'Underneath the noise, however, there's an existential crisis'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'The Germany we knew is gone'
Anna Sauerbrey at The New York Times
Outside of "Germany, Germany is still intact," but "in Germany, Germany doesn't feel like Germany anymore," says Anna Sauerbrey. The "economically prosperous, socially cohesive and politically stable Germany has gone," and "this government, ideologically torn and rocked by outside shocks, proved unable to cope." These "travails have combined to devastating political effect." But "not all is lost," as "Germany's crisis is real, but it is as much a crisis of confidence as anything else."
Subscribe to 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.
'How we can resist Trump's deportation plans'
Leah Montange at The Progressive
Donald Trump's campaign "drummed up support through scapegoating 'migrant crime,'" and "this is a pretext for mass deportations," says Leah Montange. The "best way to resist these kinds of enforcement activities" is for "citizens and non-citizens to claim one another as fellow community members, and then work together." What is "needed now is a blossoming of local-level efforts to defend immigrants," and it is "crucial that we build solidarity within our local communities."
'Trump should make TikTok American'
National Review editors
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Trump has said he "wants to save" TikTok, and the "way for him to do that — the only defensible way — is to facilitate a sale to one of multiple potential buyers," say the National Review editors. A "forced divestiture is the outcome that's most consistent with Trump's stated ambitions on China policy." Removing "TikTok from Beijing's control would send Xi Jinping a signal about America's resolve," and "would be a small but prominent step toward reciprocity."
'The new AI stock pickers are destined to disappoint'
Nir Kaissar at Bloomberg
Something to "watch for next year is AI-driven investment products," says Nir Kaissar. AI has "hopes of doing what mortal managers can't. Don't hold your breath." Some AI bots "will beat the market, but many won't win by a big enough margin to overcome their fees." The "experience of real-life stock pickers is instructive," so "AI will have to go beyond traditional stock picking — it will have to invent new ways to beat the market."
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.
-
Savages: a tragi-comedy set in a 'quirky handcrafted world'
The Week Recommends This new animated film by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Claude Barras is undeniably political, but it has a hopeful message
-
Why 'faceless bots' are interviewing job hunters
In The Spotlight Artificial intelligence is taking over a crucial part of recruitment
-
Who will win the battle for the soul of the Green Party?
An ideological divide is taking root among the environmentalists
-
JD Vance rises as MAGA heir apparent
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The vice president is taking an increasingly proactive role in a MAGA movement roiled by scandal and anxious about a post-Trump future
-
Congress should 'step in' to block Trump's White House ballroom makeover
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
ICE scraps age limits amid hiring push
Speed Read Anyone 18 or older can now apply to be an ICE agent
-
Trump's global tariffs take effect, with new additions
Speed Read Tariffs on more than 90 US trading partners went into effect, escalating the global trade war
-
'America is becoming a nation of homebodies'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Eighty years after Hiroshima: how close is nuclear conflict?
Today's Big Question Eight decades on from the first atomic bomb 'we have blundered into a new age of nuclear perils'
-
'Discriminating against DACA students'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Epstein: A boon for Democrats?
Feature Democrats' push to release the Epstein files splits the GOP, sending the House into an early summer recess