Maybe It Was Never About the Factory Jobs
The theory that populist economic policies can win back the working class for Democrats has been tried, and it has failed.
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
No One Cares That the Chimpanzee Is Singing
The musical biopic Better Man is so much more than its curious gimmick.
Should You Be Prepping for Trump?
Some liberals are stocking up on and freeze-drying food—and say that others should be too.
Why Didn’t Jack Smith Charge Trump With Insurrection?
The law simply wasn’t prepared for a sitting president who would attempt to steal an election.
The New Rasputins
Anti-science mysticism is enabling autocracy around the globe.
DNA Tests Are Uncovering the True Prevalence of Incest
People are discovering the truth about their biological parents with DNA—and learning that incest is far more common than many think.
A Sea Story
One of the worst maritime disasters in European history took place two decades ago. 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 Perverse Logic of Trump’s Nomination Circus
The sheer quantity of individually unqualified selections might make blocking any of them harder.
Not Just Sober-Curious, but Neo-Temperate
How sobriety went from a radical social movement to a tool of self-optimization
Harvard Didn’t Break America
Readers respond to our December 2024 cover story and more.
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
Narendra Modi’s Populist Facade Is Cracking
India is now a testing ground for whether demagoguery or deteriorating living conditions exert a greater sway on voters.
‘Gut Health’ Has a Fatal Flaw
The obsession with digestion has gone too far.
Iran’s Return to Pragmatism
The events of 2024 shifted the balance of power in the Middle East—and inside Iran.
The Scientist vs. the Machine
What happened when AI took over these researchers’ jobs?
The Case for Brain Rot
The new language of the internet is both mind-numbing and irresistible.
The Brain on Trial
Advances in brain science are calling into question the volition behind many criminal acts. A leading neuroscientist describes how the foundations of our criminal-justice system are beginning to crumble, and proposes a new way forward for law and order.
The Age of Social Media Is Ending
It never should have begun.
Trump Is Facing a Catastrophic Defeat in Ukraine
If Ukraine falls, it will be hard to spin as anything but a debacle for the United States, and for its president.