Midwest correspondent at The Economist, in Chicago. Before that, in London, Mumbai, Nairobi and DC. Buy my book: http://shorturl.at/BJOUVhttps://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mvqvfuf7tc2qNationalism, George Orwell wrote, "does not necessarily mean loyalty to a government or a country, still less to one’s own country." He was talking about Communists being loyal to Russia but it applies just as well to the European far right politicians embracing America these days [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Sep 2026 00:18 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvqvfuf7tc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mvnvlmg4bc2rAmanda is doing reporting that almost nobody else is, as a freelancer without the support of a big publication behind her. Read her stuff [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Sep 2026 19:43 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnvlmg4bc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mvkxakfrus2mThis is something you cannot repeat enough: what makes America so much more unequal than European countries isn't the wealth held by billionaires (Europe has those too). It is the wealth held by the upper echelon of the professional classes. Lawyers, doctors, even some journalists... [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Sep 2026 15:35 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvkxakfrus2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mvi4znet3226This piece really hit on something I've been trying to articulate for years about why I hate most modern TV. *Everything* now is high-budget drama with lengthy story arcs, and there's nothing you can just watch for half an hour without having to engage with it all: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/13/opinion/emmy-comedy-nominees-tv.html14 Sep 2026 12:41 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvi4znet3226https://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mvh57xzzsc2vI am very much not making predictions, but a tip for politicos: if you're not already, watch the Kansas Senate race14 Sep 2026 03:11 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvh57xzzsc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mvgdwojxsk25"ELLO MATE! GET OVER. YOU'RE FUCKING NICKED" British coppers still unmatched https://www.reddit.com/r/londoncycling/comments/1wf4230/borrowing_a_bike_to_catch_a_bike_thief_twickenham/?share_id=9rVfhFYoEvSLXIlnabgqN&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&utm_source=share&utm_term=113 Sep 2026 19:39 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvgdwojxsk25https://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mvg55yq24s27What @spignal.bsky.social started with a tongue-in-cheek column is now a real proposal [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Sep 2026 17:38 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvg55yq24s27https://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mvarfrhg2k23Around the corner from me there's a mini strip mall where half of the units are empty. The entrance to the car park has a giant sign saying your car will be clamped (booted) if you park in the empty spots. There's a super visible parking officer. And yet every day I see a clamped car11 Sep 2026 14:24 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvarfrhg2k23https://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mv7ezqvhc22kFailing to resist doing the pedantry thing about the definition of decimated [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Sep 2026 01:10 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv7ezqvhc22khttps://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mv4okperz22vJohn Fetterman is such a good example (Graham Platner was another) of why you shouldn't pick candidates for electoral office on their personal story and vibes09 Sep 2026 23:22 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv4okperz22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/dlknowles.bsky.social/post/3mv47qyo2i226Seems like all of these guys should be arrested under the Public Order Act of 1936 which banned "political uniforms" [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Sep 2026 18:57 +0000at://did:plc:bonfenuobglfiguxubvmcrow/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv47qyo2i226