Hugo Rifkind
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hugorifkind.bsky.social
Hugo Rifkind
@hugorifkind.bsky.social
Writing in The Times Thursday and Saturday, talking on Times Radio Monday-Thursday. Also, other things. Latest novel, Rabbits, found here: https://amzn.eu/d/hUQTsSW
Pinned
My novel *Rabbits* is out today in paperback. On the EXTREMELY RARE and ENTIRELY BAFFLING chance you haven't bought it already, I reckon you definitely should now. Right? Here are some of the lovely things other readers have said about it over the last year...
Putting aside the horrifying badness of the Ukraine plan, is this how the great dealmaker does deals?
"I'll give you ten million for that shopping mall."
"Is this your final offer?"
"No!"

www.bbc.com/news/articles/clydg8w7kxvo.amp
Trump says US plan to end Ukraine war not 'final offer' for Kyiv - BBC News
US President Donald Trump says the plan is not his "final offer" for Kyiv, and security officials are set to meet in Geneva on Sunday.
www.bbc.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by Hugo Rifkind
Yep, why not score a goal from your own half in the 98th minute?
November 18, 2025 at 9:49 PM
This all feels deeply unScottish.
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Reposted by Hugo Rifkind
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Reposted by Hugo Rifkind
November 5, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Hugo Rifkind
Loving your country means loving it as it is — not as you wish it were.

Britain is getting old. Instead of fearing it, we should lead the world in how to live longer, better.

My new piece on making the most of an ageing society is out.

howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/we-must-lo...
We must love the country we are
How to make the most of an ageing society
howtorunacountry.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Deteriorating scenes at this Finn Wolfhard gig in Brixton as a zealous security guard won't let a knackered accompanying dad even older than me sit on the floor.
October 16, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Hugo Rifkind
My hero is a farmer, not a duck. Which will only make sense if you read this new piece by me, the start of a new substack which I am bravely calling How To Run A Country.

howtorunacountry.substack.com/p/its-the-de...
It’s the despair that’s going to kill us
Time to cheer up
howtorunacountry.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Hugo Rifkind
It's quite wrong to suggest Robert Jenrick is a racist. Racists believe in something. My SKETCH.
Rob whistle | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
The day had begun with Robert Jenrick accused of racism. This is of course quite unfair. Racists believe in something. Some of us remember Jenrick as a chubby-cheeked fan of David Cameron fighting the…
thecritic.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Immoral, grim and pathetic.
This Israeli government decision to host Tommy Robinson will widen the growing gulf between the Netanyahu government and the British public, including the broad majority of Jews in Britain (3/4 of whom dsapproved of Netanyahu, before this new link to this anti-Muslim racist UK far right convict).
October 3, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Today's super-speedy How To Win... from Liverpool, following Keir Starmer's speech. pod.fo/e/334474
How To Win An Election: Starmer's Speech: How To Attack Nigel Farage
The political masterminds are at Labour conference in Liverpool for Keir Starmer's speech, and this special episode recorded in front of a live audience.As the prime minister steps up his attack on...
pod.fo
September 30, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Today's Politics Unpacked is our latest focus group of disillusioned Labour voters. Worth a listen, not only for just how glum they are, but also for the strong steer that the one thing that would keep them voting Labour is the prospect of getting Reform instead. podfollow.com/politics-unp...
Politics Unpacked
Hugo Rifkind unpacks the the politics of the day - and the stuff that's even more important - with the brightest brains from the Times and Sunday Times.You can listen to Hugo on DAB, smart speaker or ...
podfollow.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Latest How To Win.... with added Jeremy Hunt. Really enjoyed this one. Very candid and funny on the timely matter of how it feels when you're in a government that is falling apart.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/h...
September 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Thank you Tom!
Early train to a workshop in Cambridge, finished this by @hugorifkind.bsky.social, absolutely loved it. Listening to Kruder & Dorfmeister, nostalgic about coming of age in the 90s. (Albeit my youth was less posh, not Scottish, and with far fewer guns…)
September 18, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Column. On Elon Musk's appropriation of George Orwell.

www.thetimes.com/article/2d14...
September 17, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I find I have an unlimited appetite for further information about the "rock group" Andrea Jenkyns used to be in.
September 7, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Our Week: Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping

www.thetimes.com/article/4238...
September 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Today's Politics Unpacked. The return of the Times Radio Focus Group, as Reform-curious voters tell us why. pod.fo/e/324cfb
Politics Unpacked: Focus Group: "Put The Great Back Into Britain"
It's the Times Radio Focus Group, where Hugo steps outside the Westminster bubble to hear the opinions of ordinary voters.This week, it's a group considering voting for Reform UK at the next electi...
pod.fo
September 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by Hugo Rifkind
NEW SERIES! Kicking off with @HugoRifkind.bsky.social joining us to watch "the ultimate Vietnam War film", Platoon.
Wherever you get your podcasts.
September 4, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Had to go back through that one and add more jokes, tbh. First draft was mainly fury and bile.
August 30, 2025 at 4:30 PM
My Week: Nigel Farage*

www.thetimes.com/article/c16e...
August 30, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Sending migrants to Ascension Island is like sending them to Rwanda but only if Rwanda wasn't actually there and you were going to have to build it first.
August 22, 2025 at 10:11 PM
August 16, 2025 at 9:52 AM