Liberals melt down over Donald Trump as Pope Robby Soave delivers radar on President Trump receiving backlash for posting an AI-generated image of himself as Pope Kristen Welker interview: Acquiring Greenland Robby Soave and Lindsey Granger discuss President Trump’s interview with Kristen Welker on NBC’s MTG trash bill that would punish orgs who boycott Israel Robby Soave and Lindsey Granger discuss MAGA leaders blasting a bill that would imprison Robby Soave and Lindsey Granger react to an inside scoop on Mike Waltz’s ouster as President Trump’s national security adviser Bombshell report: Fetterman allegedly walked into traffic Robby Soave and Lindsey Granger discuss New York Magazine’s article on Sen John Fetterman (D-Pa.) that details concerns from some of his current and former staffers over his mental state Beto O’Rourke shreds Chuck Schumer for ‘surrendering’ to Trump Robby Soave and Lindsey Granger discuss fmr Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) blasting the Democratic Party on MSNBC’s Robby Soave and Lindsey Granger react to a new musical about alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione November 28 surrounded by loved ones until the end  We can be thankful of those final days in which we were able to talk and say goodbye to the “Phil” we knew and will always love Soave “Phil” DeNardo was born on May 30 1948 to Grace and Gustavo “Gus” DeNardo of Philadelphia  He was formerly employed at Drakes Cakes where he performed as a maintenance mechanic.  “Phil” was an avid collector of everything; from baseball cards to coins-he enjoyed collecting it He was the “armchair” quarterback and lifelong fan of all Philadelphia sport teams Phil enjoyed playing the piano and was especially fond of the rhythm and blues genre  Many of us can remember Phil playing the piano at his son’s wedding-a great memory which we hold dear to our heart  Even though Phil complained about them he thoroughly enjoyed snuggling with the dogs in bed his brother Vincent DeNardo and his daughter Stephanie Learsch DeNardo.  Phil is survived by Liesa DeNardo (Learsch) his sons and their spouses Philip DeNardo and Michael and Alexis DeNardo his sisters Renée Novello and Aurora DeNardo his grandchildren Gavin & Adrianna DeNardo Phil is now at peace and can rest easily with his daughter A private memorial mass will be held in his honor followed by a celebration of his life TBA Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Reason Senior Editor Robby Soave sat down with The College Fix as part of our “Restore the Media” series MORE: Check out the whole series IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: Robby Soave smiles for the camera; The College Fix Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); An official website of the United States government https://www.nist.gov/video/robert-soave-equipment-tools-processes-and-process-integration Abbie Bennington and Erin Smith to get their take on what they see as Soave’s strengths and potential in the competitive premium on and off-trade markets in the UK and what are the key messages the region and its producers should be using to best tell their story You can read part one of the tour here. You can read part two of the tour here All photography by Thomas Skovsende. What was your perception of Soave in terms of its diversity versatility and quality of its wines before the tour I have always felt that more could be made of Soave It is a uniquely gastronomic white that supports the foods it is served alongside but irrespective of the price you decide to pay there is value to be had: from wine box level to £35 a bottle Joe Wadsack said he was impresssed by the depth and versatility of the different Soaves tasted on the tour Did that change during and after the tour - and if so why I hadn’t noticed that there were two distinct styles so clearly before Knowing where the vines are planted goes a long way to explaining why they taste the way that they do It’s good to know that fine wines can still be made on the flatter more fertile soils but the best wines appear to come from the volcanic hills in the main What do you see as Soave's big point of difference and what it should look to build on?Soave and Garganega have a strong identity so you at least know what type of wine you’re getting This is much easier to promote generically than a small region making wines in dozens of different styles Does it need to do more to explain the differences in complexity and ageing and DOC vs DOCG knows that buying DOCG is and upgrade from DOC but there is almost and unwritten understanding and sub-text with Italian wines that DOCG also probably means richer and more likely to contain some wood ageing then I would naturally look for the youngest one Corinna Gianesini was able to share her passion and knowledge of Soave wines with the group Are you more likely to talk about Soave wines as a result of the tour It has certainly reminded me how attractive and versatile they are I have actually bought Soave twice in restaurants since the restaurant tour What price points do you think work best for Soave in the premium on and off-trade then I would think nothing of spending £60 plus on a Soave to go with my crab linguine but in a restaurant where there is more competition I imagine the sweet spot would be somewhere nearer sub £50 but above £15 and below £25 felt a very comfortable price point for most of these wines Which food and wine matches were particularly successful Any hint of smokiness worked well with the more serious Soaves I loved the salmon tartare taco with the fresher Soave styles and the polpo in Brindisa was delicious with the punchier I also noticed a strong affinity with vegetarian food The top line Soaves were great with the Asian aubergine dish What did you think of the restaurant tour concept It refreshes the conversation each time we reset in a new restaurant allowing people the chance to change their minds I love also seeing wines pushed up against dishes that they would never normally encounter Bradley Horne said the quality at all levels was a real "eye opener" for him I have always liked the wines from the region and that it produces such a diverse range of wines The restaurant tour only made me realise that its versatility with food is also amazing This really was an eye opener for me and I would love to see more Soave on general restaurant lists and not just in Italian restaurants What do you see as Soave's big point of difference and what it should look to build on Firstly quality at all levels matched by the price points being asked for these wines Soave also has styles of wine to suit all palettes and it has the versatility as mentioned before I would love to see a campaign with educators and influencers to teach a broader selection of people ( particularly a younger wine drinker) and get across the message that Soave is able to make simple easy to understand wines that are also very effective as well Absolutely and I already am both to consumers and the trade I have been able to follow up with Silvia from Gaucho restaurants on the tour about the food and wine pairings we enjoyed What price points do you think work best for Soave in the premium on and off-trade?I would say £15 for the off-trade and £40 plus for the on-trade Bradley Horne particularly liked the food and wine pairings at Brindisa The Mediterranean food we enjoyed at Brindisa worked so well It's a great way to talk honestly about a region across a cross selection of wines It’s maybe the best sort of trade tasting and experience that allows you to do this Abbie Bennington says Soave is "no longer a comfy sweater but a cashmere scarf ready for any pairing opportunity" Soave is a wine that has been part of my early wine drinking knowledge and experience Always there in the background like a comfy sweater Perhaps in the last 12 months perception of the wine for me has changed Once pigeonholed (wrongly) in my own mind as a cheaper easy drinking wine quality and diversity has become more apparent when shopping for wine or dining out that I now regularly search out the different styles when buying or pairing wines for tasting events both personal and professional This wine is no longer a comfy sweater but a cashmere scarf ready for any pairing opportunity I knew that Soave was good often very good but I didn’t realise the extent to the diversity of styles on the market and this came as a pleasant surprise It has definitely left me thinking that it’s worth looking deeper into what these wines can offer consumer palates in a range of settings I know now that the wine is more than an aperitif or antipasti wine but a serious contender for a range of food pairings outside the norm It has more stylistic range than given credit and also has consumer recognition by a certain demographic of mature consumers Old perceptions can be updated with these new wine style offerings that are now more readily available on the market I think it needs to challenge old staid perceptions of a high volume neutral wine by showcasing its pairing potential alongside a range of dining styles Abbie Bennington leads the way as the group leads Gaucho on the way to Brindisa Yes, consumer and buyer education is key to any greater success of these wines in various markets. This can best be done through engagement with consumers in a range of tasting settings. Wine tastings, on-trade tastings, pop ups and dedicated education. I can see this wine doing well if showcased amongst my colleagues in the AWE (Association of Wine Educators) Are you more likely to talk about more Soave wines as a result ot the tour?Definitely more likely and have done so already with potential clients for tastings Being able to offer old favourites with broader stylistic range will appeal to many Italian and broader wine lovers I am thinking of suggesting as a special tasting event for fellow wine educators What price points do you think work best for Soave in the premium on and off-trade?For the off-trade I think £15-20 works well to get consumers engaged and building on that with education although you could push the budget up significantly in restaurants On-trade I think there will need to be a level of somm guidance to push the price willing to be paid by a consumer who may have an older mindset about the wine style historically Which food and wine matches were particularly successful?I enjoyed the octopus with the soave at Brindisa an unusual match but one that really gelled for me For me the Santi Colforte wine paired well with a range of dishes so was in my opinion ‘cuisine flexible’ I was surprised by the intensity and complexity of the aged Gini La Frosca 2020 which for me was one of the standout wines of the day at our final stop I think this is a great way to share insight stories and perceptions with colleagues in the wine industry Everyone learns from each other and helps put the wine style to test in a range of obvious and less obvious settings Erin Smith with Harry Crowther in the London sunshine I already appreciated the quality of the wines that were being produced in Soave and I do think the region has done a great job in maintaining that What did surprise me was the versatility of the wine with non-Italian dishes So often you see these wines only in Italian restaurants but for other types of cuisines this a great step up in quality and complexity without putting patrons off in the process I think this could be an excellent style of wine for a list at establishments or for at home occasions where a more complex wine is warranted but one that won’t break the bank I was surprised at how it paired with both Spanish dishes and Asian flavours the tortilla Espano and the pork dumplings were all fantastic I also think it contrasted nicely with the some of the spiciness in some of the dishes I think the ageing potential and the quality and value for money helps it stand out I think it has done a great job at consistently delivering for consumers and give them a reason to trade up but while still offering exceptional value for money compared to something like a Chablis for example You just don’t see some of the older vintages available in many place so it is not too surprising it may not be front of mind for customers Most Italian whites are drunk when they are young So holding back some of these vintages to really showcase how well they age and then getting them on lists is important I just think access to some of these wines is important If only a handful of producers hold back vintages then it may not be too big of surprise you don’t see them around People don’t know they know what they could be missing then For the Doc and DOCG differences - this is always a challenge for several different regions in Italy So perhaps this is already being done by Italy collectively already And there is still work be done there - but in the case of Soave I think getting the aging message out is actually more important than the difference between DOC and DOCG - controversially Both the DOC and DOCG subregions are making some really interesting older and complex wines but again we just don’t seem them over here - yet I think it is a great way to get us all to think about wines differently and perhaps not necessarily in the way we normally would Having Soave with non-Italian dishes was a really eye opener in demonstrating how versatile the wines really are It also was really helpful having some experts from there region guiding us and setting the context Being able to discuss different perspective with colleges as well helped me to think about the wines in different contexts and settings * You can find out more about Soave and the region here. * You can read the first report on the Soave restaurant tour here The Buyer TVClick below to watch The Buyer's library of online debates, videos and webinars. I recently spent three days in Italy drinking nothing but one type of wine which makes it an ideal all-rounder of a summer wine The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. though some producers such as Pra (see my pick below) also blend in the more aromatic trebbiano di soave Soave’s often absurdly low prices are possible because the traditional pergola training system for the vines results in above-average yields But this wine is also made on less-productive volcanic soils that deliver more intense which some producers use for their better cuvées like white wine for its freshness and vivacity and are highly unlikely to hang on to it for two years most 2023 soaves – apart from the cheapest bottles such as the Morrisons one in my pick – will benefit from being tucked away until the autumn at least Now there’s a thought – not that I want to contemplate Christmas right now And it’s certainly cheaper than white burgundy And if you happen to be in the area this summer A plus: the city of Soave itself is charming and relatively untouristy I’m not saying that this will knock your socks off but a decent white at under a fiver is a rarity these days Impressive own-label that’s good value at £8.25 Inama Vin Soave 2022/3 £16.99 Majestic (or £13.99 on the mix-six deal) Pra Monte Grande Soave 2021 £23.99 D Byrne, Clitheroe, £29.99 JN Wine headily perfumed and tastes of juicy white nectarines Ca’ Visco, Coffele Soave Classico 2023 £16.50 The Wine Society (Fraziers has the 2020 on offer at £18 Another top-notch soave that would benefit from waiting three to six months before you dive in For more by Fiona Beckett, go to fionabeckett.substack.com Log in to comment on videos and join in on the fun Watch the live stream of Fox News and full episodes Reduce eye strain and focus on the content that matters Earlier this week, former President Barack Obama applauded Harvard University for standing up to the Trump administration. Unlike Columbia University, which has swiftly fallen in line and agreed to implement various policies demanded by President Donald Trump in exchange for the restoration of $400 million in federal grants "We have informed the administration through our legal counsel that we will not accept their proposed agreement," said Harvard President Alan Garber "The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights." You are reading Free Media from Robby Soave and Reason Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The Trump administration had demanded changes to university curriculum and other changes ostensibly aimed at countering antisemitism on campus civil libertarians and free speech groups among them counter that the federal government's threat to withhold funding is a violation of Harvard's First Amendment rights "How Harvard governs its academic programs, and who should have a say in that governance, is up to Harvard, not the federal government," writes the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression "The First Amendment and basic principles of academic freedom require no less." FIRE also warns that this will likely not be the last time the federal government tries to extort a private institution and that "opposing the government's unconstitutional demands" is the only path forward Obama praised Harvard for setting "an example for other higher-ed institutions." Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and… https://t.co/gAu9UUqgjF — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2025 Obama clearly believes the Trump administration's threat to deprive Harvard of billions in federal funding is wrong; he also seems to think that the federal government should not be in the business of harming the climate for free speech and academic freedom on campus This was the perverse logic of Obama's approach to Title IX the federal statute that outlaws sex discrimination in education: His federal bureaucrats created such a morass that campus administrators felt obligated to investigate professors for criticizing the Education Department Moreover, the Obama-era policies were stridently opposed by Harvard's law faculty. In October 2014, 28 Harvard law professors signed an open letter condemning the federal government's meddling and encouraging the university to resist tyranny via Title IX "The university's sexual harassment policy departs dramatically from these legal principles jettisoning balance and fairness in the rush to appease certain federal administrative officials," wrote the professors "We recognize that large amounts of federal funding may ultimately be at stake But Harvard University is positioned as well as any academic institution in the country to stand up for principle in the face of funding threats." The signatories included Elizabeth Bartholet a well-known professor of civil rights and family law who has actually been described as a mentor to the Obamas when they were students at Harvard Bartholet described the government's position as "madness" and said that Harvard should be ashamed of itself for caving "I believe that history will demonstrate the federal government's position to be wrong, that our society will look back on this time as a moment of madness, and that Harvard University will be deeply shamed at the role it played in simply caving to the government's position," she told The Wall Street Journal It's a good thing that Harvard has found its spine now that the president is Trump instead of Obama But it's risible for Obama to complain at present about an "unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom." He should look in the mirror I am joined by Amber Duke to discuss Stephen A Taylor Lorenz's commentary on Luigi Mangione and the Dave Smith/Douglas Murray debate on Joe Rogan's show Having read Agatha Christie's entire Hercule Poirot catalog last year I had moved on to the more recent Poirot novels written by Sophie Hannah and the next one won't be published until later this year dear reader—what novel should I pick up next Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Robby Soave is a senior editor at Reason. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Desperate Chuck Todd blames Dems, acquits media of Biden decline coverup! Robby Soave Robby Soave delivers radar on former NBC host Chuck Todd acquitting mainstream media of President Biden’s mental decline coverup. Trump calls Dem Rep who files impeachment articles on him a ‘lunatic’ Robby Soave and  Lynda Tran discuss Michigan Rep. Shri Thanedar (D) introducing seven articles of impeachment against President Trump. Mark Zuckerberg reveals to Theo Von he has an underground tunnel in Hawaii  Robby Soave and Lynda Tran react to Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg’s latest interview with comedian Theo Von. Trump approval rating drops. Voters fear recession; Immigration remains strongest issue: DDHQ Poll Decision Desk HQ’s Scott Tranter talks about new polling that shows President Trump is tanking on the economy. Trump blasts Biden EV mandates as congress looks to repeal them: Albert Gore III interview Albert Gore III, the executive director of Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), joins Rising to discuss EV policies under President Trump. Trump’s tariffs cause economic shrink; POTUS blames Biden for stock market dip Robby Soave and Lynda Tran discuss President Trump potentially easing tariff on U.S. automakers. ‘Podcast bro’ Dr. Abdul El-Sayed running for US Senate as Democrat: Interview Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed talks about his bid to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D). Michelle Obama: Trump’s deportations ‘keep me up at night’ Robby Soave and Lynda Tran react to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s comments on the “Jay Shetty Podcast,” about the toll President Trump’s deportation of immigrants is taking on her. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. THE HILL 400 N CAPITOL STREET NW, SUITE 650 WASHINGTON DC 20002 © 1998 - 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Log in to comment on videos and join in on the fun. Watch the live stream of Fox News and full episodes. Reduce eye strain and focus on the content that matters. ©2025 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All market data delayed 20 minutes. Giving them the chance to share their views on what they see are the big opportunities - and challenges - for Soave and its wines in the competitive UK wine market Parts two and three will be published later in the week NB: All photography by Thomas Skovsende. One of a handful worldwide where the name of the region and its wine are as famous as each other Its success largely lies in all parts of the Soave winemaking community working together for a common goal Where the work of the large co-operatives and the small medium-sized family businesses are just as important as the influence of the large branded wine businesses that have helped promote and sell Soave in all corners of the world But for all its history and recognition how front of mind is it for busy buyers who have the world at their feet when it comes to finding the best and most effective wines for their lists How relevant are Soave wines for the style and type of wines they want to be selling Are they as up to speed with what is happening in the region as they might like The Buyer's Soave Restaurant Tour was a chance for leading wine buyers importers and writers to come together and assess Soave's potential in the premium on-trade and beyond That is what The Buyer Soave Restaurant Tour was all about reflect and take a deep dive into what Soave might be able to offer them if given a second chance The chance for them to taste a wide range of different styles of Soave from across the appellation in the environment where they are made to be enjoyed - with food and in restaurants The opportunity to see how these wines perform against different styles of food and cuisines Can we support and promote Soave wines on more lists around the country To help us put Soave through its paces was a talented panel of buyers who could each bring their own area of expertise and insights to the event Joe Wadsack is now of the UK’s most in demand commentators broadcasters and presenters for wine and spirits at food and drink festivals as well as running his own YouTube show He is also a senior judge at the International Wine Challenge Silvia Panetta is part of the respected sommelier and wine team at the Rare Restaurant Group that includes M Restaurant and the network of Gaucho restaurants around the country Alessandro Comitini is part of the rejuvenated brand development team at Armit Wines working with key producers around the world He was previously UK and Italian wine buyer at Amathus Drinks director of buying for Italy at Enotria&Coe One of the UK’s most respected and knowledgeable buyers for Italian wine who has helped Enotria&Coe build up its expertise and reputation for sourcing Italian wines for all palates and budgets Former BBC news producer Abbie Bennington has successfully changed careers to set up her own wine consulting judging and WSET training business - www.abvtastings.com - as well as being a regular writer for a growing list of wine publications including being a regular contributor to The Buyer Highly experienced and respected wine buyer who has worked across all channels of the trade as a top sommelier and restaurant buyer at high profile venues such as Sketch in specialist retailing at Hedonism and is now head of wine buying in the UK for online site e-commerce wine consultant and former MD of Slurp Wine Erin Smith is a widely experienced marketing director most recently heading up direct to consumer for Freixenet Copestick and managing director of its Slurp online retail business She also helped build up the content and digital team at Majestic Wine and has a strong finance and journalism background as deputy editor of Harpers Wine & Spirit Sophie Jump is widely experienced in working with wineries and producers around the world in helping them develop their export strategies and tell their stories in key markets including the UK She was also recently chief executive of the International Wine Clubs Association One of the most engaging and original wine communicators writers and influencers in the market who has made a name for himself across social media with his refreshing wine reviews and helping to take to a wider audience To help explain the region and talk through the wines was from the Consorzio Tutela Vini Soave e Recioto di Soave: specialist wine educator and sommelier who is well experienced in representing Soave as one of its key consultants communications manager for the Consorzio who is widely experienced in wine public relations for the region and its position within Italy and around the world and also spent 20 years working as a freelance journalist To help showcase Soave and all the styles of wine it can produce The Buyer recruited three restaurants that could offer different styles of food all located close to each other in Kensington https://gauchorestaurants.com/restaurants/sloane-avenue/ Part of the award-winning and still trailblazing Gaucho group of restaurants that have championed Argentine and best quality steaks for over 25 years that has had a new lease of life since becoming part of the Rare Restaurant Group and under the stewardship of chief executive https://www.brindisakitchens.com/restaurant/tapas-brindisa-south-kensington/ Brindisa has been the heart beat for the best of Spanish food and its wide range of tapas dishes in the UK for some time Here the focus is on sharing and enjoying wine and food together HUŎ bar & restaurant offers a wide range of clean fresh and healthy Asian food encompassing carefully selected dishes from around China and Southeast Asia all prepared from scratch using traditional Chinese The main Soave wine producing area is located to the east of the historical city of Verona and is characterized by a series of hills and valleys whose origins date back over 65 million years Viticulture itself can be traced back to the Roman Empire and it has been setting the benchmark and standard for Italian white wines ever since It was designated as a wine region in its own right in 1931 and became a DOC in 1968 It has gone to become Italy’s most exported still white wine region with four out of five bottles produced exported to over 70 countries around the world The region has the highest viticulture density in Italy with about 3,000 small “estates” sharing only two hectares each on average One of the most important factors in understanding Soave wines is how different and varied they are depending on where they are from thanks to its rich tapestry of soils As Corinna Gianesini explained: “Nature has shaped the land and man has tamed it with the wines we have been able to make.” Soave wines are heavily influenced by the hills and soils where they are made and can be split into four main areas: Volcanic hills: found in the central area east of the Lessini Mountains The soils vary in color from grey to yellow to reddish They have a high mineral content and make wines that are fragrant They tend to be more complex and very well-balanced The wines have an intensity and structure that is hard to find in other areas of Soave Calcareous hills: the stratified calcareous soils are located on the hills in the western part of the appellation aromatic Soave wines come from this area with floral notes of ripe and exotic fruits Volcanic plain: the non-calcareous soils are mainly in the Monteforte Valley The soil is high in clay and volcanic debris The clay soils are more drought-resistant and produce wines with notes of cinnamon The deep soils give high acidity for particularly fresh and balanced wines with persistent aromas Calcareous plain: this soil type is more common in the Soave and Colognola plains Its texture is mostly fine and can become sandy and rocky around streams with an intensity and persistence that is hard to find in other areas of Soave The most common aromas recall the scent of violets and white flowers The Soave consortium invests in a continuous series of funding projects to help promote sustainability and biodiversity in the region These are geared towards reducing the risk of erosion and improving soil management in hill and mountain winegrowing areas with high hydrogeological risk * organizing training courses for vine growers aimed at safeguarding the region and environment * promoting the adherence to public or private environmental standards that can guarantee the long-term sustainability of wine production * continuous monitoring activity aimed at reducing the effects of climate change on the region and production In each restaurant the buyers had the opportunity to try a selection of wines that had been specifically chosen to complement the dishes from that restaurant The wines for the first stop on the Restaurant Tour at Gaucho in Sloane Avenue were chosen for their freshness and how they best illustrate and showcase what Soave can do https://www.cantinasanti.it/en https://cadis1898.it/en/ Soave Superiore DOCG Classico “Montegrande” 2022 Cantina di Monteforte http://www.cantinadimonteforte.it/en https://vinivicentini.com/en/vicentini-agostino-valpolicella-e-soave-di-colognola-ai-colli-english/ www.fattoriwines.com/en https://www.montetondo.it/eng Burrata - Tomato salad infused with truffle Salmon tartare tacos with mango salsa and avocado Empanadas - selection of sweet potato and provolone and chicken and chorizo Grilled butterfly prawns with garlic and chilli butter For the second stop on the tour and a switch of cuisine to Spanish the wines were selected to show the evolution and maturity in Soave wines https://www.lebattistelle.it/en www.cortemoschina.it/en Soave Superiore DOCG Classico “Verso - Le Coste” www. canoso.it/en www.cantinafranchetto.com/en Croquetas de Guisantes - spring pea & mint croquettes Jamon Iberico de Bellota - hand-carved 100% acorn-fed Ibérico ham from Señorío de Montanera Tortilla Espanola - traditional potato & onion omelette Bacalao a la Bilbaina - Bilbao-style Skrei cod The last restaurant on the tour was a chance to first see how well Soave can pair with against premium Chinese cuisine but also analyse what changes there are in the wines when they have the chance to age and mature over a period of years with wines dating back to 2018 www.ginivini.com/eng www.corteadami.com/en www.lealbare.it/eng www.lacappuccina.it/en Mixture of chicken and vegetable lettuce wraps Corinna Gianesini was able to start the tour by giving the buyers an initial overview of the region and how much the wines they taste will vary depending on where they are made and the big influence the local growing conditions will have on the finished wine in a glass With wines from western Soave being dominated by the volcanic debris that covers so much of the land there compared to the strong maritime influence on the eastern side of Soave that is rich in fossils and limestone Corinna was able to describe and introduce the Soave wine region to the panel the “Queen of Soave” and must make up at least 70% of the blend The buyers were mostly united in their initial thoughts on Soave and what it means to them - with quality and value for money being the two big stand out factors Harry Crowther started the debate by claiming Soave’s role within Italian wine overall cannot be over estimated It is a style of wine you can also move through the gears with welcoming style that gets serious very quickly.” Gianesini agreed: “Soave helped Italian wines be known all around the world.” Sophie Jump made the argument for describing the Soave wines region as a brand in its own right Sophie Jump added: “Soave is a brand in the same way that Chablis or Muscadet is a brand It’s memorable and a very easy style of wine to drink.” “When I was buying wine for Waitrose 20 years ago Soave represented best selling quality wine that was very inexpensive and offered very good value,” said Joe Wadsack “It was also seen as having a neutral and simple style which a lot of people like.” Bradley Horne thought having an unassuming image “gets Soave’s foot in the door - particularly for older drinkers who understand it.” The opportunity clearly now lies with a new Abbie Bennington said the Consorzio and the region should be pleased to know that in the consumer tastings she hosts “people will know Soave and are engaged with it and they really want to know more about it - you have that recognition” Which is what the restaurant tour was all about A chance to shine a different light on Soave and hopefully showcase what Soave can offer buyers now and in the future As Lucia Vesentini from the Consorzio explained: “Everything has a past our focus now is on today and what the perception is The panel had the chance to pair the initial set of Soave wines with a selection of dishes at Gaucho Sloane Avenue Crowther said he was excited to take part in the tour as he has aware through his own buying that the region was now making such a wide range of wines with increased layers of quality “It feels like the volume has been turned up,” he added the wines get more attractive,” said Wadsack Erin Smith said Soave has a crucial role to play for Italian white wines in general As she explained: “For consumers their entry into Italian wines particularly Italian white wines maybe Pinot Grigio but Soave has really been able to elevate Italian white wines appeal It adds an element of sophistication and something more interesting Making is an essential for merchants to add credibility to their range.” Armit’s Alessandro Comitini said he grew “drinking a lot of Soave wines” and was pleased to see how fast it is “evolving away from its neutral style” “It’s a region that has gone from competing a lot with Pinot Grigio to offering more serious wines,” he said Onwards and upwards to the second restaurant and a short walk to Brindisa near South Kensington tube station Harry Crowther and Bradley Horne avoid the temptation of popping into Claude Bosi's restaurant in the classic Bibendum building Enotria’s Sergio de Luca said he now welcomes the opportunity to import what he calls “less commercial and bag in box” Soave wines and it’s great to see the quality of wines that have been coming into the market over the last few years “I have always wanted something better for Soave,” he added and is keen to add more premium Soave wines to Enotria’s list Silvia Panetta said the tour was a great opportunity for her as a sommelier to see so many Soave wines side by side and to be able to see the different tiers of quality on top of the “typical limestone and tropical style” “It’s clear that as yields go down the concentration and aromas [in the wine] go higher,” she added Bottle shape and weight is also an important factor in raising Soave’s quality and premium credentials with a number of producers now looking to work with lighter This was another welcome step applauded by the buyers with Jump stressing how important it is for a region or a country’s overall image to have quality packaging and labels as well as the bottle format The buyers also had the opportunity to taste more aged wines with vintages going back to 2018 Wines that are not always available in the market which is a shame said Wadsack: “The region clearly has the ability to make world class wines that age and have some weight.” The challenge is getting more producers to hold wines back “But in Italy people drink wine young,” said Comitini De Luca agreed: “The culture in Italy is to sell wines young but there is so much potential in Italy to age white wines in particular.” But equally buyers are unwilling to buy wines that are not from that year’s release particularly for restaurants to age wine and then sell it at a higher price Waiting for the 14 bus to head down Fulham Road to third restaurant Jump said the tour and the tastings in the three restaurants had been “such an eye opener” for her.“I am surprised at how every single wine is so individual have stunning quality and how they all work so well with food When you think of Soave you think they are unrecognizable from each other when they are actually so different and come from such ancient soils.” Horne said it was good to be able to taste and see how the wines paired with the different styles of food and cuisine “We don’t always think of other cuisines when we look at Soave wines and it has certainly opened my eyes to what sort of pairings can work together “The wines have been fantastic and I have learned so much today,” added Wadsack who agreed with Horne that the food pairings were a real revelation particularly how Soave stands up against the big fat Comitini said he really liked how the “sweet and saltiness” in the dishes across the three restaurants worked together “In Italy we eat a lot of pasta that also has that sweet and saltiness in it.” character and texture” in the wines that could easily be an “alternative to Chablis” Arriving at HUŎ for some premium Chinese dishes Erin Smith said it was good to see “a real sense of place” in the wines and stories that would work particularly when selling direct to a consumer that might be looking for an alternative to say Pinot Grigio consultants and influencers is taking what they have learnt on the tour into their everyday work For Horne that means really getting to understand the soils in Soave and the influence they have on the wines “It was great to be able to put all that into context,” he said The restaurant tour was also a great opporunity for the group to network and make some good new contacts “We still need to educate the consumer about what Soave can offer To give them the chance to share that experience but the good news is this is a wine that is easy to communicate,” said Panetta De Luca said the big issue is “accessibility” and the chance for buyers to be able to see more of the styles and age of wines that took part in the restaurant tour available in the market That there is so much more to Soave than the £9 supermarket wine and that buyers “understand there is quality and so much difference in the region” Bennington said she was excited to see how many different aspects there are to Soave that can excite and interest new and younger drinkers as well as the traditional consumer that knows the region well Or as Crowther so neatly summed up: “There is something there for everyone.” Sign up to get The Buyer's weekly newsletter and personal invites to tastings & events Robby Soave delivers radar on White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blaming the legacy media in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner for covering up President Biden's cognitive decline. Senior editor for Reason Magazine Robby Soave joins Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla to explain why he believes liberal pundits on networks like CNN, MSNBC and ABC are secretly rooting for former President Trump to beat Vice President Harris in next week’s election. Jimmy and Robby also share their thoughts on why Harris’ momentum in the polls has been fading in recent weeks. To hear what else they talked about, listen to the podcast! * All photographs by Thomas Skovsende. Armit WinesArmit's Alessandro Comitini says the region has to work hard to ensure it maintains its signature freshness A coop-dominated appellation producing inexpensive High quality is entirely producer-led and can be made in a range of different styles What Garganega can produce should not be stripped away in favour of neutral Concentrating on maintaining its signature freshness flavour and body whilst maintaining an attractive price can be achieved The Soave wines performed well against the different cuisines DOCG originally was born with the Superiore mention but with climate change reaching minimum alcohol is not an issue Having Soave Classico both DOC and DOCG is confusing I believe DOCG should carry a UGA to become exclusively a single vineyard production Are you more likely to list and talk about Soave wines as a result of going on the tour I think the £16.90-£34.90 price range works best for the off-trade and between £60 to £90 in the on-trade rice paper spring rolls with oyster sauce dip it showcased the versatility (style/food pairing) and potential (ageing potential) of the wines Sergio de Luca was pleased to see both such a diversity of styles and such quality wines during the tour It is interesting to see Soave trying to get an identity for itself and to propose a character that is not based on neutrality I like how the tour was structured with current vintages first and then superior style and older wines later The wine needs to show character and not neutrality The consumer needs to remember what he or she drinks The Consortium needs to invest in communication and to get this message across more The Soave restaurant tour visited Gaucho Sloane Avenue Brindisa at South Kensington and HUŎ in Fulham Are you more likely to list and talk about Soave wines as a result of the tour I will definitely make sure that there is more communication and information about the possibilities and opportunities for Soave wines at any level in my organisation About £45 to £50 in the on-trade and about £15 in the off-trade The Brindisa restaurant menu married very well with the 2021 vintages And another thing...Harry Crowther and Sergio de Luca I would say I already had a good and well-established understanding of the region and what it can offer It's a region I like and already import wines from a great producer I have always been a fan of what Soave can do and offer I expected the range of wines to deliver and to be able to taste a wide range of styles and levels of quality I would sum it up by saying Soave now has a great opportunity to move up through the gears I would like to see a greater focus on DOCG wines I put a top DOCG wine into a blind tasting a while ago and Michelin starred sommeliers thought it was from Burgundy It’s time for the region to premiumise and really focus on that The group was happy to jump on and off the bus in order to get to the next restaurant Influencer marketing is probably the best way forward to do this at some level as well as producing easy to understand video content to help educate both wine enthusiasts and everyday wine drinkers Are you more likely to list and talk about more Soave wines as a result of being on the tour I am already doing what I can to wave the Soave flag with our customers I think the best place for Soave wines should be in the mid-premium category So wines that can sell at above £15 in the off-trade and above £50 in the on-trade This was my third one and it was just as fun as ever Sophie Jump said her perception of Soave was completely changed by going on the tour My perception of Soavebefore the tour was a region that is producing fairly straightforward wines with a specific taste profile:fruity fairly non-descript and reasonable value for money wines I was impressed by the individuality and personality of the majority of the wines we tasted A very versatile range of wines from easy drinking to quite complex and equipped to deal with lots of different food types Soave has very much its own identity and history as a region and in terms of the styles of wines it is producing The geological background was very interesting and provided a good context once we started tasting the different styles of wine This is where the work needs to be done so that consumers and buyers understand the ‘brand’ The differences need to be made clear but in a very simple way mainly from a marketing and consumer viewpoint to explain the increased price point of DOCG’s Having said that I don’t think the consumer knows the difference in Spain for example of Crianza Reserva and Gran Reserva so it is not an issue confined to Soave Are you more likely to list and talk about more Soave wines as a result of the tour The group had the chance to taste and try Soave wines against different styles of food I am now much more likely to not only drink it personally but recommend it to others - most definitely I think that to be successful Soave wines of all styles need to sit in the ‘excellent value for money’ category The restaurant tour showed perfectly how many different styles of Soave wines match many different styles of cuisine It is extremely versatile for the on-trade scene This is the first tour I’ve been on with The Buyer and I think the concept is very effective enjoyable and a great way for a region to build its brand and create brand ambassadors amongst the UK trade qualitative opportunity for a generic to convey key messages and also for them to understand the perception of their brands first hand in the market place You can find out more about Soave and the region here. * You can read the first report on the restaurant tour here. Leavitt torches White House Correspondents’ Dinner guests over Biden decline coverup: Robby Soave Robby Soave delivers radar on White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blaming the legacy media in attendance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for covering up President Biden’s cognitive decline 100 days: Trump’s vanity at odds with reality Niall Stanage delivers a monologue on President Trump’s first 100 days of his second term liberals win election after Trump trolled country: ‘51st state’ Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss Mark Carney winning the Canadian federal elections Trump: ‘I run the country and the world’; Atlantic interview gets heated  Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss President Trump’s interview with The Atlantic ahead of his 100-day mark Secret Service visits student who wrote Op-Ed about killing tyrants; Free speech org defends him First Amendment attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Zach Greenberg weighs in on George Mason University calling the cops on a student there for writing an anti-Trump article JB Pritzker demands mass protests against Trump says GOP should ‘never know peace’ Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to  Gov JB Pritzker’s (D-IL) forceful message for Democrats Glowing Hasan Piker profile in NYT criticized on X: ‘MAGA body?’ Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to New York Times article describing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker a progressive in a  MAGA man’s body Scott Bessent slam Amazon’s purported tariff protest: ‘Hostile and political act’  Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt slamming Amazon for reports that the company was going to put tariff cost on it’s item page Tim Walz (D-Minn.) admitting why former Vice President Kamala Harris chose him to be her running mate Bret Baier presses Kamala Harris on illegal migrant murderers: Watch Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to Vice President Kamala Harris’s interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier Kamala Harris plagiarism ignored and minimized by media: Robby Soave Robby Soave delivers a Radar on the plagiarism allegations against VP Kamala Harris’ book that she coauthored in 2009 criticizes Israel for detaining journalist Jeremy Loffredo Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to RFK Jr calling for Israel to free journalist Jeremy Loffredo Ken Klippenstein: FBI visited my home after publishing Vance dossier—Interview Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss FBI calling at Independent journalist Ken klippenstein’s door claiming he is a target of a foreign influence operation with regard to a news article Exclusive: Jill Stein calls out DNC’s attack ads Robby Soave and Niall Stanage is joined by the Green Party candidate Dr Jill Stein to discuss DNC’s fear of Independent Candidates and her Election strategies IDF investigating Hamas leader’s potential death Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to a breaking news that IDF may have killed Hamas head and planned the October 7 attacks on Israel Trump defends Haitian pet eating comments at Univision Town hall Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss Donald Trump’s appeal to Latino voters in a Univision Townhall Marco Rubio destroys Margaret Brennan for saying free speech helped Nazis—Robby Soave Robby Soave delivers radar on CBS news’s Margaret Brennan’s tussle with Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Vice President JD Vance’s speech in Munich JD Vance rips European leaders in Munich over migration Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss Vice President JD Vance’s speech in Munich Trump’s Napoleon post ignites social media: ‘He who saves his country violates no law’ Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to President Trump’s Truth Social post that is sending shockwaves throughout the internet Harvard University and Senior Fellow for Democracy at the Council on Foreign Relations talks about the anxiety left is facing over authoritarianism in the United States Eric Adams refuses to resign after Dems call for his ouster Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s political and prosecutorial future Lawmakers admit they banned TikTok to silence criticism of Israel: Ken Klippenstein Journalist Ken Klippenstein reveals the real reason for the TikTok ban in the US Kid Rock stuns Bill Maher over Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl comments Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to Kid Rock’s comments about Kendrick Lamar’s half-time super bowl performance Trump mugshot now hangs outside Oval Office Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss President Trump’s  popular mug shot that now hangs outside the Oval office and UnderWater Project present a chill house reinterpretation of Lewis Capaldi and JP Saxe’s “Wish You The Best,” featuring the evocative vocals of Andreea Flavia this track infuses the original ballad with a serene transforming its emotional depth into a soothing auditory experience.​ The production showcases a seamless blend of deep house elements—gentle synths and ambient textures—that provide a tranquil backdrop for Flavia’s heartfelt delivery navigate the song’s themes of longing and farewell with grace adding a new dimension to the familiar lyrics The collaborative effort maintains the song’s emotional core while offering a fresh laid-back interpretation that invites listeners to find solace in its mellow rhythms.​ This rendition of “Wish You The Best” exemplifies how electronic music can reimagine and breathe new life into existing works offering a reflective and comforting take on a poignant narrative For gloriously dry white wines that can handle the heat to make it the seventh-largest wine-producing country in the world were the region ever to secede as its independence movement would like it to There is a fair degree of snobbery among wine-lovers about much of this output – not least the Venetian lagoonfuls of very ordinary bland white wine made from over-cropped vines on the region’s flatlands with its gorgeously mouthfilling mix of peaches make some superbly individualistic and expressive single-vineyard bottlings Something similar has happened in the much smaller and lesser-known Lugana denominazione which straddles the border of Veneto and Lombardy around the decidedly scenic shores of Lake Garda Among the producers raising the area’s tone is Ca’ dei Frati which makes pristine dry white wines from the local turbiana grape variety with the 2023 I Frati offering a stony coolness along with its fresh fresh pear and apple-scented fridge-door white that the much-maligned pinot grigio does so well Follow David Williams on X @Daveydaibach This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media the independent fact-checking website run by the Poynter Institute bestowed another odious distinction on President-elect Donald Trump The organization dubbed a statement uttered by Trump and his running mate J.D PolitiFact has christened a Lie of the Year every year since 2009 and in only two of those years did statements made by Democrats earn the top prize PolitiFact slammed Democrats for claiming that Republicans would vote to end Medicare the organization concluded that President Barack Obama's solemn promise—"If you like your health care plan you can keep your health care plan"—was plainly untrue PolitiFact has singled out right-leaning purveyors of mistruths This year is no different. In 2024, PolitiFact's Lie of the Year is the claim by Trump that Haitian migrants in an Ohio town were "eating people's pets." Donald Trump and his running mate repeatedly peddled a created story that in Springfield Haitian immigrants were eating pet dogs and cats," observes the organization The Republican ticket's disregard for the facts in this case was indeed brazen It was completely untrue that Haitian migrants in Springfield What happened was that various concerns about migrants supposedly hunting birds in public parks in Springfield got lumped together with an unrelated story of someone killing a pet cat in a completely different town It's a textbook example of why you shouldn't automatically believe everything you see on social media and it's absolutely fair to call them out for smearing the immigrant population of Springfield Given recent revelations about the extent to which President Joe Biden's cognitive decline was well-known to his staff—and covered up by them—at the very onset of his presidency one might think that repeated statements to the contrary might be worthy of "Lie of the Year." for circulating what she described as misleading videos that appeared to show Biden out of sorts At the highest levels of the Biden administration the official word was: Don't believe your lying eyes A recent report by The Wall Street Journal—which stands apart from other legacy outlets in having exhaustively investigated the lie—makes clear that Biden's aides were privately concerned about his age-related decline not just in the final weeks of the 2024 campaign The Journal describes Biden being kept away from his Cabinet Aides realized he was often confused in the mornings so they pushed meetings to later in the day They also noticed he would lose focus if things went on for too long so they instructed officials to keep briefings short This had real-world consequences. Rep. Adam Smith (D–Wash.) had concerns about Biden's planned withdrawal from Afghanistan, but couldn't get on the phone with him; the president was simply unavailable. It was a bad day, rather than a good day. The botched Afghanistan withdrawal would subsequently be considered one of the most damaging failures of Biden's presidency many news commentators now agree that Biden's cognitive decline was hideously underscrutinized CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford admitted as much during a revealing panel on that network: Jan Crawford: Most under-reported story "would be Joe Biden's obvious cognitive decline that became undeniable." Duck chasing meme: WHY WAS IT UNDER-REPORTED pic.twitter.com/nkgu6lcEzN — Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) December 29, 2024 describing the story as "under-reported" is a considerable understatement This was the greatest cover-up of a president's limitations since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's reliance on a wheelchair the media's complicity in that lie would seem almost impossible by today's standards of adversarial coverage; on the other hand Biden proved that it's possible to keep them in the dark and keep them quiet the fiction that Biden was capable of running for re-election and serving as president for four more years is undoubtedly deserving of Lie of the Year I am joined by Amber Duke to discuss the MAGA movement feud over H-1B visas the media's dawning realization that Team Biden lied about his fitness for office Speaking of Free Media, we are launching our own YouTube channel! The show will remain a part of the Reason family, and is still produced by the talented staff of Reason TV—so nothing else is changing. But please visit the new YouTube channel and click the subscribe button And be on the lookout for an expansion of Free Media in 2025 We plan to deliver even more content with Amber Duke and other media friends from all across the political spectrum: left It's taken more than a year, but I have finally finished Agatha Christie's entire Hercule Poirot catalog I've listened to every single Poirot detective story from The Mysterious Affair at Styles to Curtain: Poirot's Last Case as audiobooks during my daily gym sessions what I am experiencing is mostly a sense of loss: I feel as if a beloved friend has passed away I have come to treasure Poirot very dearly: his fastidiousness his disdain for other detectives who run about gathering clues Poirot is in many ways the anti–Sherlock Holmes He carries no magnifying glass and seldom examines footprints His modus operandi is to interrogate suspects and use the "little gray cells" to deduce characters' motivations This usually means that the solution to the mystery—typically revealed by Poirot during an assembly of all the major suspects—is likely to have been missed by the reader though I did manage to guess the killer's identity in a handful of cases The three most famous Poirot novels are Murder on the Orient Express but the other two deserve their reputations but is best consumed after having gained some familiarity with Christie's style; this makes the infamous plot twist in Ackroyd (don't Google it!) much more enjoyable A few others I really enjoyed were: Peril at End House I have made it my 2025 resolution to be more like Poirot—to treat others with outstanding courtesy and kindness and to better organize my life using order and method Robby Soave is a senior editor at Reason Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Robby Soave delivers radar on a possible government shutdown as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) declared that the Democrats won't support the continuing resolution approved by the House Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Alex Soros shrug off former President Joe Biden's cognitive decline young voters shift massively to the right—Democrats doomed Robby Soave delivers radar on President Trump’s popularity amongst Gen Z voters Dave Portnoy say Mike Waltz should be fired; Trump defends Pete Hegseth Robby Soave and Lynda Tran discuss the latest from the Signal controversy where many conservatives are asking President Trump to fire National Security Advisor Mike Waltz says they should refuse federal funds: Uri Berliner interview The Free Press editor and writer Uri Berliner weighs in on the congressional hearing examining funding for public radio and PBS ICE detains Turkish Tufts student; Trump Admin terminates her visa for ‘Hamas support’ Robby Soave and Lynda Tran discuss the Trump administration’s detention of a Tufts university doctoral student Roomaysah Ozturk over alleged support of Hamas Wake up call’: Democrat upsets Republican in state Senate race Robby Soave and Lynda Tran discuss how Democrats flipped a Senate seat in a special election in Pennsylvania Rep  Jim Jordan says eliminating district courts is on the table Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) talks about the Republican effort to block the nationwide injunctions imposed by federal district courts against President Trump’s executive orders Even ‘The View’ hosts think Jasmine Crockett’s ‘hot wheels’ insult went too far: Watch Robby Soave and Lynda Tran react to “The View” hosts scolding Rep Jasmine Crockett  (D-T.X) over her comments about Texas Governor Greg Abbott Snow White’ producer’s son rips Rachel Zegler for ‘hurting’ film Robby Soave and Lynda Tran weigh in on “Snow White” live action movie’s the major flop at the box office I was very lucky that my mum was a reader so I grew up surrounded by books I remember being particularly struck by Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree I am aware that some people find aspects of Blyton’s writing problematic today but as a child I was only concerned with being transported to an enchanted land and meeting unique characters such as Moonface and Saucepan Man that have stayed with me till this day The wonderfully imaginative descriptions of character and place have meant that they stand the test of time so much so that I read the Faraway Tree collection to my own children It depends who I am talking to but I’ve yet to meet a Scottish reader who has not enjoyed The Trick Is To Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway The book examines the life of a young teacher who has severe mental health problems and her search for the ‘trick’ to carry on living Galloway’s skill as a novelist keeps us completely invested in the protagonist’s struggle and gripped by her story It’s hard to believe this was Galloway’s first novel it is so well-constructed and innovative in form I’ve read so many brilliant books this year it was difficult to narrow my choice down to one but I’m going to go for Juno Loves Legs by Karl Geary This book has so many elements that I love in fiction – set in working-class Dublin it explores the friendship between two outsiders desperate to escape their cruel family circumstances nonetheless it fills the reader with hope as to the power of a loving friendship I don’t know that either of these books exists yet but if I am permitted to fantasize I am most looking forward to new fiction from Anne Donovan (who wrote the wonderfully funny and affecting Buddha Da) and Janice Galloway A new novel from each of these writers in 2025 would be the dream my brother bought me a copy of Life: A User’s Manual by Georges Perec and inscribed it with the words ‘This is one of the best books I have ever read’ I’m afraid I’ve never been able to get very far into it I’ve studied the map and considered the author’s advice on how to read the book (as a giant puzzle rather than a story) but I find I am unable to get past the lists (so many lists!) and the descriptions (beautiful but never-ending) to find my way into the story itself that inscription plays on my mind and every so often I wonder what I am missing and pick it up again James Kelman has long been – and remains – a huge inspiration to me It’s not just his writing (though A Disaffection is one of my all-time favourite novels) it’s his attitude to who is permitted to be a writer and his approach to the creative life generally It’s his absolute insistence on writing the fiction that he wants to write regardless of the vagaries of the publishing industry There is a lot of talk of resurgence of working-class novels like those by Douglas Stewart and Irvine Welsh but I sometimes think people forget that these novels would not exist at all without the trailblazing Kelman I am currently reading What Doesn’t Kill Us by Ajay Close it’s a fictional retelling of the story of the Yorkshire ripper The author has absolutely nailed the sexism of the time so much so that even as you are admiring the prose you also want to throw the book across the room and scream at the injustice of it all It won the Fiction Book of the Year in Scotland’s National Book Awards Elissa Soave is a Scottish writer of contemporary fiction. She won the inaugural Primadonna Prize in 2019 and her debut novel, Ginger and Me (HQ, HarperCollins, 2022) was shortlisted for the Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award. Her second novel, Graffiti Girls is out now Read more of The Good Books here Subscribe to read the latest issue of Scottish Field IPSO is an independent body which deals with complaints from the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) being sentenced to serve 11 years in prison for accepting bribes from the Egyptian government Obama and Biden started the campus censorship war: Robby Soave Robby Soave makes the case that censoring speech on college campuses started with Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden Trump’s tariffs ignite stock market rollercoaster Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss the global reaction to President Trump’s first round of tariffs DOJ Punishes Attorney In Deportation Case; Judge Orders Return Of Illegal Immigrant From El Salvador Robby Soave and Niall Stanage weigh in on the Department of Justice’s error that led to a Maryland man being incorrectly deported Hands Off’ Protests Erupt Across America Over Elon Musk Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to a anti-Trump Author Richard Hanania Argues We’re Living in a Kakistocracy President Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology explains the meaning of “kakistocracy” and how it’s playing out in the U.S Robby Soave and Niall Stanage weigh in on Anthony Fauci recently making comments about a supposed next pandemic CNN’s Jake Tapper Accuses Democrats of ‘Gaslighting’ America; Tim Walz Responds Robby Soave and Niall Stanage weigh in on CNN’s Jake Tapper pressing Tim Walz on why the Democratic Party continues to “gaslight” the American people AOC Could Destroy Schumer in Senate Matchup: Shock Poll Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss the future of the Democratic Party Poll: Voters approve of Trump transition; desperate Dems smear Tulsi Gabbard again—Robby Soave Robby Soave delivers radar on American voters approval of Donald Trump’s transition and his cabinet picks Trump’s remaining cabinet picks delight the right: Russell Vought Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss President-Elect Donald Trump’s latest cabinet picks Israel and Lebanon ceasefire talks come too late to fix Biden admin’s disastrous foreign policy Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss reports that a ceasefire between Israel-Hezbollah may happen as close as tomorrow Tulsi Gabbard terrifies Dems because she’ll clean house at DNI: Michael Shellenberger Bill Maher eviscerates Neil deGrasse Tyson on transgender athletes controversy Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to Bill Maher and scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson bickering over why Democrats lost the election NBC’s Brian Williams admits Dems lost working class Robby Soave and Niall Stanage weigh in on anchor Brian Williams’ slamming the Democrats as  “out of touch.” Breaking: Kamala Harris might run for president again Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to reports that Vice President Kamala Harris is planning to run for attorney general of California Trudeau bashed for choosing Taylor Swift concert over Canadian protesters for Gaza Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau getting criticized for attending a Taylor Swift concert while pro-Palestine protests swept the streets of Canada Robby Soave delivers a radar explaining the term "dark woke," and how Democrats are using it as a new communication strategy Robby Soave delivers radar on the latest CNN poll that shows President Trump is winning massively on a key question: "Which party do you think cares more about the needs of people like you?" Robby Soave delivers radar on how mainstream media is shocked by DOGE's popularity Kristi Noem should stop statist control: Robby Soave Robby Soave delivers radar on the Republican pushback to government mandating Real ID to fly within America Joe Biden speaks out; Trump slams ex-POTUS as The Hill’s correspondent Drew Petrimoulx joins Robby Soave and Niall Stanage to discuss former President Joe Biden’s first public speech after leaving the White House JD Vance slams Democrats over Abrego Garcia concerns; Senator Van Hollen flying to El Salvador  Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss the controversy around Kilmar Abrego Garcia the man who one former Trump administration official says was mistakenly deported to El Salvador CNN ratings plunge: CEO seeks new strategy to survive ‘revolution’–Steve Krakauer Journalist Steve Krakauer discusses CNN’s new strategy to save the network Letitia James referred for prosecution over mortgage fraud Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss the Trump administration referring New York Attorney General Letitia James for a possible prosecution ‘rapist,’ ‘criminal’ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) calling President Trump DHS orders US immigration attorney to self- deport in apparent mistake Immigration attorney Nicole Micheroni joins Rising to explain the erroneous email she received from the Department of Homeland Security ordering her to leave the country Conservatives blast Mother Jones for calling dogs ‘environmental villains’ Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to an article published by Mother Jones titled “Bad News for Man’s Best Friend: Dogs Are Environmental Villains.” © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Shock poll: Voters approve of Trump on Ukraine; Net favorable!—Robby Soave Robby Soave delivers radar on voters’ approval rating of President Trump on his handling of Ukraine-Russia war Robby Soave and Marianne Williamson discuss President Trump’s decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine Trump in conspiracy with FBI to empower Putin Independent writer Sarah Kendzior talks about the rise of Donald Trump Watch: Dems post identical Trump attack videos Robby Soave and Marianne Williamson discuss Democrats changing their media strategy Pam Bondi fires New York FBI office head after Epstein files fiasco; Jan 6th connection Robby Soave and Marianne Williamson discuss the firing of James Dennehy the head of the FBI’s New York field office FBI prefers lab leak theory after widespread evidence of bat experiments in Wuhan: Interview elaborates on her exclusive report on the FBI’s investigation into the origins of Covid Breaking: Zelensky admits Trump meeting went poorly Robby Soave and Marianne Williamson react to Ukrainian President Zelensky’s latest statement on negotiating peace deal with Russia Influencer Hasan Piker suspended from Twitch; Free speech under attack Robby Soave and Marianne Williamson react to Twitch streamer Hasan Piker being banned from the platform Robby Soave delivers radar on President Trump's jab at Rep Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) over voting against the GOP-led bill to fund the government CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday that third-party fact-checking organizations would no longer have the power to suppress disfavored speech on Facebook—a major positive step toward restoring free expression and robust debate on the platform In his video announcing the changes Zuckerberg conceded that moderators working at his social media properties—Facebook and Instagram—felt pressured after Donald Trump's 2016 win to address mainstream media concerns about the spread of alleged misinformation online He now believes that their efforts to fix this supposed issue caused more problems than they solved the legacy media wrote nonstop about how misinformation was a threat to democracy," said Zuckerberg "We tried in good faith to address those concerns without becoming the arbiters of truth but the fact-checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created Here is the full video from Mark Zuckerberg announcing the end of censorship and misinformation policies I highly recommend you watch all of it as tonally it is one of the biggest indications of "elections have consequences" I have ever seen pic.twitter.com/aYpkxrTqWe — Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) January 7, 2025 Zuckerberg also detailed plans to scrap the platforms' de-prioritization of political topics and rein in automatic filters a category of moderation that he says is prone to error "It means we're going to catch less bad stuff but we'll also reduce the number of innocent people's posts and accounts that we accidentally take down," he said These changes are wildly positive. It's also heartening that Zuckerberg seems to understand precisely what had gone wrong, and why: The company made attempts to satisfy both mainstream media institutions and even government agencies, particularly when it came to controversial political topics like COVID-19 What moderators soon discovered is that this is impossible; there is no end to the amount of speech suppression that is desired by censorship-inclined entities Politicians in both parties dragged Zuckerberg before the U.S Congress to answer for a vast array of alleged sins—the end of democracy which attempted to shed light on how bad-faith arguments against the company were providing cover for greater censorship and regulation At the time, it was a somewhat controversial thesis; even the political right was interested in aggressively regulating Big Tech or breaking up the companies entirely. Four years later, thanks to exposes like Matt Taibbi's Twitter Files and my own Facebook Files the public is more aware of the role that explicit government pressure played in enacting the regime of censorship This does not mean that tech executives were blameless with respect to the moderation decisions that ensued but it should mean that public ire is better directed at government bureaucrats who represented the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Needless to say, the third-party fact-checking organizations that will lose their clout as a result of Zuckerberg's proposed changes are none too pleased. In a New York Times article about the news—with a characteristically snarky headline "Meta Says Fact-Checkers Were the Problem Fact-Checkers Rule That False."—the Poynter Institute one of Facebook's official fact-checking organs protests that Meta and Meta alone had the power to take down content but the fact-checkers knew exactly what the deal was; Facebook gave them official status as approved verifiers of information and explicitly stated that moderators would remove content consistent with the verifiers' recommendations It is reassuring to hear Zuckerberg acknowledge issues with this form of fact-checking; the CEO said he plans to launch a new system in line with X's Community Notes a crowd-sourced form of verification that allows all users to weigh-in more closely mirroring the Wikipedia approach Even The Times begrudgingly admits that "researchers have found the program can be effective when paired with other moderation strategies." he concluded by noting that the First Amendment's protections for free speech have enabled the U.S Contrast that with much of the rest of the world "Europe has an ever-increasing number of laws and making it difficult to build anything innovative there," he said "Latin American countries have secret courts that can order companies to quietly take things down China has censored our apps from even working in the country The only way that we can push back on this global trend is with the support of the US government and that's why it's been so difficult over the past four years when even the US government has pushed for censorship." is a driver of tech innovation because its government protects free speech but they are stronger here than anywhere else can continue to be the most prosperous and technologically advanced country in the world Robby Soave delivers a radar on the protests taking place on college campuses across America Robby Soave delivers radar on the ongoing feud between senior Trump adviser Peter Navarro and Elon Musk will arrange deal between Putin and Zelensky!-Robby Soave Robby Soave delivers radar on President Trump’s announcement that he was getting closer to end war between Russia and Ukraine Don’t trust Putin but this is still the best way out of war for Ukraine: Ret Col Daniel Davis explains what could happen next in the Russia-Ukraine war Robby And Marianne get into heated debate over Elon Musk Robby Soave and Marianne Williamson discuss the first hearing of the house subcommittee on DOGE Tulsi Gabbard blasts ‘weaponized’ intel agency after swearing in; Bolton Robby Soave and Marianne Williamson discuss Tulsi Gabbard’s swearing in as the new Intelligence Chief Massive covid fraud uncovered; Billions stolen Army combat veteran and former FBI supervisory special agent Stewart Whitson talks about unemployment government benefits and the fraud that follows it Woah: Defense contractor CEO listed as Chinese intel official? Philip Lenczycki of the Daily Caller News Foundation talks about a US Defense contractor C.E.O  having ties to China Notorious CNN analyst Jeffrey Toobin joins New York Times Robby Soave and Marianne Williamson react to  legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin joining New York Times Robby Soave and Marianne Williamson react to Robert F kennedy Jr’s Senate confirmation to be the next Health and Human Services Secretary Robby Soave delivers radar on MSNBC axing Joy Reid's show as part of a programming shakeup CIA Finally admits lab leak is most likely cause of Covid pandemic is most likely cause of the Covid-19 pandemic Schiff say pres is breaking the law; Tom Cotton defends move Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to President Trump firing over a dozen inspectors general will take in mass deportation flights: White House Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss President Trump’s back-and-forth with the Colombian government over accepting flights carrying deported Colombians Jordan to ‘clean out’ Gaza; expert says it would destabilize region a research fellow at Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and former State Department official weighs in on President Trump’s recent comments on Palestinians returning to Gaza AFD chairwoman welcomes Elon Musk: ‘Make America & Germany great again Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss how Elon Musk appears to be inserting hiself in far-right German politics Stephen A Smith admits on Bill Maher that he is ‘a damn fool’ for voting Kamala Harris Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to ESPN’s Stephen A Smith’s stunning admission during an appearance on “Real Time With Bill Maher,” about Kamala Harris JD Vance clashes with CBS’s Margaret Brennan over Tulsi Gabbard Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss Vice President J.D CNN anchor in disbelief Trump’s approval ratings go through the roof: Watch Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss react to CNN’s Kate Bolduan seeming to interrupt coverage of President Trump’s high approval rating double down on identity politics—MAGA is thrilled Robby Soave delivers radar on Democratic National Committee’s pick Ken Martin as their new chair and the identity politics within the party USAID shutdown: Trump Says ‘radical lunatics’ run agency Robby Soave and Lynda Tran react to Elon Musk and President Trump’s move to shut down United States Agency for International Development Robby Soave and Lynda Tran discuss President Trump imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico Tucker Carlson presses Piers Morgan over supporting Zelensky: ‘You like dictators’ Robby Soave and Lynda Tran weigh in on Tucker Carlson pressing Piers Morgan on his admiration for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky FCC demands CBS transcript of Kamala Harris interview Robby Soave and Lynda Tran discuss the FCC demanding that CBS turn over the transcript of its interview last year with then-candidate Kamala Harris Robby Soave and Lynda Tran discuss the ongoing investigation into the fatal Jan 29th plane-helicopter collision and the deadly plane crash that happened Friday in Philadelphia China running shadow justice system in American cities: Phil Lenczycki investigative reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation shares insight on how the Chinese Communist Party is imposing its own justice system in U.S Trump threatens to obliterate Iran if  They assassinate him Robby Soave delivers radar on President Trump’s stark warning to Iran should its government assassinate him ‘The Riviera of the Middle East:’ Niall Stanage Niall Stanage delivers monologue on President Trump’s suggestion that the U.S Trump welcomes El Salvador pres Nayib Bukele’s offer to take in American prisoners Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss the unprecedented offer El Salvador’s President Bukele made to President Trump PBS funding scrutinized: MTG calls on both outlets to testify before DOGE committee Robby Soave and Niall Stanage weigh in on reports that NPR and PBS could be stripped of public funding USAID inadvertently funded gain-of-function in Wuhan lab: Interview Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell saying the league will not scrap DEI Think Tanks cashing in on dark money; orgs keep funding sources a secret: Interview sheds light on the lack of transparency surrounding think tank funding OSCAR Nominee Trans Actor Karla Sofia Gascon TRASHED Over Past Racist Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss the backlash Kala Sofia Gascon is receiving after past controversial social media posts were unearthed Robby Soave delivers radar on President-elect Trump's triumphs before he steps into office Robby Soave delivers radar on the White House Correspondents' Dinner where Axios' Alex Thompson admitted that there was a cover-up on former President Joe Biden's cognitive decline Robby Soave delivers radar on Nina Jankowicz attacking Matt Taibbi at the censorship hearing blasts media for asking Kamala ‘dumb’ questions—Robby Soave Robby Soave delivers radar on Campaign Harris’ team doing a post-mortem on “Pod Save America” of why Kamala Harris lost the election rambling video to supporters: ‘Who let her post this?’ Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to Kamala Harris addressing supporters about her loss Trump’s massive tariffs spook Justin Trudeau; Mexico vows defiance Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Mexico Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire just a ‘tactical pause;’ permanent peace unlikely: Interview  Former Trump official Simone Ledeen weighs in on the state of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire Elon Musk intervenes to stop The Onion from buying Alex Jones’ X account  Robby Soave and Niall Stanage discuss Elon Musk claiming ownership over the Infowars X account amidst The Onion’s bid to buy the outlet LA declared a ‘sanctuary city’ by council; cops will not assist mass deportation Robby Soave and Niall Stanage talk about Los Angeles becoming a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants Out of touch Alec Baldwin tries to school Americans as ‘uninformed’ Robby Soave and Niall Stanage react to actor Alec Baldwin lambasting Americans as “uninformed.”