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Hello from London, where Prime Minister Liz Truss finally announced her resignation after a financial meltdown and British politics descended into a farce.

Britain was once known for being a stable democracy. By next week my 3 month-old son will have lived through 3 Prime Ministers, 4 Chancellors and two monarchs.

On Wednesday, as the government started to implode, I attended the PinkNews awards which happened to be hosted next to the U.K. Parliament. The room was packed with politicians, journalists and LGBT leaders glued to their smartphones as the scandals unfolded nearby.

As the wine flowed, normally reserved Brits let loose, and the speeches turned into an all out attack on the administration.

Much of the focus on stage was on trans rights, which unexpectedly became one of the key issues of the leadership campaign that elected Truss, “The Conservatives used one of the country’s most vulnerable minorities like a political football, competing with each other for who could hate them most..” one said.

British politics has a long history of using minorities as a pawn to stir up hate – decades of racial intolerance, gay rights and the AIDS crisis to name just a few examples. History shows us these unsightly attacks on minorities often coincide with failing administrations desperately clinging onto power while living on borrowed time.

One award winner said something that struck me. Critics of the trans rights movement often complain all they hear about in the media is trans rights and their critical voices are being ‘silenced’ by a ‘vocal, radical, trans minority’. But as was pointed out on stage, trans voices are rarely seen in the debate. ”It isn’t the critics being silenced, the fact we hear them crying their voices are being suppressed shows so clearly, they aren’t the ones being silenced at all”.

This is the reality: while spineless politicians use the marginalized for their own political gain, the voices of some of the most-poorly treated minorities aren’t being heard. Instead, they’re being driven further into the shadows.

Becoming a father has changed me. Now, my thoughts turn to the kind of world my son will inherit. Leaving the awards, I was left with one hope for his future – may he never live through such a shameful period in British history as this again.

5 Things We Learned

Apple AirTags are cleared for lift-off. Apple’s AirTags became a popular way to track checked luggage during the summer of canceled and delayed flights. After some airlines tried to ban the devices over concerns with battery safety, regulators in the United States have given AirTags their seal of approval.

Polish businesses are being hit hard by inflation and spiraling energy costs. Insolvencies are on the rise as raw materials, fuel and energy prices continue to rise across Europe. Businesses are calling for fast-tracked visas for Ukranians to join the workforce.

An Under 30 CEO is building brain implants that could treat cerebral palsy. Startup Axoft has pioneered the use of soft, flexible materials that can better integrate with brain tissues. Their implant has received initial approval by U.S. regulators, which could mean this sci-fi technology could fast become a reality.

The first electric Rolls-Royce will have a range of 323 miles. The new all-electric Spectre coupe will be the company’s most aerodynamic model to date and weighs a decidedly chunky 3 tonnes. Luxury meets sustainability.

A small village near Oslo is running on solar, even through the winter. The village of Furumogrenda boasts a new development of eco-homes, each with a full array of solar panels, heat pumps and access to electric bikes. A case study in sustainable living.

The Good

An Iranian climber who competed without a hijab received a hero’s welcome in Tehran. Elnaz Rekabi competed in South Korea without her state-mandated headcovering and was greeted with applause and chants of “Elnaz is a heroine” back home. Rekabi told Iranian State TV her dressing choice was “unintentional”.

The Bad

Food giant Danone is taking a $1 billion hit to exit Russia. French food giant Danone is the latest multinational to pull out of Russia, costing the company 5% of its global sales and eye-watering exit costs of around $1 billion.

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Do

A magical winter train ride. For the first time, the iconic Venice Simpson-Orient-Express will give passengers an unforgettable festive experience by running one-night journeys departing from Venice and ending in Paris. The opulent vintage train will host incredible art deco fittings, live music and gourmet cuisine.

Watch

A new era of employee activism. The workplace is changing and employers should listen. Megan Reitz offers a summary of what employees want from their organizations, and how leaders can rise to the challenge by building a productive workforce where every voice is heard. TED, free to watch worldwide.

Listen

Bicycle graveyards. Every year, cities across the world, from Hong Kong to Amsterdam, experience a similar phenomenon. Thousands of bikes are tossed into rivers, ponds, lakes and canals, only to be dredged up some time later. It turns out, bike-sharing schemes could be the culprit. The Guardian, free to listen worldwide.

Read

A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century. We are living through the most prosperous time in our history, yet despite this, loneliness, depression, chronic illness and skyrocketing suicide rates continue to ravage our society. But what is causing this dichotomy, and how do we respond? Portfolio, from $28.00.

Taste

Secrets to the world’s best mac-and-cheese. The founder of Seattle based grilled cheese and mac-and-cheese restaurant Beecher’s, provides the gooey details on why his famous dish is so special. The trick is in their flagship cheese – a cheddar with Gruyère overtones and made using traditional Swiss methods.

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