'The United States and other open societies must not be complacent'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'From Iran and Russia, the disinformation is now. The target is America.'
The Washington Post editorial board
If Iran's and Russia's disinformation campaign "sounds like a repeat of the 2016 presidential campaign, with foreign nations trying to interfere in U.S. democracy, it is," says The Washington Post editorial board. Russia has now "supercharged the process to spread disinformation at high speed and on industrial scale." It is "likely there are many other still-undetected influence campaigns," using artificial intelligence, so "Congress ought to fund and upgrade programs that warn citizens against getting duped."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Joe Biden didn't just pass the torch at the DNC — he paid tribute to the future'
Hayes Brown at MSNBC
President Joe Biden was "fired up in a way he hadn't been in months," at the DNC says Hayes Brown. Biden used his speech to "brag a little about his accomplishments and channel righteous anger at the ways former President Donald Trump and his movement have hurt, and will hurt, the country." There was a "laundry list of accomplishments that Biden had expected to run on himself. Instead, it will be the foundation of Harris' campaign."
'What Harris can take from Obama's very first convention speech'
Julian E. Zelizer at Foreign Policy
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
As Democrats "prepare for the DNC in Chicago, they would do well to look back at what Obama had to say" in 2004, says Julian E. Zelizer. Obama's "keynote address remains as relevant in 2024 as it was when he was still a relatively unknown figure on the national stage." The speech "provides a solid foundation for the politics of joy that Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, hope can keep their momentum going."
'Germany's brilliant police strategy: give us your knife, get free Netflix'
Itxu Díaz at National Review
Knife violence and immigration are "merging into a crisis European officials are reluctant to seriously address," says Itxu Díaz. Germany is "debating whether the government should offer Netflix subscriptions to those who voluntarily hand in their illegal knives." This debate is "so immensely illustrative of the EU's failure that it is impossible to overlook." If Europeans "were told in 2015 about such a proposal, we would have said without hesitation: 'That will never happen here.'"
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
5 vengefully funny cartoons about punishing Trump's political enemies
Cartoons Artists take on vengeance in a shutdown, the hounds of Pam Bondi, and more
-
Political cartoons for October 18
Cartoons Saturday's editorial cartoons include conversion therapy, Russ Vought, and more
-
President Trump: ‘waging war’ on Chicago
Talking Point Federal agents are carrying out ‘increasingly aggressive’ immigration raids – but have sanctuary cities like Chicago brought it on themselves?
-
‘The illusion of wealth can encourage people to take on more debt’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
‘An exercise of the Republicans justifying their racist positions’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
‘Are we just going to stand in passive witness to the degradation of our democracy?’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
‘It’s not normal for parents to raise their children in isolation’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Could Democrats lose the New Jersey governor’s race?
Today’s Big Question Democrat Mikie Sherrill stumbles against Republican Jack Ciattarelli
-
‘Porsche’s luxury credentials are now hanging by a thread’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
‘Use as little plastic as possible’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
‘A legacy news brand brings a visibility of its own’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day