Simon Hill

International Politics & Public Money

Simon Hill follows international politics, budgets, and the public money underneath diplomatic smiles. He asks who benefits, who pays, and which cost vanished from the communique. He brings a calculator to a geopolitical knife fight.

Articles By Simon Hill

86 published articles

Democrawonk — A family shelters a lamp beneath a fraying ribbon between industrial skylines.

Ukraine Resumes Refinery Strikes. So Much For The Announcement.

World PoliticsOctober 15, 2026 at 6:14 AM EDTBy Simon Hill

Thursday's renewed attacks expose the gap between declaring an energy truce and securing a durable agreement that protects civilians.

Democrawonk — Disabled and older people hold paper silhouettes trimmed from a health questionnaire.

Shrinking A Health Survey Won’t Shrink The Need

HealthcareOctober 15, 2026 at 6:14 AM EDTBy Simon Hill

A proposed redesign raises a practical question: how do you shorten a national health survey without making disabled Americans harder to count?

Democrawonk — Trade negotiators stretch a ceremonial ribbon across a half-built bridge of contract pages while shipping workers wait.

Almost A Trade Deal Is Still A Very Expensive Maybe

Business & PowerOctober 15, 2026 at 9:17 AM EDTBy Simon Hill

Indian officials say legal drafting is underway on a U.S. trade agreement. Progress is welcome. Businesses and workers still need actual terms and a start date.

Democrawonk — A fragile coalition vehicle with mismatched minister seats approaches a broken bridge while an analyst holds a receipt.

Romania’s Fourth Government Attempt Comes With A Six-Month Return Policy

Around The WorldOctober 15, 2026 at 5:19 PM EDTBy Simon Hill

Romania’s prime-minister-designate appears to have enough support for a government, but the largest coalition partner wants a budget by December and a performance review in six months. Stability has arrived with store credit.

Democrawonk — A steelworker holds an oversized contract under a magnifying glass while a factory owner points at tariff storm clouds and a Canadian official points at the signature line.

The Free Market Has Reached The Terms And Conditions

Around The WorldOctober 15, 2026 at 9:15 PM EDTBy Simon Hill

Stelco's U.S. owner says tariffs changed the deal. Canada says the promises made to buy the steelmaker did not arrive with a weather-cancellation clause.