Top Stories of 2022
Joe Biden got things done. Farmers protested in the Netherlands. The Spanish right radicalized.
Nick Ottens
Nick Ottens is a public affairs officer for the Dutch Animal Coalition and a board member for Liberal Green, the sustainability network of the Dutch liberal party VVD. He is a former political risk consultant and a former research manager for XPRIZE, where he designed prize competitions to incentivize breakthrough innovation in agriculture, food and health care. He has also worked as a journalist in Amsterdam, Barcelona and New York for EUobserver, NRC, Trouw, World Politics Review and Wynia’s Week, among others.
Dutch Plan for Organic Farming Underwhelms
The money is a drop in the bucket compared to overall farm subsidies.
Responding to American Protectionism Has Downsides for Europe
Joe Biden’s “buy American” policy is a threat, but matching protectionism with protectionism is worse.
Spanish Judges Block Senate Debate to Replace Them
Conservatives go out of their way to avoid a progressive court.
Italy Shows Goodwill to EU with Last-Minute Tax Changes
The right-wing government needs the EU to sign off on COVID-19 recovery funds.
Sánchez Cleans Up Mess Conservatives Made in Catalonia
The right used an antiquated sedition law to persecute Catalan separatists.
Europe’s Asylum Crisis, Explained
A deep dive into the numbers plus the policies of France, Italy and Netherlands.
Rent Control Keeps Failing. Countries Keep Trying
What do you call doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results?
Dutch Child Care Would Pay Price for Government’s Failure
Child benefits need an overhaul, but the government’s reforms would hurt child-care providers.
Europe Is Falling Behind in Cultivated Meat
Cell-based meat has been approved by the American FDA.
Is Ron DeSantis the Next Donald Trump?
The Florida governor has become a strong contender for his party’s presidential nomination.
Don’t Blame Polls for Bad Predictions
The polls were right. Pundits were wrong.
Midterms Could Have Gone Worse for Democrats
Joe Biden’s party isn’t popular, but Republicans are worse.
Where Is the Party of Middle America?
The largest group of Americans aren’t Democrats or Republicans, but neither.
Biden Would Repeat Dutch Mistakes in Regulating Freelancers
Stricter rules for contractors could lead to job losses.