Lionel Barber | Substack Editor of The Financial Times 2005-2020

The Kremlin just belssed Trump’s national sexirty strategy. Here’s why substack.com/@lionelbarbe...

The Trump-Putin pact Kompromat comes in all shapes and sizes

My latest substack on Trump’s new national security strategy - which shows how the president and his administration have been ideologically captured by Vladimir Putin lionelbarber.substack.com/p/the-trump-...

Ben Zand: How to make money in journalism (without selling your soul) Alan and Lionel discuss rejection, the BBC and the podcast era with documentary maker Ben Zand

🎧: @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social are joined by documentary maker Ben Zand, co-host of Untangled. He talks about how to reach younger audiences and what being “authentic” means in practice.

The OBR springs a leak! Reporting on a budget shambles story Alan and Lionel reunite to discuss the budget leak and Rutger Bregman’s allegations that BBC censored his remarks about Trump

🎧: @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social reunite to discuss the budget leak and Rutger Bregman’s allegations that BBC censored his remarks about Trump.

Auntie at war Chair Shah and the BBC board need to wise up

My latest on the crisis at the BBC
open.substack.com/pub/lionelba...

A very British stitch-up A Fleet Street editor sees off Wall Street

More in the future of the Daily Telegraph open.substack.com/pub/lionelba...

A very British rebellion The Daily Telegraph goes to war with RedBird Capital

Now that the Telegraph has claiked in ts biggest scalp at the BBC, what about its declared war on putstice owner RedBird open.substack.com/pub/lionelba...

Goalhanger co-founder: ‘I’ve stepped in to stop Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart arguing’ Tony Pastor on the drama behind ‘The Rest is Politics’ and the secrets to the podcast’s success

Everything you need to know about how to make a world class podcast. We interview Tony “Goalhanger” Pastor who came up with The Rest is History, politics and much more

Peter Oborne: Is the British media complicit in genocide? The former Telegraph columnist on the Israel lobby, media bias, and the destruction of Gaza. Plus, Peter and Lionel lock horns...

🎧: Peter Oborne, formerly of the Spectator and Telegraph, joins Media Confidential to argue Britain is complicit in Israel’s genocide... and he locks horns with @LionelBarber over pro-Israel lobbyists.

Has Ofcom opened the door to a British Fox News? Should politicians be allowed to be news presenters? Alan and Lionel weigh in

🎧: Should politicians be allowed to be “news” presenters, such as Nigel Farage on GB News? @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social weigh in.

Gisèle Pelicot returns to court Plus: can London Centric revive local journalism?

In today’s Lightbulb, Prospect’s free daily newsletter, @diane2v.bsky.social reports on an appeal in the Gisèle Pelicot case.

Plus: @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social speak to @jim.londoncentric.media about his media start-up @londoncentric.media.

Jim Waterson on founding London Centric Jim joins Alan and Lionel to talk about his new London-focused publication

🎧: On the first anniversary of the launch of @londoncentric.media, its founder and owner @jim.londoncentric.media joins @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social to talk about reviving local journalism.

Barbarians at the gate Bari Weiss takes over at CBS News

In praise of the entrepreneurial journalist: Bari Weiss and the future of CBS News open.substack.com/pub/lionelba...

The Battle of Bended Knee Hesgeth trivializes war, undermines the US military

My latest column on Pete Hesgeth and the Trump
Administration’s plans for the US military open.substack.com/pub/lionelba...

Lisa Nandy: We’re not afraid to regulate US big tech, no matter what Donald Trump says The secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport talks free speech and the future of the BBC

🎧: Lisa Nandy, secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, responds to Elon Musk’s allegations that Britain muzzles free speech on Media Confidential with @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social.

Who comes after Trump, Putin and Xi? Plus: what if the phone-hacking scandal was much worse than previously thought?

In today’s Lightbulb, Prospect’s free daily newsletter, @isabelh.bsky.social examines the global succession crisis—who will replace today’s strongmen?

Plus: @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social grill Labour’s Lisa Nandy on GB News.

America’s assault on free speech Alan and Lionel discuss Charlie Kirk, and Trump’s NYT lawsuit with David Folkenflik

🎧: NPR’s @davidfolkenflik.bsky.social joins Media Confidential with @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social to discuss Donald Trump’s $15bn lawsuit against the New York Times.

Does the news need gatekeeping? Journalist Ayala Panievsky talks about her new book ‘The New Censorship’ in a time of democratic decay

In the middle of this devastating news cycle, I got to meet my journo hero: @arusbridger.bsky.social, now @prospectmagazine.co.uk, ex @theguardian.com, always fearless. We had a great conversation, with sharp @lionelbarber.bsky.social joining us online. Give it a listen 👉 shorturl.at/P2FtG

Peter Mandelson’s magic act The British government’s pragmatic case for Donald Trump

My latest substack lionelbarber.substack.com/p/peter-mand...

Why is the media dancing to Farage’s tune? Alan and Lionel discuss the media’s role in pushing the “Broken Britain” narrative

🎧: Media Confidential is back for Season 3! @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social discuss the media’s role in pushing the “Broken Britain” narrative.

The manipulation of Donald Trump Putin is the puppet master; the Europeans are coming in on the act

After Alaska but before the Bolton raid: the manipulation of Donald Trump open.substack.com/pub/lionelba...

Next to Miranda Hart? Wow. Thank you Waterstones for promoting new paperback edition of Gambling Man

The Epstein conspiracy Trump v Murdoch: who will blink first?

A recovering editor’s thoughts on The Epstein Conspiracy, Murdoch and Trump open.substack.com/pub/lionelba...

The rise and fall of Fred Goodwin A new play tells the story of RBS’s rapid expansion and dramatic collapse. Lionel Barber, who began his career as a reporter in Edinburgh, watched the saga from the start

Great piece about Fred “the Shred” Goodwin and the 2008 collapse of what was, at the time, the largest bank in the world by assets, the Royal Bank of Scotland, @lionelbarber.bsky.social. Thanks for the mention!

King of the World The threat to "Big Daddy" Trump is hubris

My latest on Trump
open.substack.com/pub/lionelba...

Today in Tokyo: Hurry while stocks last !

Substack unpacked, a very good listen : bsky.app/profile/pros...

Coming out next week: the Japanese edition of Gambling Man

Oof bsky.app/profile/pros...

Just finished Gambling Man, Masa Son’s story by @lionelbarber.bsky.social. Great read!

Visionary, bold with big balls, relentless, plays bigger than anyone.

But somehow, uninspiring.

No depth, no commitment to serving others. Unlike true missionaries who built with purpose.