By The Free Press | Created at 2026-10-19 10:06:36 | Updated at 2026-10-19 20:31:00
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It’s Monday, October 19. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Jesse Singal on the strange disappearance of James Talarico. Bethany McLean on how an AI bubble might pop. Suzy Weiss on the man rescuing art from Nazis. And much more.
But first: France is burning.
Chaos engulfed France this weekend, as thousands of protesters stormed buildings and set streets ablaze. More than 2,000 people were arrested and more than 600 police officers injured in one of the largest anti-government protests in modern French history. In Limoges, the historic town hall’s spire and roof were destroyed by arsonists.
Andrew Hussey lives just a mile from the scene of some of the worst protests in Paris, and today he recounts the war zone–like scenes outside his home: masked protesters, Palestinian flags everywhere, and rioters moving in coordinated units to threaten the country’s three main symbolic sites. “I went to bed last night as sickened and frightened by the scenes of violence in Paris and all over France as I have ever been,” he writes. It looked, to him, like the onset of a French civil war.
The riots, which are ongoing, have left the nation shell-shocked. Earlier this month, Simone Rodan-Benzaquen wrote in these pages about brewing unrest, which began with students protesting absent teachers and poor school conditions. She writes again today, about the night the protesters shouted “C’est la Révolution, on prend la Bastille!” It’s the revolution. We’re taking the Bastille! Where does the revolutionary rage come from, and where is it headed? Read Simone’s piece for answers.
The violence in France is not only a symptom of French malaise; it’s also part of a greater continental crisis. Disaffected young people have recently waged violence on the streets of Madrid and Brussels, too. In case you missed his essay last week, read Niall Ferguson on why Europe is ablaze, and how the youth “are dimly aware that they are being screwed, but they don’t appear to understand who’s doing the screwing.” Their misdiagnosis, he argues, may help drive the continent toward collapse.
—Jillian Lederman
Bethany McLean • Tech and Business
Almost every day brings a new promise about how AI will change the world. So why are some of the world’s smartest people betting against it? Earlier this month, investor Steve Eisman argued that AI is headed for an Enron-like demise; Michael Burry, who famously shorted the 2008 financial crisis, agrees. Today, Bethany McLean—who quite literally wrote the book on Enron—explains what these investors see inside the AI race, and whether we’re really barreling toward an economic disaster.
Jesse Singal • U.S. Politics
For months, Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has been surging in the polls—but when October began, he was nowhere to be found. His team blamed the mysterious disappearance on a bad case of the flu, but the online right came to a different conclusion: Talarico was hiding out in a mental hospital. The rumor was patently false, but despite the lack of evidence, mainstream figures quickly amplified it. How did these lies spread, and why did so many believe them? Read Jesse Singal’s deep dive to find out.
Suzy Weiss • Culture and Ideas
Last week in London, an auction house sold a Wassily Kandinsky masterpiece that had been stolen from a Jewish family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands for $42 million. The painting, “The Colorful Life,” was rescued thanks to James Palmer, an art detective, whose critics say he’s nothing more than a “Holocaust hustler.” Suzy Weiss spoke to James about his work, legacy, and greatest wins.
MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS
THE NEWS
President Trump endorsed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his bid for reelection on Sunday. The president called Netanyahu a great “Partner for Peace,” even as the prime minister continues to face backlash over clashes in the West Bank.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that the U.S. would make a “historic mistake” should they choose to support Russia. Zelensky’s comments come after a particularly tense week following Ukraine’s loss of Starshield access and President Trump’s oil deal with Russia.
A new CBS News poll shows Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico nearly tied with Republican Ken Paxton in a highly consequential Texas race. Talarico currently leads by two percentage points, despite his temporary absence.
President Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33 percent. The new dip puts the president at his lowest-ever favorability rating, just weeks before the midterms.
Attorneys for Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar accused the Department of Justice of violating her rights in their search of her home last week. Omar’s team called the raid “vindictive, retributive, and politically motivated,” but the Justice Department says her claims are “riddled with false accusations and inaccuracies.”
Pope Leo said this weekend that he plans to gradually resume his papal duties. The announcement comes less than a week after he was diagnosed with cancer during a lung surgery.
Elon Musk demonstrated his new Tesla Roadster, complete with thrusters that lift the car into the air. Musk celebrated the demo as a massive success, declaring that “flying cars are real.”
