Six Essential Weekend Reads: From Political Erasure to AI Delusions
Looking for something brilliant to read this weekend? Here are six of our favourite pieces from the past seven days, offering deep dives into politics, technology, culture, and entertainment.
1. Prisoner Number 804: The Plot to Erase Imran Khan
No Pakistani has straddled as many spheres, or for as long, as Imran Khan. He was the country's biggest cricket star when the USSR invaded Afghanistan. When the Berlin Wall fell, he was wearing tuxedos and surrounded by women, akin to a Pakistani James Bond without the spying and killing. By 9/11, he had transitioned into politics. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, he was serving as prime minister. Now, Imran Khan is the sole occupant of a cell in Pakistan's most notorious jail. Osman Samiuddin explores how the most powerful forces in Pakistan have conspired to try and erase their most famous citizen from public life, detailing a dramatic fall from grace.
2. Marriage Over, €100,000 Down the Drain: The AI Users Whose Lives Were Wrecked by Delusion
One minute, Dennis Biesma was playing with a chatbot; the next, he was convinced his new "friend" was sentient and would make him a fortune. As Anna Moore reported, he's just one of many people who have lost control after an AI encounter, leading to financial ruin and personal turmoil. This story highlights the psychological dangers and real-world consequences of advanced artificial intelligence interactions, urging caution in an increasingly digital world.
3. The 'Self-Deportee' Hounded Out of the US to Mexico: 'There Are Days When I Feel Literally Insane'
Abel Ortiz quit the United States on 4 August 2025. By then, he had grown unnerved by the pervasive presence in Los Angeles of national guard troops, helicopters whirring overhead, and ICE agents ready to pounce in unmarked Fords and Chevys. Ortiz had lived in LA since he was a newborn. Ed Pilkington and the Guardian's video team caught up with him in Mexico City, where they found him fired up and grieving in his new life, illustrating the human cost of immigration policies and societal tensions.
4. We Are Living in a Period of Political Anti-Intellectualism. But in Pop Culture, Clever Is the New Cool
Put down your negroni, hang up your Prada handbag, and pick up a paperback. Next time someone whips out their phone to take your picture, grab your reading specs, not your lipstick. Smart is the new hot. So wrote Jess Cartner-Morley as she examined why, at the very moment Trump's rambling speeches and meme-fied inanity threaten to overwhelm us, fashion, music, and film are moving in the opposite direction. This piece explores a cultural shift towards valuing intelligence and depth in entertainment and style.
5. Come at the King ... HBO Changed TV Forever, but Is Its Crown Under Threat in the Age of Streaming and Trump?
It gave us Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, and The Wire. But as HBO Max comes to the UK and with new ownership imminent, the network that reinvented television is fighting to stay itself, as Phil Harrison reported. This analysis delves into the challenges HBO faces from streaming competitors and changing media landscapes, questioning whether it can maintain its iconic status in a crowded market.
6. Shoplifting, Sex Shows, and Sheepdog-Breeding: Great Artists and the Side-Hustles They Did to Get By
John Cage appeared on an Italian quiz show. Jean Genet stole rare books. Emily Carr reared bobtails. And Kathy Acker did X-rated acts with her boyfriend. Mason Currey explored the unlikely sidelines of struggling artists, revealing the creative and often desperate measures taken to survive while pursuing their passions. This article sheds light on the lesser-known struggles behind artistic genius.
These stories offer a rich tapestry of insights into current events, human experiences, and cultural trends, perfect for a thoughtful weekend read.
