Good News Sunday: we’re all over the place.
Dwarkesh & Ada, how to reach the conservative mind, glued to kākāpō’s, Christopher Hitchens is right some of the time, back from the dead, and the news in Eastern Europe today.
In this week’s Good News Sunday, Dwarkesh Patel talks to Ada Palmer, how to talk to conservatives, kākāpō stories, Christopher Hitchens on religion and fascism, coming back from being thought dead, and what’s in the news today in Eastern Europe.
Every week I try to explain why I do Good News Sunday. And I always end up saying the same: as an avid reader of the news, I start my day reading the headlines, I can’t help but feel anxious about the state of the world. And that’s in the good times.
But now, as the world order, such as it was, is quickly falling apart, the feeling of anxiety can soon become downright panic. We’re all over the place.
Which is why I need one day’s worth of Good News to get me through the coming week.
Here’s my selection for the week. Not that all is to be categorised as strictly Good News. But it’s still uplifting in some way. At least I think so.
Ada Palmer Is On Dwarkesh Patel’s Podcast And It’s Fireworks.
Dwarkesh Patel is just 25 but already a notable figure in the world of podcasts. He’s been interviewing high profile tech people mostly, so I was surprised to see that he’d also had Ada Palmer on, a novelist, and an expert on the Italian Renaissance.
She has some interesting thoughts on major players of the Renaissance, including Leonardo da Vinci. Have a quick look below, or start the whole video.
Podcaster on TikTok Tells Us How to Talk Progressive Ideas Into the Conservative Brain.
It’s often repeated, socially inclined liberals and conservatives are worlds apart. Not only do their values differ, but also how they approach and discuss issues shows how different their mindset is.
Liberals are often accused of being elitist, looking down on conservatives, phrasing in multi-syllable terms.
This TikTok podcaster is trying to break down the differences so that liberals can get their message across.
Of course that should work two ways. Not much mention of that though…
How a Livestream of the Endangered Kākāpō Enthrals New Zealanders and the World.
O New Zealand, with it’s hills and mountains, it’s swift-running streams.
And it’s weird birds.
Take the kākāpō, a very fat kind of parrot indigenous to Aotearoa New Zealand.
As cannot be stressed enough, isolation makes lazy, that goes equally for the inhabitants of cozy little villages nestled in green hillsides “up the wop wops” as it does for birds that found themselves without notable predators.
Flight is expensive, but why fly when the closest enemy is an ocean away?
Anyway.
This year is a bumper crop year for the stately indigenous tree, the rimu. Which is the exclusive diet of the kākāpō. Again, why diversify, when the trees are bursting with berries?
But let’s move to a conclusion here.
Because of the massive crop of succulent berries this season, kākāpō have decided to have more babies. And everyone likes babies, right?
New Zealand does. Have a look.
Christopher Hitchens on How Religion and Fascism Connect.
If you’re wondering why Christopher is wearing an outsized jacket, that’s because everything you see of him is at least 15 years old. He had a short life, died in 2011, just 65 years of age.
I ‘m a huge fan, always amazed by his eloquent storytelling and by his unflinching adherence to logic.
In the linked Wikipedia article about him is a guide for those who wish to remain sane in these insane times: “what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence”.
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Here he’s making the case for the interconnection of religion and fascism.
If There’s Ever Good News, It’s Someone Who Was Declared Dead But Wasn’t.
Image: The Guardian
A journalist uncovered this story about a fighter for Ukraine who was thought dead for years, but came back after being really as a result of an exchange of prisoners of war.
‘My dear son’: the Ukrainian soldier who came back from the dead
What’s in the News Today?
Image: Jeet Sandhu on Unsplash
Elections are upcoming in Hungary with autocrat Orban on the losing end of the stick. There’s been a war in Ukraine for more than four years. Slovaks have turned to the right.
Lets look at the headlines of Eastern European countries. To keep it short, we’ll choose Moldavia, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, and end with a deeper dive into Slovakia.
Here are today’s headlines for March 15, 2026, by country and local newspaper:
Moldova — Moldpres
- Moldova continues to receive EU support for its accession process, with President Maia Sandu emphasizing that EU integration is a “safety anchor” and enjoys popular support.
- Elections for the Bashkan (governor) of the Gagauz autonomy are set for March 22, 2026.
Ukraine — The Kyiv Independent
- Ukraine claims a “successful” strike on two Russian ships ferrying weapons through the Kerch Strait. Russia sentences five Ukrainian POWs to 15–18 years over the 2024 Kursk incursion.
Hungary — Telex
- Hungary’s parliamentary elections are set for April 12, 2026, with Orbán’s Fidesz facing strong opposition and potential loss.
- Orbán warns that the 2026 election may be the “last before the war,” urging a Russia-US agreement to avoid conflict.
- Hungary seizes Ukrainian cash transport, sparking diplomatic tension and threats of sanctions from Kyiv.
Poland — TVN24
- Poland receives a $4 billion US loan for defense purchases, including HIMARS launchers and Patriot systems, as part of rapid military modernisation.
- PM Tusk states Poland is “regaining control over its borders” and deepening defense cooperation with Canada.
And Today’s Top Headlines for Slovakia from the National Newspaper Denník N
- Mass Protests: About 100,000 people protested peacefully across Slovakia, demanding a pro-European direction and criticizing PM Fico’s government. More demonstrations are planned in two weeks.
- Foreign Policy: Member of the European Parliament Ľuboš Blaha announced he will travel to Russia again in early March, sparking controversy as protests call for stronger alignment with the EU.
- Economic & Social Issues: The government’s economic policies and rising food prices are causing public dissatisfaction, with critics calling the situation “one big chaos”.
- Bratislava’s Role: PM Fico now describes Bratislava as the “showcase of Slovakia,” a shift from his previous stance that the capital was not representative of the country.
That’s it from me this week. Hope it helps.
Header image: Birger Strahl on Unsplash.
