Philip Collins: Trump’s paean to untruth
It was just another rambling Trump speech to his supporters. Except it wasn’t. This was the speech that got the president impeached for a second time.
Slow views
Jonathan Cake: Drama out of real lives
The director of the remarkable Up series, Michael Apted, died last week. His casts had more to thank him for than just the work.
Liz Moseley: Shops are culture
The demise of the ‘Big Topshop’ in London will leave a gap in our Saturday afternoons – and our lives
Jane Martinson: The BBC is being dragged back into 2016
A new rival and a new Brexit-supporting chair could force the Beeb into a culture war it shouldn’t need to fight
David Taylor: These are the enablers
Over the past few days, senior Republican figures have lined up to denounce Trump. But they all knew about him before now – and did nothing
Matthew d’Ancona: Killing joke
The Proud Boys who stormed the US Capitol last week started life as a risible drinking club. In the digital age, mutation is constant
Lucy Scholes: Radio has never been more important
It’s a medium that’s been around for decades – and yet it’s still proving its worth
Matthew d’Ancona: A happy new year is an honest one, Boris
As new Covid restrictions are finalised, the PM needs to break the habit of a lifetime and speak candidly about the great trials that lie ahead
Rachael Revesz: How not to bring up baby
The government’s shared parental leave scheme was meant to be revolutionary. Instead, it’s a mess
Simon Briscoe: What’s bad? Our public services or the data?
The numbers suggest that, during Covid, Britain’s services have been outclassed by other countries’ – but the numbers might be wrong
Alastair Campbell: The 23-year-old book that explains Brexit
‘The Sovereign Individual’ was co-authored by William Rees-Mogg, father of Jacob. Its politics are those of the modern libertarian right
Matthew d’Ancona: Le Carré’s last mission
John le Carré was much more than the greatest chronicler of the Cold War. He saw the fault-lines in all that followed – and warned us of them till the end
Paul Caruana Galizia: Hearing from a deposed prime minster
Joseph Muscat, former leader of Malta, has been testifying at the public inquiry into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination
Mark Watts: Cities are leading the way on climate change
It’s five years since the Paris Climate Agreement. While nation states have wavered, local mayors have held firm
Matthew d’Ancona: Brexit is for life, not just for Christmas
Whether or not we get a deal by the end of year, Britain is now going to enter a state of endless negotiation
Matthew d’Ancona: Since when were MPs experts on pandemics?
A certain tribe of Conservative backbenchers is kicking up a fuss over new Covid restrictions. But this really isn’t a time – or a matter – for base politicking
Chris Cook: The hazards of moral hazard
The government may allow a council to fail to set an example to others. But this isn’t a time for setting examples
Pete Paphides: We need new lists
The history of popular music never stands still. Our appreciation of it shouldn’t either
Bee Boileau: A scoop! But no credit…
The author wrote a story for her student newspaper about men speaking over women. Then it appeared in national newspapers – but in a way that just repeated the problem
Matthew d’Ancona: The two Rishi Sunaks
This week’s Spending Review will reveal a chancellor torn between a yearning to balance the books and the needs of a new era
Chris Cook: This code is too easy to break
The rules for ministerial behaviour aren’t rules at all. All that really matters is what the prime minister thinks
Laura Round: Advising after Cummings
The departure of Boris Johnson’s controversial aide could free up others to do better work
Chris Cook: The problem of fatigue
We’re all tired of the pandemic and its lockdowns. But for the public sector, there are very particular consequences
Matthew d’Ancona: The president-elect’s speech
Welcome words of healing and unity, but Biden faces an uphill struggle
Chris Cook: Playing catch up
Britain’s Treasury is gearing up for a health crisis that will last until at least March. The rest of the government must do likewise
Matthew d’Ancona: The battle is just beginning
Trump’s defeat would guarantee nothing. Trumpism lingers
Liz Moseley: The media are complicit in domestic abuse
We’re quick to disbelieve and ignore allegations of violence
Alastair Campbell: What Johnson and Corbyn have in common
Their politics are different, but their personalities might be closer than they’d care to admit
Burnham, baby, Burnham
The mayor of Greater Manchester is taking on the government over its Covid restrictions. By doing so, he is standing up for localism
The second pandemic
On the shoulders of Covid comes a wave of mental illness that the UK is not prepared for