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Economy

How should policymakers adapt economic frameworks to address emerging challenges not covered by traditional economics?

This is the strangest economy I’ve seen in my lifetime. If you just looked at the macro data — the jobs numbers, G.D.P., the stock market — things look pretty normal. But they clearly aren’t normal. The Trump administration spent the year upending the global trade system while tech companies spent hundreds of billions of dollars on A.I., a technology that could potentially displace many of our jobs. And people don’t feel normal, either. Survey data shows that the vibecession rages on. Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal are the co-hosts of the excellent economics podcast “Odd Lots” and have closely followed all the chaos this year. So I wanted to have them on the show to explain what the hell is going on. Mentioned: Charts Odd Lots The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu “The Vibecession: The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy” by Kyla Scanlon “Everyone is Gambling and No One is Happy” by Kyla Scanlon Book Recommendations: Breakneck by Dan Wang North Woods by Daniel Mason A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst The Digital Reversal by Andrey Mir Orality and Literacy by Walter J. Ong No Sense of Place by Joshua Meyrowitz Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs. This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was

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Environment

What are the important choices Germany faces for its climate plans by 2026, and how could these affect everyone?

Preview 2026: Will Europe’s largest economy stay the course on climate? Cutting costs, backing industry, strengthening supply security – and keeping voters on board c.kyllmann Wed, 21 Jan 2026 - 08:50 In 2026, Germany's government under chancellor Friedrich Merz must end the uncertainty prevailing during its first months in office. It can no longer delay major climate and energy policy decisions to put the country on track to climate neutrality by 2045, and has pledged to reset the energy transition by lowering costs and improving resilience. However, it has yet to present crucial reforms in electricity, industry, transport, and buildings. Patience across the economy and society wears thin, while geopolitical tensions, trade disputes and a sluggish economy are increasing pressure to deliver results ahead of state elections where the far right could make significant gains. If Europe's largest economy does not stay the course on climate, the EU will struggle to take ambitious long-term decisions planned for next year. This dossier previews Germany’s and the EU's climate and energy transition in 2026, and features interviews with experts on their expectations for the year ahead. [UPDATE adds final interviews] ANALYSES Merz government must deliver on key energy projects as patience wears thin Photo: Bundesregierung / Kugler The economic reset promised by chancellor Friedrich Merz remains a work in progress at the turn of the year, with many major climate and energy policy decisions still pending. Industry leaders warn of mounting frustration after his commitment to put competitiveness ahead of climate ambition, while environmental groups fear a weakening of climate targets and voters remain unconvinced. Pressure on his government is growing to deliver, but a fragile coalition, five state elections and the risk of a far-right surge are increasing the complexity of effective policymaking in 2026. Read the article here. 2026 set to shape the future of the EU’s climate and

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Geopolitics

What are the potential implications of different approaches to the Israel-Hamas conflict for regional stability and peace?

Israeli forces still occupy half of Gaza. In the cease-fire deal, Israel agreed to fully withdraw its presence there once Hamas fully demilitarized. But Amit Segal thinks that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. Instead, he believes Gaza will end up divided. So what does that really mean? What are the implications? Segal is the chief political analyst for Channel 12 News in Israel and is known to be quite close to the Netanyahu government. He writes the newsletter It’s Noon in Israel and is the author of the book “A Call at 4 a.m.: Thirteen Prime Ministers and the Crucial Decisions That Shaped Israeli Politics,” which was recently published in English. In this conversation, he talks about why most Israelis don’t see the cease-fire as the end of the war between Israel and Hamas and how this conflict is mapping onto Israeli politics — both at present and as the country looks toward its next elections. This episode contains strong language. Book Recommendations: The Accidental President by A. J. Baime An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin Messiah in Sde Boker by Hagai Segal Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find the transcript and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.html This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was

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Politics

What should happen when one agency refuses to share information with another in a serious investigation?

The FBI formally rejected Minnesota state investigators’ request to access evidence related to Alex Pretti’s death that occurred during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement-related operation, according to officials. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has sought to access evidence and information related to the federal government’s investigation into Pretti’s Jan. 24 death. On Monday, BCA […]

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Geopolitics

How can international aid efforts best support peace and recovery in Sudan?

By Simon Lewis WASHINGTON, Feb 3 - The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday pledged to donate $500 million to a U.N. fund for humanitarian aid for Sudan, amid a U.S. push to renew efforts towards a truce in the conflict that has devastated the country. Sudan has accused the UAE of arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which have been fighting the Sudanese army in thecivil war that broke out in April 2023- a charge the UAE denies butU.N. expertsandU.S. lawmakershave found credible

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