thinking.” Mountenay regrets her own abortions, and says she has been called by God to spread the word that she and other women “were lied to, deceived, pressured into making the most horrible choice: to choose death instead of life”.She goes on to list reasons why abortion is “not a safe procedure. [That’s what] they want woman to think – that is a lie.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Politics Live presenter Jo Coburn to leave BBC after 28 years

The journalist has presented the BBC’s daily weekday politics show since it launched in 2018.

Politics

3 w. ago A day on the frontline of England’s social care crisis – Politics Weekly UK

An ageing population, a funding squeeze and a recruitment crisis have taken England’s adult social care system to breaking point. This week, John Harris is in Greater Manchester to find out what a day in the life of a care worker looks like, and whether it is too late to save this vital serviceWe know that not everyone can afford to pay for the news right now, but if you can, please choose to support the Guardian at http://theguardian.com/politicspod Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Trump and Putin agree temporary halt on energy infrastructure strikes as Zelenskyy welcomes proposal – live

Trump hails ‘productive’ call with Russian president as Putin issues long list of conditions; Ukraine’s president reacts to Trump-Putin callSpeaking for the Greens, who are expected to back the CDU/CSU and the SPD today after a political deal struck late last week, Britta Haßelmann offered her support for the proposal – even as she sharply criticised Merz’s change of heart on this issue in recent weeks.Rejecting Merz’s comments about the new, challenging global circumstances, he said “the conditions are no different than they were on 1 January or in October last year,” after Trump was elected. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Trump and Putin agree to seek limited ceasefire on energy infrastructure after leaders hold call on Ukraine – Europe live

Vladimir Putin issues long list of conditions and demands that require ‘further consideration’Speaking for the Greens, who are expected to back the CDU/CSU and the SPD today after a political deal struck late last week, Britta Haßelmann offered her support for the proposal – even as she sharply criticised Merz’s change of heart on this issue in recent weeks.Rejecting Merz’s comments about the new, challenging global circumstances, he said “the conditions are no different than they were on 1 January or in October last year,” after Trump was elected. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Germany passes huge spending package amid Ukraine fears as White House says Trump

US and Russian presidents speak on phone as Bundestag votes to release a €500bn infrastructure fund to boost German defenceTrump and Putin to hold high-stakes call on UkraineSpeaking for the Greens, who are expected to back the CDU/CSU and the SPD today after a political deal struck late last week, Britta Haßelmann offered her support for the proposal – even as she sharply criticised Merz’s change of heart on this issue in recent weeks.Rejecting Merz’s comments about the new, challenging global circumstances, he said “the conditions are no different than they were on 1 January or in October last year,” after Trump was elected. Continue reading...

Politics

last month Politics Weekly Westminster: the cabinet revolt over benefits cuts

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss whether the backlash to the government’s planned benefit cuts will result in a U-turn. And which other departments could face eye-watering cuts?To purchase tickets for Pippa Crerar’s live conversation with the health secretary, Wes Streeting, please visit: theguardian.com/WesStreetingEvent Continue reading...

Politics

last month Politics Weekly Westminster: The cabinet revolt over benefit cuts

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss whether the backlash to the government’s planned benefit cuts will result in a U-turn. And which other departments could face eye-watering cuts?To purchase tickets for Pippa Crerar’s live conversation with the health secretary, Wes Streeting, please visit: theguardian.com/WesStreetingEvent Continue reading...

Politics