Justin Webb

London

Writer at Freelance

early morning person

Featured in: Favicon

bbc.co.uk

theguardian.com Favicon

telegraph.co.uk Favicon

thetimes.co.uk Favicon

elsevier.com Favicon

nzz.ch

lse.ac.uk

newstatesman.com Favicon

clarionledger.com Favicon

unherd.com + 8 more

Articles

O come, Emanuel, and shake up the Dems

Nov 28, 2024 | thetimes.com | Justin Webb

Onwards and upwards. Or at least onwards: the Democratic Party is looking to the future and — this is fact not figurative speech — the campaign for 2028 has begun. Folks are talking, yes, about why they lost, but increasingly about how they might win. The good news for the party — again this is a fact — is that they have a range of candidates capable of winning the presidency, indeed some of whom might have stood a better chance this year.
Believe Nothing Until It Is Officially Denied by Patrick Cockburn

Oct 30, 2024 | the-tls.co.uk | James Robins |Conrad Landin |Lisa Hilton |Justin Webb

In that interlude between 1933 and 1941, when not much was going on in the world, “unquestionably the nastiest looking bit of work that ever dropped on to a breakfast table”, in the words of its editor, was a newsletter called the Week. Rancid brown ink, stamped on standard ecru typewriter paper, filed out to a tiny subscriber list in drab envelopes: that’s what you got for twelve shillings a year. But it was good value.
JD Vance is backfiring on Donald Trump

Oct 4, 2024 | inews.co.uk | Justin Webb

This has been the week that Senator JD Vance fought back against those who thought he was a bad choice as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential candidate. He chose a fascinating and wholly unexpected approach during his debate on Tuesday night with Tim Walz, the Harris VP pick. Vance was nice.   Really nice. Studiously nice. Clammily nice. Almost as nice as his wonderful memoir Hillbilly Elegy suggests that he is,  or can be.
Kamala Harris has nowhere to hide in Tuesday’s TV debate

Sep 7, 2024 | thetimes.com | Justin Webb

Until June 27, it had become fashionable to be snooty about presidential debates. They were an arresting spectacle, perhaps, with attendant news lines for light followers of the American political scene, but little more. Yes, decades ago Nixon refused make-up and got sweaty and lost the television audience in his debate with John F Kennedy and it might have made a difference, but life has moved on.
Trump misses Biden

Aug 21, 2024 | spectator.com.au | Justin Webb

ChicagoEveryone in the Democrats’ Convention centre – a bleakly corporate sports stadium on the edge of Chicago – is giggling. It’s an atmosphere properly described as bonkers. The Democrats have gone from wake to wedding party with no intervening period of sobriety. People whoop as they meet, knowing how miserable they were prepared to feel with Joe Biden still on the ticket, and how freed from misery they are now.
Kamala Harris has rattled Trump. Things could get really ugly

Jul 27, 2024 | thetimes.com | Justin Webb

Everybody has a plan till they get punched in the mouth. And boy, as the veteran political operative James Carville noted with relish this week, the Trump campaign has just been hit hard. They are reeling after an unscheduled meeting with this basic tenet of pugilism and politics, outlined years ago by the noted academic Mike Tyson. It was quite a blow: Joe Biden replaced, seamlessly and smoothly, by Kamala Harris. Old replaced by young(ish). A picture changed.
Why did you do this to us, Joe? Biden’s defenders face reckoning

Jul 21, 2024 | thetimes.com | Justin Webb

There will be celebration. There will be excitement. There will be a sudden giddiness about the Democratic Party. For all the dangers of the path ahead, this is freedom, this is a reset. But along with the joy there will be deep, deep anger. For every one of the heartfelt encomiums, the “history will be kind” tweets, there will be a private bashing of heads against walls. Why did you do this to us, Joe?
God intervened to save Donald Trump, and He says vote Republican

Jul 15, 2024 | thetimes.com | Justin Webb

I met them in the snows of Iowa, during the caucuses at the beginning of the year. An elderly couple, smartly dressed for a big moment. We were walking into a school where supporters of Donald Trump were gathering to back him. They were excited: it was a chance to meet fellow Trump fans and express support for their man. We chatted and parted while the evening got started. Then I saw them as they were leaving and called out: “Safe journey home.” They laughed.
Clive Myrie: If viewers know the real me, they might say ‘I can trust him’

May 24, 2024 | thetimes.co.uk | Justin Webb

Personally, I don’t trust Clive Myrie. He’s a bad man. A few years ago, when he was still on his way to stardom, I sent him a rude note teasing him about his new-found love of classical music and that he appeared to be single-handedly hosting that year’s Proms. Days later he was promoting the Proms in the Today studio. His was the last item and he was talking to Mishal Husain.
Trump and Stormy: the trial made for TV that no one can watch

May 18, 2024 | thetimes.co.uk | Justin Webb

The defendant appears to be asleep in court and occasionally breaks wind. His accusers portray him as a nasty piece of work but are themselves often less than convincing characters, struggling to explain their previous lies. Outside, his political supporters make speeches in the hope of becoming his future vice-president. And amid the sound of distant sirens and the hubbub of daily life, New York City carries on regardless.