Iran’s Return to Pragmatism
The events of 2024 shifted the balance of power in the Middle East—and inside Iran.
No One Cares That the Chimpanzee Is Singing
The musical biopic Better Man is so much more than its curious gimmick.
Not Just Sober-Curious, but Neo-Temperate
How sobriety went from a radical social movement to a tool of self-optimization
The Easiest Way to Keep Your Friends
It’s a little boring, a little type A, and a lot better than letting relationships fizzle.
I Have a Huge Crush on a Writer
Should I reach out to her?
The New Rasputins
Anti-science mysticism is enabling autocracy around the globe.
Where Han Kang’s Nightmares Come From
In her novels, the South Korean Nobel laureate returns again and again to her country’s bloody past.
The Case for Brain Rot
The new language of the internet is both mind-numbing and irresistible.
Dear Therapist: I Was the Other Woman
I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.
A Palestinian Story Unlike Any Other
In her debut novel, Too Soon, Betty Shamieh isn’t trying to educate or enlighten.
The Perverse Logic of Trump’s Nomination Circus
The sheer quantity of individually unqualified selections might make blocking any of them harder.
The Saint America Needs Now
Kindness has become countercultural. Perhaps Saint Francis can help.
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
Democracy Is Not Over
Americans who care about democracy have every right to feel appalled and frightened. But then they have work to do.
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 Bizarre Brain of Werner Herzog
The Teutonic overthinker’s latest documentary reveals more about his strange mind than the brain writ large.
Eight Perfect Episodes of TV
Picks from Girls, The X-Files, SpongeBob, and more
You’ll Never Get Off the Dinner Treadmill
There’s no such thing as an easy weeknight meal.
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
We’re All Trying to Find the Guy Who Did This
Mark Zuckerberg is at war with himself.