The Costs of Instant Translation
AI might soon rob us of the thrill and challenge of cross-cultural conversation.
What Actually Changed in 1776
The most consequential shift that year was not one of battle lines but of ideology.
Why They Mask
Veteran ICE officers know face coverings are a bad look. But they’re not coming off anytime soon.
What Climate Change Will Do to America by Mid-Century
Many places may become uninhabitable. Many people may be on their own.
Senate Democrats Just Made a Huge Mistake
The shutdown was hurting Trump. Ending it helps him.
Pay Attention to the First 10 Minutes of SNL
James Austin Johnson’s catchall monologues have become an ideal format for the recent onslaught of political news.
Love Song Set to a Tune of Gathering
A poem
Edward Burtynsky’s Warning
What the photographer found in a tire pile in Modesto, California, and on the shores of Western Australia
Why I Am Resigning
A federal judge explains his reasoning for leaving the bench.
Hundreds of Thousands of Anonymous Deportees
Amid the president’s fast-moving deportation campaign, the stories of most people being swept up are missed.
A Funny Book About Faith
Anne Lamott’s stories, John Singer Sargent’s paintings, and more culture and entertainment recommendations
Blaming Foreigners for American Failings Won’t Fix Them
Railing against Ukraine, Israel, and other outsiders is easy. Solving problems at home is not.
The Ideal That Underlies the Declaration of Independence
Restoring stability to American politics will require reviving an age-old concept: common ground.
What I Learned About Dick Cheney
The former vice president was certain he knew better than the citizens he served what was good for them.
The Limits of the Democrats’ Big Tent
A convention showed that it’s more medium-size.
How Lawmakers Are Responding to the Shutdown
Meanwhile, panelists discuss what Tuesday’s election results mean for Democrats.
The Dreams and Limits of the Suburbs
They’re more diverse than ever, but they remain the sites of deep racial and socioeconomic gaps.
When Scarcity Blurs the Line Between Right and Wrong
Megha Majumdar’s second novel imagines how climate disaster might scramble our sense of morality.
All’s Fair Is an Atrocity
Ryan Murphy’s new series is essentially the world inside your phone, made into a TV show.
The Mafia Presidency
Trump is saying, essentially, If you don’t want to get hurt, you’ll do what I say.