The Walmart Effect
New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.
Are Young Men Really Becoming More Sexist?
What the research says about the gender divide across the world
Not the Life Matt Gaetz Was Planning On
The disgraced former Florida representative now faces the blunt reality of his own political irrelevance.
The 20 Best Podcasts of 2024
The shows that kept listeners refreshing their apps this year
A Shift in American Family Values Is Fueling Estrangement
Both parents and adult children often fail to recognize how profoundly the rules of family life have changed over the past half century.
Bob Dylan Broke Rules. A Complete Unknown Follows Them.
The biopic turns its subject’s independence and idiosyncrasies into the stuff of bland summary.
The Potential Backlash to Trump Unbound
A returning president who expects to govern without constraints leaves his opponents hoping to benefit from the blowback.
The Darkest Movie of the Year
Even the camera seems to fear the grunting, shadowy demon in Nosferatu.
Trapped—And Lavishly Rewarded—For Playing a Part
The protagonists of Babygirl and Black Doves are stuck in their “perfect” lives—and find illicit fulfillment outside them.
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
How Tortillas Lost Their Magic
Most American tortillas taste like cardboard. Chefs, restaurants, and companies are trying to restore the corny glory.
The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books
To read a book in college, it helps to have read a book in high school.
The Most Haunting—And Most Inspiring—Moment in A Christmas Carol
This year, forgo despair and listen to Jacob Marley.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me 30 Years Ago
Life is not measured by a moment. Focus on getting the big things right.
New York City Has Lost Control of Crime
A gruesome murder on the subway shows just how far things have spiraled.
You Are Drinking the Wrong Eggnog
Coquito has all of the holiday spirit—and none of the salmonella.
What ‘Silent Night’ Misunderstands About Christmas
Depictions of a quiet, peaceful manger scene miss the point.
How America Got Mean
In a culture devoid of moral education, generations are growing up in a morally inarticulate, self-referential world.
Why Are My Neighbors Screaming at Me?
Everyone seems so on edge.
The Great Grocery Squeeze
How a federal policy change in the 1980s created the modern food desert