The Rise of CliffsNotes Cinema
Oversimplified literary remakes miss the point of the works they are adapting.
Culture
Why Justin Bieber Played YouTube Onstage for Thousands of People
The pop star transformed the normal act of browsing your laptop into something interesting—and unsettling.
The New Age of Performance Anxiety
With the rise of screen culture, all the world has stage fright.
Where Did ‘Let Them’ Come From?
Years before Mel Robbins published her best-selling self-help book, a struggling writer posted a poem with a similar message.
Mike Vrabel Is Redefining NFL Coaching
Players love the Patriots coach’s style. The Super Bowl will be its ultimate test.
The Western Was Never About Freedom
The show Fallout blows up all expectations about the quintessential American genre.
You Can’t Kill Swagger
My old corner of The Washington Post raised some of the best journalists in the business.
The Queen of Mockumentaries
Catherine O’Hara brought humanity to over-the-top characters—and managed to wink at the audience in the process.
This Is Not the Kennedy Center
Trump’s vision for the arts is nothing like what John F. Kennedy’s was.
The Unsettling Rise of AI Real-Estate Slop
Generated images for listings are disturbing—and not just because they can feel like a scam.
The Mystery of Henry Fordham
How did my great-great-grandfather become a free man?
Seven Books to Read When You Have No Time to Read
These titles are worth picking up, even if you have only a moment to spare.
The Secrets of Indigenous Art
Major exhibitions are upending the way people understand Native American and Aboriginal artists.
The Big Message of the 2026 Grammys
Bad Bunny and many others used their time at this year’s ceremony to speak out against ICE.