When Britain voted to leave the EU, the country seemed on course for a soft Brexit. So how, ask Jill Rutter and Anand Menon, did we come to the brink of a hard departure? Sam Tanenhaus looks at the final days of Trump, while Ngaire Woods examines Biden's in-tray. Plus: Philip Collins on who's to blame for Boris Johnson, and the latest on the search for a vaccine

Is a new civil war brewing in the US regardless of the result of November's election? Can Tim Davie save the BBC from government attacks? Plus: How can museums acknowledge the sins of the past while keeping faith with trusted institutions?

Twenty-five years on from Prospect's first issue, the world is a very different place. In 1995, the spread of democracy seemed inevitable but now it is under threat on many fronts. In this issue, Samira Shackle reports on Hungary's slide into autocracy under Victor Orbán. We also interview George Soros and Dahlia Lithwick reports on how Trump is trying to twist the voting system to his own advantage.

Who are the top 50 world thinkers shaping the age of Covid-19? See the list and vote for who you think should take the top prize. Also, Miranda France argues that we should stay friends with people we disagree with, while Sarah Churchwell suggests that the felling of statues is not about destroying the past but challenging the myths of white supremacy.