Creator
Michael Brian Lee
Michael Brian Lee is the Mail & Guardian’s US correspondent, currently based in New York.
America, remodelled and rebranded
A federal appeals court has ordered a stop to President Donald Trump's controversial White House ballroom renovation, ruling that the president lacked the authority to proceed…
Donald Trump, the podium photobomber
President Donald Trump's lingering presence at the World Cup trophy ceremony, where Spain defeated Argentina, highlights a political philosophy that blurs public authority with…
The Republic of the Replica
Our US correspondent recounts a chaotic 250th birthday celebration in Washington D.C., where a quest to see the Declaration of Independence and attend the national parade turned…
Red cards and peace treaties
Drawing parallels between South Africa's World Cup red cards and US foreign policy, this article argues that America's approach to Iran has been self-defeating. It explores the…
Odds on, Africa is showing up anyway
Despite significant challenges including visa bans and exorbitant prices for tickets and accommodation, African teams are making a powerful statement at the World Cup. This…
What Cape Verde can teach us about teamwork and breakthroughs
Cape Verde is a cluster of islands off the west coast of Africa with a total population of just over half a million people, least populous country in the continent after…
The beautiful game stops at the border
Three dozen countries are banned from entering America in the year it is hosting the World Cup. Twenty-six of them are African. That’s half of Africa
The creative power of lies
America’s scale of its invented narratives are hard to match. Trump has normalised the idea that rhetorical bombast matters more than accuracy
Why brilliant ideas aren’t enough
The country has the talent. It has ideas. It has institutions. What it needs is the connective tissue to turn potential into performance — and the patience to accept that…
Inside the G20 Animal Farm
African wildlife policy must be led by African scientists and communities, not curated for private facilities an ocean away
How Trump is constructing a new border wall
Hiking of visa price will keep out immigrant talent, erecting a new wall around the US
Welcome to America
I find myself in Trump’s MAGA, which is more accurately MAWA – Make America White Again
Where faith becomes art and art becomes faith again
My experience of Balinese Hinduism — the world’s most creative religion — knocked my socks off
The singularity: Food for thought
A recent conference on the moment artificial intelligence becomes conscious gave the ultimate answer to the question of life, the universe and everything
Do women adapt better? Or just differently?
Either way, it’s men’s job to figure out how to catch up