Why the COVID Deniers Won
Lessons from the pandemic and its aftermath
What the Biggest Saturday Night Live Fans Know
The 50-year-old sketch-comedy show isn’t just about the jokes.
Seven Books That Capture How Love Really Feels
These books are all exquisite arguments for the necessity of stories about romance.
The Day the Ukraine War Ended
The conflict isn’t over, but its fate now appears clear.
How Progressives Froze the American Dream
The U.S. was once the world’s most geographically mobile society. Now we’re stuck in place—and that’s a very big problem.
Trump Is Remaking the World in His Image
If the president gets his way, the strong, not international lawyers, will write the rules.
Listen Closely to What Hegseth Is Saying
The defense secretary is signaling a major shift.
The Real Problem With DOGE’s AI Plans
Unlike an army of human bureaucrats, an army of AI agents could, almost on a whim, be redirected.
Dear Therapist: I Was the Other Woman
I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.
RFK Jr. Won. Now What?
America’s health is in the hands of an anti-vaccine conspiracist.
The Anti-Social Century
Americans are now spending more time alone than ever. It’s changing our personalities, our politics, and even our relationship to reality.
How America Got Mean
In a culture devoid of moral education, generations are growing up in a morally inarticulate, self-referential world.
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 Fantasy of a More Neighborly Past
Sun City offers evidence that Americans’ widespread isolation began long before they became absorbed in their phones.
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.
The Tesla Revolt
The company’s fate will reveal how strong the foundation of Elon Musk’s influence really is.
The Trump Supporters Who Didn’t Take Him at His Word
The president keeps doing what he said he’d do, and some of his supporters keep being surprised.
How to Realize Your Own Love Supreme
True romance is one of the deepest human experiences. To experience it fully, seek transcendence.
You’re Being Alienated From Your Own Attention
Every single aspect of human life is being reoriented around the pursuit of attention.
The House Where 28,000 Records Burned
Charlie Springer spent a lifetime building his music collection. The Los Angeles fires incinerated it.