All posts by Intellicurious

News, Views and Reviews for the Intellectually Curious

BOSTON REVIEW MAGAZINE FALL 2026 PREVIEW

BOSTON REVIEW MAGAZINE: The latest issue features ‘NO OTHER PATH FORWARD’ – Eric Blanc on organizing the left, Robin D. G. Kelley on the defund movement, Astra Taylor on the data center backlash, and more.

Mencken Agonistes

Misrepresented by the right and misunderstood by the left, the Sage of Baltimore delivered scathing—and still bracing—indictments of American injustice. By Andrew Holter

Slavery Pure and Simple

A recent bombshell report documents brutal cases of forced labor in Mexico. Why can’t the government take it seriously? By Claudio Lomnitz

The Rise and Fall of Tech Worker Power

Crushing our union drive at Twitter opened the floodgates for Silicon Valley’s assault on labor. By JS Tan and Clarissa Redwine

no other path forward

The Left’s Achilles’ Heel
Can we out-organize the right?
Eric Blanc

The Price of the Ticket
The long arc of the defund movement.
Robin D. G. Kelley

Who Wants AI?
Lessons from the data center backlash.
Lily Hu, Robinson Meyer, Nicholas Rabb, and Astra Taylor

Working Like a Dog
The future of animal rights.
Aaron Neber


features

Gleaner, Cobbler, Commons
Re-establishing the human with John Berger.
Peter Linebaugh

Is It the Phones?
Anatomy of a moral panic.
Lorna Finlayson

A Bigger Hell
Slavery returns to Mexico.
Claudio Lomnitz

Exit and Exception
The Board of Peace as template for a new world order.
Noura Erakat

WORLD LITERATURE TODAY NOVEMBER 2026 PREVIEW

WORLD LITERATURE TODAY: The latest issue features ‘Reading in Tasmania’. The 100th year of continuous publication gifts readers all their favorite genres—a profusion of essays, poetry, book reviews, creative nonfiction, fiction, interviews, a booklist for Trans Awareness Month, a postcard from Colombia, and more. Emma Wilkins’s essay on Tasmanian literature provides the cover feature, and translated work from China, Egypt, Mexico, Quebec, and Russia enlivens the issue. Reviews of new books by Solvej Balle, Emmanuel Carrère, Victoria Chang, Edwidge Danticat, Jon Fosse, and dozens more round out the year with essential reading-list titles.


50 Years Ago in These Pages

by The Editors of WLT

The Ancient Nutrients Sustaining Cali, Colombia

by Erik Gleibermann

A Field Guide to Global Trans Literature: 7 Books for Trans Awareness Month

by Alton Melvar M. Dapanas

72 Years Ago Not in These Pages

by Rafael Heliodoro Valle

“The Garden of My Soul”: Edith Wharton’s Living Legacy in France

by Laura Sheahen

Why I Am Not an Indian English Writer

An Essay by Aruni Kashyap

Introduction: Eyes of the Pen, Voices of the Camera

by Yousef Khanfar

Writing on War’s Edge

by Yousri Alghoul

They Call It Displacement—In Reality, It’s Hell (This Is My Story)

by Nour Abo-Rokb

Ghost

by Basem Nabres

Ringtones of My Mobile Phone

by Omar Hammash

THE NEW YORK TIMES – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2026

Early Turnout Appears Strong in Pivotal Israeli Election

Two Visions, Two Israels, One Nation in the Balance

As Israel votes, hard-right nationalism competes with the country’s founding ideals. The outcome could shape Israel’s identity for years.

The Issues Dividing Israelis as They Vote

The question of accountability for the government’s failures in the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, looms over the election.

The U.S. Fed Is Expected to Hold Rates Steady. Warsh Will Have to Explain Why.

Inflation is moving in the wrong direction and the labor market remains stable, a combination that bolsters the case for higher interest rates.

A Rare Cease-Fire, Brokered by Melania Trump, Begins in a Besieged Ukrainian City

Many people left in Oleshky, where bombardment is constant, have run out of food. A truce that began Tuesday is supposed to allow aid in and civilians out.

A.I.’s Rogue Behavior Starts With Its Training

We built an A.I. model and trained its agents to be persistent. They went rogue.

APOLLO MAGAZINE – NOVEMBER 2026

November 2026

APOLLO MAGAZINE: The latest issue features ‘Tate’s new collection of Indian art’ | Celia Paul finds herself in Venice | a photographic love letter to London | Berlin’s Hamburger Bahnhof at 30

Two starchitects, one art museum: can a clash of styles work?

Do the Fondation Beyeler’s new buildings by Peter Zumthor fit in with the rest of the site designed by Renzo Piano? Perhaps they aren’t trying to

What blockbuster auctions tell us about the value of art

The October auctions are always a test of the health of the art market, but there’s more than one way to read the results

Could members’ clubs bring new collectors into the art market?

From the November 2026 issue of Apollo. About a decade ago I found myself in a private room at the Arts Club on Dover Street in Mayfair explaining the reasons for my selection of that year’s international exhibitions, biennnials and art fairs to a table of wealthy diners. The expensively, if discreetly, dressed group – […]

The French restaurant that really does turn food into art

Guy Savoy is the first chef ever to be elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in France. A meal at his restaurant in Paris proves why he deserves this unprecedented honour

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2, 2026 PREVIEW

Donald Trump stands next to a trash can labeled Vote Here.

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE: The latest issue cover features Barry Blitt’s “Polling Place” – An election strategy.

The Republicans’ Remarkably Bad Midterm Campaigns

Things were going poorly even before Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign ran the most offensive ad of the year. By Benjamin Wallace-Wells

Charles Kushner and the MAGA Ambassador’s Playbook

Since taking up his post in Paris, Kushner has become known for lobbing provocations onto France’s domestic scene at sensitive moments. As he put it, “Nobody has the courage to say what I say.” By Lauren Collins

The State Officials Defending the Midterms from the President

Donald Trump has tried to purge voter rolls nationwide. Deidre Henderson, the Republican lieutenant governor of Utah, is among the chief election officers standing in his way. By Barton Gellman

How Jim Morrison Surmounted Tragedy and Skied Down Everest

The mountaineer and his partner, Hilaree Nelson, planned a first-ever descent. After her death, he pushed on. By Nick Paumgarten

THE NEW YORK TIMES – MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026

‘Pull Out the Sick Trees’: Xi’s Constant Purges Pave Way for Next Term

The Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who is likely preparing to secure a fourth term in power in 2027, has complained that officials cannot be trusted.

Lula Wins Re-election in Brazil as Bolsonaro Rejects Result

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s win ended a string of conservative victories in Latin America. Flávio Bolsonaro called for the election to be annulled.

To Work With P.O.W.s, Ukrainians Suppress Feelings About the Enemy

Much has been said about how Ukraine should treat Russian prisoners of war. Less attention has been paid to the emotional struggle for the Ukrainians tasked with that work.

Israeli Jews Across the Spectrum Face an Election of Fears

Supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have expressed intense anxieties about isolation abroad, security at home and the future of Israel’s identity.

María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s Leading Opposition Figure, Returns Home

After nearly 10 months in exile, the return of Ms. Machado, a Nobel laureate, could intensify calls for democratic elections.

Lula Wins Brazil’s Presidency, in Stunning Blow to Latin America’s Right

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva triumphed over Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the right-wing leader he defeated four years ago.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2026

A New Level of Threat and Fear Risks Pushing the U.S. and Iran Back to Full War

With new intelligence and the possibility of all sides seeking pretexts for action, the war in Iran is entering a dangerous phase.

Four Ways Israel’s Election Could End. Eventually.

No party is expected to achieve a clear victory, which means the election will likely only be the first step in determining who will form the next government. Here’s how that might unfold.

A Day After Renewed Street Clashes in France, Relief and Anxiety Mix

While the police kept a lid on vandalism, the huge number of protesters, and France’s fraught politics, suggest unrest could grow.

Saudi Arabia Reopens Riyadh Airport After Weeks of Houthi Attacks

The Houthis, an Iran-backed Yemeni militia, launched several deadly attacks on the airport this month and have threatened to strike it again.

Here’s What to Know About Brazil’s Election

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the leftist incumbent, and Flávio Bolsonaro, the right-wing challenger, face off in a narrow race that could redefine the future of Latin America.

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE-OCTOBER 25, 2026

Current cover

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE:  The 10.25.26 Issue Michael Steinberger on how California’s ultrarich are fighting against the world’s first billionaire tax; Charles Homans on who runs the Democratic party; Matthew Shaer on the director Sterlin Harjo; and more.

Some Tabloid Headline Staples Are Fun. Then There’s ‘Breaks Silence.’

It’s a term like “bombshell” or “flop,” but it often implies a more sinister set of assumptions the press has about celebrities. By Nitsuh Abebe

What This Democrat’s Surge in Texas Says About the Midterms


Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, on her appeal to MAGA voters and her refusal to engage in the “culture wars.” By Lulu Garcia-Navarro

50 Years In, What’s the Point of U2? Bono and the Edge Have Answers.

The longtime friends and creative partners on what U2 still means — and what would make them call it quits.

BARRON’S MAGAZINE – OCTOBER 26, 2026

BARRON’S MAGAZINE: The latest issue features ‘HOW THE MIDTERMS COULD REMAKE MARKETS’ – A divided government would put some industries in the crosshairs. What to expect in AI, and beyond.

What a Blue Wave Would Mean for Wall Street

The midterm elections will put some industries in the crosshairs. What to expect in AI, healthcare, and beyond.

5 Telecom Stocks That Can Survive the Musk Threat—and 1 Reason to Buy SpaceX

Shares of T-Mobile, AT&T, and others look attractively priced.

The Trump Economy in 7 Charts

The president has repeatedly promised to bring Americans lower prices, higher growth, and more jobs. His administration has produced mixed results.

Homeownership Helped Make America. It’s Slipping Away for Millions.

Homeownership rates surged in the 1940s and 1950s. But high home prices and interest rates are putting the American dream at risk.

Options ETFs Are Booming. Beware the Trade-Offs.

These pricey, complex strategies appeal to income-hungry and skittish investors—but some can cap your upside and leave you exposed to market downsides.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026

Iran Is in ‘Advanced Stages’ of Planning Attacks Against Americans, Officials Say

The U.S. government has ordered diplomats and other federal employees to leave Saudi Arabia. It is also drawing down staff at other missions in the region.

France Deploys Vast Security Force in Effort to Prevent More Riots

About 70,000 police and security officers, mobilized ahead of mass protests, will try to avert the arson and looting that shocked the country last weekend.

Israel Launches Crackdown in West Bank City After Deadly Attack

The military demolished buildings and erected roadblocks in Hebron, the biggest city in the territory, a day after Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers.

Ukraine’s Feeling of Moral Whiplash at the Hands of Trump

The United States once declared that Ukraine’s fight was the front line in a global battle for freedom. Now the Trump administration is sending money to Moscow.

On Trump’s Order, Justice Dept. Seeks to Block Alaska Vote if Republican Loses

In a highly unusual court filing, the Justice Department argued that confusion over candidates with similar names could taint the election results.

Trump’s ‘Smart Wall’ Is Watching the Border, and More Than a Million People

The administration is planning a vast expansion of the surveillance program. Here’s how much it can see.