What Is Wagner Doing in Africa?
Russian mercenaries are wringing wealth and political leverage out of the Sahel.
Marijuana’s Health Effects Are About to Get a Whole Lot Clearer
Rescheduling weed will clear the way for scientists to study it more directly.
What’s Left to Restrain Donald Trump?
If the former president really did order an assassination—as his lawyers argue he could—does anyone believe it would cost him his supporters?
Photos of the Week: May Day, Campus Protests, Snake Festival
Devastating floods across Kenya, a pagan fire festival in Scotland, antler gathering in Wyoming, pro-Palestinian demonstrations at many American colleges, and much more
A Failure of Imagination About Trump
American minds are not ready to think about how fast democracy could disintegrate.
Milk Has Lost Its Magic
The bird-flu panic is getting out of hand.
A Critic’s Case Against Cinema
Sixty years ago, Pauline Kael said that the movies were going to pieces. In a sense, she was right.
Biden’s Patience With Campus Protests Runs Out
Chaos in the streets—real, imagined, or exaggerated—is never to an incumbent’s advantage.
Hacks Goes for the Jugular
In its third season, the show faces the failures of late-night comedy head-on.
Trump’s Naps Are Actually Worrying
He can’t even seem to stay awake for his own trial.
Cancer Supertests Are Here
But are they really such a good idea?
If Plants Could Talk
Some scientists are starting to reopen a provocative debate: Are plants intelligent?
America’s IVF Failure
One out of every 50 babies born in the U.S. was conceived via IVF. Why is the industry so poorly regulated?
Why a Bit of Restraint Can Do You a Lot of Good
An uninhibited quest for authenticity sounds great. But if that just means acting out, you’re unlikely to be so happy.
What If He Actually Did It?
I argued that Jens Söring was wrongfully convicted of a double murder, and in 2019, he was released on parole after three decades in prison. Then I started having doubts about the case.
The Complicated Ethics of Rare-Book Collecting
Literary treasures are too often hidden away from the public—but the world of private collecting isn’t all bad.
America’s Colleges Are Reaping What They Sowed
Universities spent years saying that activism is not just welcome but encouraged on their campuses. Students took them at their word.
The 1968 Hangover
Like Nixon before him, Trump could use campus protests to further stoke an already polarized electorate.
Every Tech Company Wants to Be Like Boston Dynamics
America’s favorite robot company has perfected the art of freaking people out.
Biden’s Electoral College Challenge
How demographic change is scrambling the geography of the 2024 presidential race