That Dropped Call With Customer Service? It Was on Purpose.
Endless wait times and excessive procedural fuss—it’s all part of a tactic called “sludge.”
The Missing Piece of RFK Jr.’s Agenda
The health secretary has been noticeably quiet about a major MAHA obsession: sleep.
RFK Jr.’s Autism Time Machine
The health secretary’s approach to the condition gives the impression that two decades of research simply never happened.
Why Can’t Americans Sleep?
Insomnia has become a public-health emergency.
What Really Happened to Malaysia’s Missing Airplane
Five years ago, the flight vanished into the Indian Ocean. Officials on land know more about why than they dare to say.
The Most Perverse Part of the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
The Republican megabill could be setting America up for the worst energy-affordability crisis since the 1970s.
Trump’s Only-Okay Economy
He hasn’t crashed it, but he hasn’t made it great either. That’s a problem.
The Rise of the ‘Club-Sandwich Generation’
America has more great-grandparents than ever. It also has a new caretaking challenge.
Why Rich People Don’t Cover Their Windows
An unexpected status symbol has become a fixture of high-end homes.
When Hulk Hogan Turned Heel
Pro-wrestling—and America?—were never the same.
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.
The AI Birthday Letter That Blew Me Away
Google is ushering in an era of custom chatbots.
The Birth-Rate Crisis Isn’t as Bad as You’ve Heard—It’s Worse
Humanity is set to start shrinking several decades ahead of schedule.
The World Economy Is on the Brink of Epochal Change
Capitalism’s operating system is due for a major upgrade. How that turns out depends on enormously consequential political choices.
The Making of Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle
How the novelist turned the violence and randomness of war into a cosmic joke
Thirty-Two Short Stories About Death in Prison
These stories don’t mention Jeffrey Epstein, but they are about him.
Ken Casey: ‘I’m Not Going to Shut Up’
A conversation with the Dropkick Murphys front man about punk, politics, and Donald Trump
A Sea Story
One of the worst maritime disasters in European history took place in 1994. It remains very much in the public eye. On a stormy night on the Baltic Sea, more than 850 people lost their lives when a luxurious ferry sank below the waves. From a mass of material, including official and unofficial reports and survivor testimony, our correspondent has distilled an account of the Estonia’s last moments—part of his continuing coverage for the magazine of anarchy on the high seas.
The Reality My Medicaid Patients Face
With work requirements in place, many will be removed from Medicaid even though they should qualify.
Surviving Anxiety
I've tried therapy, drugs, and booze. Here’s how I came to terms with the nation's most common mental illness.
/media/img/mt/2025/07/2025_06_25_Gdrive_mpg_1/original.gif)
/media/img/mt/2025/06/2025_06_25_reboot3_mpg/original.gif)