The ‘Southern Lady’ Who Beat the Courthouse Crowd
One woman’s crusade for democratic participation and political efficacy in the face of powerful institutions
The SNL Cameo That Was a Big Miss
Watching the real Nikki Haley spar with a fake Donald Trump was awkward—and not very funny.
Where Not to Look for Alien Life
Scientists are learning that some galactic neighborhoods are better at forming planets than others.
Tinder for Baby Names Exists
Culture and entertainment musts from Christina McCausland
Two Apricots
Why California and Oregon Broke With the CDC
Two blue states acknowledge that health precautions need to be balanced with other priorities.
Why Isn’t American Theater Like This?
Milo Rau’s plays are tasteless, anarchic—and thrilling.
The Apple Vision Pro Is Spectacular and Sad
A dispatch from the gypsum dunes of cyberspace
What Does Iran Want?
And will Iran-supported militias back down after U.S. strikes?
How Relationships Grow, and How They Break
Reading about others’ experiences can help us navigate the complexities of love and care.
Northern Alaska Is Running Out of Rocks
You never think about gravel until it’s in short supply.
17 Indie Films You Must See in 2024
Time travel, Sasquatches, Kristen Stewart in a mullet—here are our favorite movies from this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
What Has Happened to the Rule of Law in India?
A once-feisty supreme court has gone supine under Narendra Modi.
Why the + Is Everywhere
The sign has become inescapable in the world of branding.
The U.S. Tries Escalating to Deescalate
A series of attacks on Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq appeared aimed at reestablishing deterrence without sparking a wider conflict.
Elon Musk Discovers the Price of Running a Public Company
Taking Tesla public helped grow the business, but it also meant that he had some pesky obligations to shareholders.
‘The Most Entertaining Dead-Cat Bounce in History’
And other theories as to why Nikki Haley suddenly sounds different
Why Don’t We Teach People How to Parent?
The ways that Americans used to learn child-rearing are falling apart. The new ones aren’t filling the gaps left behind.
The Books That Helped Me Adjust to a Big City
When I moved to D.C., I turned to reading to help me understand the history, and the spirit, of my new home.
Ozempic Makes You Lose More Than Fat
Existing weight-loss drugs can cause muscle loss, but the next generation could allow patients to gain muscle instead.