The Diminishing Returns of Having Good Taste
The internet makes most information instantly available. What if that’s why mass culture is so boring?
When Poetry Could Define a Life
The close passing of the poetry critics Marjorie Perloff and Helen Vendler is a moment to recognize the end of an era.
Will Biden Have a Gaza Problem in November’s Poll?
Foreign policy does not usually swing national elections, but this time could be different.
Democrats Defang the House’s Far Right
By pledging to support Mike Johnson, Democrats have freed the House from the grip of GOP hard-liners.
Is Iran a Country or a Cause?
The ideologues are winning a decades-long battle over Tehran’s foreign policy.
The Danger of a Small Act of Cowardice
I resigned from the Ford presidential foundation over its refusal to honor Liz Cheney. But my decision was bigger than that.
The Mysteries of Plant ‘Intelligence’
Scientists are debating whether concepts such as memory, consciousness, and communication can be applied beyond the animal kingdom.
‘We Want All of It’
The Columbia protesters backed themselves into a corner.
I Am Building an Archive to Prove That Palestine Exists
For me and my family, this work is an act of hope.
What Florida’s Abortion Ban Means Beyond Florida
A new ban has providers there scrambling—and clinics in other states preparing for a crush of new patients.
America’s Infectious-Disease Barometer Is Off
Somehow, the U.S. is both over- and under-reacting to bird flu and other pressing infectious threats.
How Daniel Radcliffe Outran Harry Potter
He was the world’s most famous child star. Then he had to figure out what came next.
A Uniquely French Approach to Environmentalism
The biodiversity police might just work.
Trump’s Contempt Knows No Bounds
Judge Juan Merchan sanctioned the former president for the first, and likely not the last, time.
Are White Women Better Now?
What anti-racism workshops taught us
Those Who Preach Free Speech Need to Practice It
Too many leaders, on campus and in government, are failing to uphold the First Amendment rights they claim to champion.
When Your Every Decision Feels Torturous
Neel Mukherjee’s new novel explores the reality that no choice—particularly as a parent—is perfect.
Charge Palestine With Genocide Too
The case for having the International Court of Justice hear two cases at once
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me 30 Years Ago
Life is not measured by a moment. Focus on getting the big things right.
When Patients Do Their Own Research
At its best, medicine will be a process of shared decision making, and doctors need to be prepared.