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.
Should You Be Prepping for Trump?
Some liberals are stocking up on and freeze-drying food—and say that others should be too.
The Scientist vs. the Machine
What happened when AI took over these researchers’ jobs?
The New Rasputins
Anti-science mysticism is enabling autocracy around the globe.
A New Kind of Immigrant Novel
Aria Aber’s debut about an Afghan German party girl in Berlin shows that there are plenty of ways to tell an outsider’s story.
No One Cares That the Chimpanzee Is Singing
The musical biopic Better Man is so much more than its curious gimmick.
I Have a Huge Crush on a Writer
Should I reach out to her?
The Case for Brain Rot
The new language of the internet is both mind-numbing and irresistible.
Not Just Sober-Curious, but Neo-Temperate
How sobriety went from a radical social movement to a tool of self-optimization
The Hipster Grifter Peaked Too Soon
Kari Ferrell’s memoir is a zippy, intimate account of low-level trickery before the era of scams fully erupted.
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.
‘Gut Health’ Has a Fatal Flaw
The obsession with digestion has gone too far.
Harvard Didn’t Break America
Readers respond to our December 2024 cover story and more.
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
Dear Therapist: I Was the Other Woman
I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.
Reckless Driving Isn’t Just a Design Problem
Road-safety activists convinced themselves that law enforcement was unnecessary.
The Easiest Way to Keep Your Friends
It’s a little boring, a little type A, and a lot better than letting relationships fizzle.
Iran’s Return to Pragmatism
The events of 2024 shifted the balance of power in the Middle East—and inside Iran.
The Walmart Effect
New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.