How America Got Mean
In a culture devoid of moral education, generations are growing up in a morally inarticulate, self-referential world.
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
Drop the Outrage Over Trump’s Foreign-Policy Bluster
The way to deal with the bombast is by turning it against a leader who leads a movement that is actually deeply divided.
Elon Has Appointed Himself King of the World
After helping Trump win the election, the world’s richest man is turning his attention to Europe.
The Choices That Create Isolation
Everyday decisions accumulate into a life.
The Saint America Needs Now
Kindness has become countercultural. Perhaps Saint Francis can help.
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 Message in the Sky Over Los Angeles
What it means to go from smog to smoke
Trump Is Right That Pax Americana Is Over
But will he bother to build something new?
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 Unfightable Fire
The many fires burning around Los Angeles are pressing the limits of firefighting.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Should Not Exist
A bad idea gets worse every year.
Why Liberals Struggle to Cope With Epochal Change
The error of their mythology about 1989 matters because we face another such moment of historical rupture today.
Trump’s Lawyer Walked Into a Trap
By the end of the argument, everyone knew it.
You’re Going to Die. That’s a Good Thing.
If you can accept your mortality, you will feel more alive.
The Walmart Effect
New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.
Dear Therapist: I Was the Other Woman
I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.
Fact-Checking Was Too Good for Facebook
The social network has given up on verifying facts. That’s a good thing.
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.
These Bizarre Theories About the L.A. Wildfires Endanger Everyone
Societies that scapegoat foreign powers for domestic problems erode their ability to solve those problems.