Daily flyovers
Latest news for 9 September 2025
Quick hits of consequential news from all corners of the world.
- 01
UNITED STATES
Murdoch saga ends.
The Murdoch family’s long-running succession feud is over, with Rupert’s eldest (and more conservative) son Lachlan set to retain control. At least we got a solid TV series along the way (shout-out to Succession). (Bloomberg)And speaking of the Murdoch family's media holdings...
- 02
UNITED STATES
What letter?
The Wall Street Journal just published the lewd letter Donald Trump allegedly penned for Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th back in 2003. Trump’s team still denies he wrote the missive, which lawyers for the Epstein estate just handed to Congress. (WSJ $)
Comment: We’ve written about the grim geopolitics of Epstein — this drip-drip of revelations will consume the seat of US power just as challenges continue to mount.
- 03
FRANCE
Bayrou out.
As we foreshadowed, France’s parliament just ditched the country’s latest prime minister — and it wasn’t even close (364 to 194). Focus now returns to President Macron, who technically triggered all this with last year’s snap election stalemate. (France24)
Comment: Macron now has to choose between pinning his hopes on yet another PM, or calling early elections that polls suggest could empower Marine Le Pen’s right-leaning National Rally.
- 04
NEPAL
Gen Z isn’t happy.
The Nepalese government has backtracked on its new social media ban, which triggered broader anti-government protests that left at least 19 dead. And now, just moments ago, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned! (BBC)
Comment: As elsewhere, it’s a fight between authorities claiming they’re protecting users from harmful content, and citizens arguing it all verges on authoritarianism. You figure out a way to walk that line, or your citizens will show you the door.
- 05
ISRAEL
Attack in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is pledging to catch anyone who helped the two Palestinians that opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem, leaving at least six dead. While Hamas has praised the attack (and the rival Palestinian Authority has seemingly condemned it), no group has yet claimed responsibility. (Reuters)
- 06
ARGENTINA
Not a good sign.
President Milei has suffered a defeat in Sunday’s Buenos Aires local elections, with his candidate losing to Argentina’s long-dominant left-leaning Peronists. (Al Jazeera)
Comment: It’s potentially a sign that, at least in the capital, any relief at Milei’s taming of inflation is being outweighed by anger at the hardship it’s all entailed.
- 07
INDONESIA
Finance bulwark leaves.
Wow — the president (Prabowo) just fired his market-darling finance minister (Indrawati) following widespread anti-government protests. Her departure will further unsettle markets that’d hoped the experienced economist and IMF bigwig would be a counterweight to Prabowo’s populist spending impulses. (Malay Mail)
Comment: You’ll recall Indrawati surprised folks earlier this year when she endorsed Prabowo’s big-ticket spending. Her demise could now also be a reminder that when you trade a bit of legitimacy for tenure, you can just end up losing both.