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.
No More Mr. Tough Guy on China
Trump’s relations with corporate titans seem to have softened his hard line.
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.
The One Trump Pick Democrats Actually Like
Does Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination for labor secretary signal a shift in the GOP’s stance toward unions?
How Worried to Be About Bird Flu
A conversation with Katherine J. Wu about the spread of the virus so far
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
No One Will Remember Jack Smith’s Report
But indifference to truth and honor and the rule of law has a way of catching up with a country.
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.
Not Just Sober-Curious, but Neo-Temperate
How sobriety went from a radical social movement to a tool of self-optimization
The Scientist vs. the Machine
What happened when AI took over these researchers’ jobs?
How Los Angeles Must Rebuild
“Almost everything you can do to avoid the worst outcomes must take place long before that first spark.”
The Unexplained Noise 2 Percent of People Can Hear
A man is tormented by a low-frequency humming sound emanating from his house, which he believes is caused by a nearby gas pipeline.
How the Ski Business Got Too Big for Its Boots
A recent strike at a major resort has put the spotlight on what a bad deal both workers and visitors are getting.
‘Gut Health’ Has a Fatal Flaw
The obsession with digestion has gone too far.
A Wider War Has Already Started in Europe
Putin’s not-so-quiet sabotage campaign against European democracies
The Case for Brain Rot
The new language of the internet is both mind-numbing and irresistible.
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.
Reckless Driving Isn’t Just a Design Problem
Road-safety activists convinced themselves that law enforcement was unnecessary.
A Secret Way to Fight Off Stomach Bugs
It isn’t hand sanitizer.
The Best Way to Type ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Every time you shrug, you don’t need to Google, then copy, then paste.
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