It’s hard to find the best places to learn about the world. It’s even harder when a broken information ecosystem incentivizes superficiality and misinformation, news cycles last about 12.25 minutes, and the media rarely casts its gaze beyond our borders. So, in hope of making it a little easier to learn about the world, I decided to track where I get my news for a few weeks and share it here.
I struggled with figuring out how to sort this, and I ended up dividing by medium: websites/outlets, newsletters/Substacks, podcasts, and Twitter/Bluesky accounts. (Some sources cut across these categories.)
It’s also the case that some news sources are much more granular than others, and different people are going to have different preferences. If I’m reading about World Bank deliberations or attacking patterns on Arsenal’s right side, you can assume I want every detail. If I’m reading about a novel breakthrough in quantum physics, explain it to me like I’m five. So, for each news source, I’ve listed my subjective opinion of their NERD LEVEL.
I know this list is flawed and incomplete, so feel free to add a comment with news sources that you find valuable. And if you think this Substack is a useful resource for learning about the connections between those of us in the Global North and the majority of the world that lives in the Global South, please help others find this Substack and ask them to subscribe! It’s hard to find people writing about these topics in an accessible way if you don’t have a lot of background knowledge, which is why I go for a NERD LEVEL of Low-Medium.
Websites/news outlets
The New York Times, (NERD LEVEL: Low): Original, I know! But for all the deserved mocking of the opinion section and some of its coverage of hot-button issues (see NYT Pitchbot), a lot of the best reporting around comes from the New York Times. Stephanie Nolen, Somini Sengupta, and David Wallace-Wells in particular do outstanding work on global and big-picture issues.
The Guardian, (NERD LEVEL: Low): As a go-to general news outlet, The Guardian is pretty good. They also have dedicated coverage on climate change and global development that goes well beyond most competitors. And it’s free!
Bloomberg, (NERD LEVEL: Low): Bloomberg has so much content that just going to its main page might not be that helpful, but a lot of what I end up reading is on Bloomberg. Its coverage on the global economy—including the Global South—and climate change is unusually thorough.
Financial Times, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): In my humble opinion, the highest-quality general news outlet around. It sometimes caters to people who already have an economics background, but it combines breaking big stories, high-quality analysis, and a genuinely global outlook that takes on the big-picture trends that shape our world.
Our World in Data, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): I decided to make it a medium because, well, it does have “data” in its title, but it goes to extraordinary lengths to make its content accessible. And while it isn’t a journalistic outlet, it is a fairly unrivaled resource for learning about the world. Whenever I’m looking for information on an issue that affects lots of people, Our World in Data is the first place I go.
Devex, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Probably the best outlet focused on global development and the development industry. Devex also offers helpful free newsletters—I subscribe to Newswire and Devex Invested.
Rest of World, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): An active, accessible, Global-South focused outlet. The only shame is that it restricts its focus to tech!
Climate Home News, (NERD LEVEL: Medium-High): Really good coverage of international climate change issues, and often the most immediate and in-depth news on the COP and other international climate negotiations. News editor Joe Lo is worth a follow on Twitter and Bluesky.
China-Global South Project, (NERD LEVEL: Medium-High): Extremely in-depth reporting and analysis on China and its relationship with the Global South (and sometimes the Global South generally). They really know their stuff. Eric Olander and Cobus Van Staden also host their podcast, which I’m lucky to have spoken on before.
Phenomenal World, (NERD LEVEL: High): Some of the smartest writing on political economy around. It can get fairly academic, but I also learn a lot from it.
Newsletters/Substacks
Grace Blakeley, (NERD LEVEL: Low): Accessible writing on economics from a progressive perspective.
The Continent, (NERD LEVEL: Low-Medium): A weekly newspaper of African journalism that combines political analysis and stories from the continent.
Gawain invites you to read this, (NERD LEVEL: Low-Medium): A combination of Gawain Kripke’s thoughts on development/foreign aid, insights on working on this space, or whatever else (sometimes charming rants) is on Gawain’s mind.
The Polycrisis, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): I read every word of every edition. It covers so much ground on climate change, political economy, and relations between the Global North and South, while managing to keep it concise and very readable. Authors Tim Sahay and Kate MacKenzie are also well worth a follow on Twitter and Bluesky.
An Africanist Perspective, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Ken Opalo’s Substack is a popular one for people interested in African affairs and development. True to its name, it offers a point of view that doesn’t fall neatly in any camp popular in Western media.
The Africa Project, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Written by W. Gyude Moore, a former government minister in Liberia, this Substack offers help insight on development and Africa’s international relations, including US Africa policy.
This Week in Africa, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): A helpful weekly newsletter with a roundup of news and commentary on Africa.
Crow’s Nest, (NERD LEVEL: Medium-High): Advait writes on a lot of things in great depth, but in particular he’s a go-to person to read to understand finance and how it affects the things that matter. He’s capable of talking about it in such depth that I would give him a NERD LEVEL: High, but he’s good at memes so I’ll throw him a Medium-High. Worth following Advait on Twitter and Bluesky too.
Climate Diplomacy, (NERD LEVEL: High): Ed King’s monthly newsletter that is an absolute must-subscribe for anyone working in the UNFCCC/COP space or following it closely.
Podcasts
This America Life, (NERD LEVEL: Low): What can I say, they just really know how to make a podcast.
Ones and Tooze, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): I am not ashamed to be a “Tooze bro.” Adam Tooze can talk about an impossible number of subjects in incredible depth, and he’s also an extraordinary explainer of all things politics and economics. And he displays much more courage and values than the often-callow pundit class. The podcast is probably my favorite Tooze content, but it’s also worth subscribing to his Substack “Chartbook” and following him on Twitter.
Global Dispatches, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Helpful podcast with quick explainers on United Nations news and humanitarian/conflict situations around the world.
The Break Down, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): A great set of guests providing accessible explanations of progressive ideas on economics and climate change. The Break Down’s website also publishes written pieces.
Zero, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Good general podcast on all things climate change.
The Dig, (NERD LEVEL: Medium-High): Daniel Denvir’s podcast is a great way to learn about leftwing ideas. Episodes can be very long and in depth, but he makes an effort to make it accessible to non-specialists.
Twitter/Bluesky
Almost everyone above can be found on Twitter/Bluesky, but here are people who I primarily learn from on those sites rather than another platform.
Larry Madowo, (NERD LEVEL: Low): CNN journalist with accessible content on Africa.
Chris Hayes, (NERD LEVEL: Low): More domestic politics than international but takes so good I wonder how they let him get a cable news show. Twitter and Bluesky.
Karen Attiah, (NERD LEVEL: Low): Washington Post columnist with a global perspective.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, (NERD LEVEL: Low-Medium): An incredibly prolific source of immigration news. And when the algorithmic incentives are stacked against fact-based, nuanced, and humane content, Aaron is a model for how to do it well. Twitter and Bluesky.
Jeremy Konyndyk, (NERD LEVEL: Low-Medium): Informed commentary from a former government official and now-President of Refugees International. Twitter and Bluesky.
Sally Hayden, (NERD LEVEL: Low-Medium): Leading reporter on migration and conflict zones. Powerful writing and incredible access. Twitter and Bluesky.
Jason Hickel, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Radical takes but always interesting and one of the most prominent voices on global inequality. Twitter and Bluesky.
Jostein Hauge, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Acccessible writing on development economics.
Michael Galant, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Good content on global justice and progressive internationalism.
Rishika Pardikar, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): High-quality climate journalism, including on India. Twitter and Bluesky.
Charles Kenny, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Good takes on global development. Twitter and Bluesky.
Dylan Matthews, (NERD LEVEL: Medium): Spicy takes, especially on domestic policy, but one of the few US journalists thinking seriously about global poverty.
Josh Gabbatiss, (NERD LEVEL: Medium-High): Carbon Brief reporter who is often the first with reporting on international climate negotiations. Twitter and Bluesky.
Brad Setser, (NERD LEVEL: Medium-High): Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow with great data and insight on trade, tax, and debt.
Jake Werner, (NERD LEVEL: Medium-High): China and the global economy. Twitter and Bluesky.
Karthik Sankaran, (NERD LEVEL: High): Very sophisticated content on finance and global macroeconomics. Twitter and Bluesky.
Freddy’s Take
Thanks for including me! I don't feel worthy next to all these greats (also Tooze bro). I'm glad you posted this - discovered some good sources!
Fellow Tooze Bro here 👋 Looks like Phenomenal World, Polycrisis & Jostein Hauge are some sources we have in common. Definitely gave China-Global South Project and Devex a follow based on your recommendations. Sounds like World Politics Review might be up your alley as well if it’s not already on your radar. Cheers!