Monday briefing: What a new Guardian investigation reveals about a group ‘radicalising’ women into unassisted birth

<p>In today’s newsletter: A report dives into the disturbing story of a ‘wild’ pregnancy and freebirth business that ‘radicalises’ women, with tragic consequences</p><p>Good morning. This weekend, the Guardian launched the results of its year-long investigation into radical free birthing, and the US-based Free Birth Society (FBS). Our reporting reveals how influencers made millions by pushing “free births”, with no medical support, and how the society is now linked to the deaths of newborn babies around the world.</p><p>FBS, a multimillion dollar business, promotes a version of free birth, otherwise known as unassisted birth, that is seen as extreme, even among advocates of the practice. Unlike home births, which have a midwife in attendance, free birth involves delivering without medical assistance. The FBS advises mothers to steer clear of doctors and midwives, is anti-ultrasound (which it falsely claims harms babies) and downplays serious medical conditions, the Guardian found.</p><p><em><strong>Ukraine </strong></em>| European countries <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/23/trump-ukraine-zero-gratitude-peace-plan-international-talks">proposed a radical alternative</a> Ukraine peace plan on Sunday that omits some of the pro-Russia points made in the original US-backed document and calls for Kyiv’s sovereignty to be respected.</p><p><em><strong>Politics </strong></em>| Rachel Reeves <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/23/rachel-reeves-benefit-fraud-crackdown-two-child-limit-budget">will launch</a> a fresh crackdown on benefit fraud, alongside scrapping the two-child welfare limit and freezing rail fares, while putting forward a multibillion-pound tax-raising package.</p><p><em><strong>Media </strong></em>| The BBC <a href="https://www.theguard