The Signal Magazine

For ages, change and uncertainty have shaped our modern landscape, and throughout history, media has played a key role in how we navigate this ever-evolving world and envision its future. In today's fast-paced and unpredictable environment, media increasingly influences our perceptions, understanding, and connections with one another. Recent advancements in technology and shifts in culture are altering this dynamic in ways that were hard to foresee just a few years ago. Digital social networks, which are pivotal in distributing media to audiences, have developed sophisticated methods to use algorithms for predicting, influencing, and capitalizing on user emotions and actions. Meanwhile, the news industry that supports these platforms has become a battleground for various moral and political disputes, resulting in coverage that can feel confusing and isolating for many. In this atmosphere, there is a growing tendency to cling to rigid beliefs rather than engage in open dialogue, which often leads to conflict instead of communication. Trust in this entire system has been declining for years, and while data backs this up, it's also something we all sense intuitively. The Signal is designed for those seeking a fresh perspective. We are dedicated to the principles of liberal democracy and have a strong belief in human potential. Above all, we engage with complexity during these times of ongoing change and uncertainty. We recognize that no single person holds the truth, that differing viewpoints often carry valuable insights, and that our understanding is always clouded by the unknown. That's why everything we do at The Signal starts with asking questions, and every answer we discover opens the door to even more inquiries. If you think we’re onto something worthwhile, we invite you to sign up for our free newsletter or consider a subscription for full access. And don’t hesitate to reach out to us—we would love to hear from you!

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Articles

House money

4 weeks ago | thesgnl.com | Roger Huang

As dictators and dissidents refine new measures and countermeasures for seizing or securing money and assets in their ongoing struggle with one another, governments around the world have been developing the technological basis for what’s almost the conceptual opposite of the decentralized cryptocurrency Bitcoin: a kind of digital currency that’s centralized not just in a private company but in the state itself. Central bank digital currencies—CBDCs—aren’t entirely new.
‘An unplannable environment’

2 months ago | thesgnl.com | Gustav Jönsson |Martin Wolf

This article is for members only Join to read on and have access to The Signal‘s full library. Already have an account? Sign in Processing your application There was an error sending the email Please check your inbox and click the link to confirm your subscription Welcome back. You‘ve successfully signed in.
Moscow rules

2 months ago | thesgnl.com | Michael Bluhm |Nicholas Kumleben

After the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union responded by cutting off imports of Russian coal and oil, and vowing to phase out imports of Russian natural gas. It was a major shift for the Continent, which had for decades pursued a policy of building trade ties with the Russian Federation—and the Soviet Union before it—in hopes of improving political ties.
That other conflict

2 months ago | thesgnl.com | Michael Bluhm

Why is the U.S. bombing in Yemen? Vali Nasr on the repercussions of Iran’s new weakness in a transformed Middle East.
New world order

Mar 28, 2025 | thesgnl.com | Michael Bluhm

Economy Democracy 2 minute read This article is for members only Join to read on and have access to The Signal‘s full library. Already have an account?
Despatch

Mar 28, 2025 | thesgnl.com | J.J. Gould

INTRO—John Jamesen GouldThis week:Why is the U.S. bombing in Yemen? Vali Nasr on the repercussions of Iran’s new weakness in a transformed Middle East. Is there really a “new oligarchy” in America? Quinn Slobodian on why so many Silicon Valley billionaires have gotten so involved in everyday American politics. What’s Beijing’s strategy for dealing with Donald Trump? Scott Kennedy on where China sees the threats and opportunities from the new U.S. administration.
The other war

Mar 21, 2025 | thesgnl.com | Michael Bluhm

War 2 minute read This article is for members only Join to read on and have access to The Signal‘s full library. Already have an account?
Organized crime

Mar 16, 2025 | thesgnl.com | Michael Bluhm |Miranda Patrucic

On December 6, Romania’s Constitutional Court threw out the first-round results of the country’s presidential elections, after a shocking victory by the relatively obscure, pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu. The reason for the court’s decision? Clear signs of extensive foreign-influence operations behind Georgescu’s win.
‘It’s a hydra’

Mar 16, 2025 | thesgnl.com | Allison Braden |Josh Rudolph

After the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the Soviet Union actively spread disinformation about the murder—partly because the Soviets feared they might be blamed for it, partly to exploit shock and confusion, sow discord, and undermine faith in American institutions.
Enigmas

Mar 16, 2025 | thesgnl.com | Justin Callais |J.J. Gould

When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in August 2017, it triggered one of the most destructive natural disasters in American history. The storm stalled over Houston for several days, dumping an unprecedented amount of rain, more than a meter in some areas, leading to catastrophic flooding that put about a third of the city underwater. More than 100 people died. Around 30,000 were displaced from their homes. Some had to be rescued by boats and helicopters. Many needed temporary shelter.