Could ChatGPT Secretly Tell You How to Vote?
The political manipulation machine
The Ever-Present Panic About America’s Schools
Illiteracy worries have long been irresistible to the educated class.
The Slow Death of the Prestige Thriller
The genre’s overreliance on pulpy paperbacks is turning into a problem.
The One Line Americans (Weirdly) Choose to Wait In
Grocery self-checkout lines are now often longer than the staffed ones.
James Patterson’s Maxims for a Happy Life
Here’s what I learned about creativity and contentment from the celebrated author.
Why Doesn’t Trump Pay a Political Price for His Racism?
Immigration isn’t breaking our society. We are.
Hot Stars in the Lobster Nebula
Day 4 of the 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
The Chatbot-Delusion Crisis
Researchers are scrambling to figure out why generative AI appears to lead some people to a state of “psychosis.”
Is This the End of Kids on Social Media?
Australia is about to ban young teens from most platforms. The rest of the world is watching.
The Atlantic 10
The books that made us think the most this year
Republicans Are in Trouble, but Democrats Could Blow It
Last night’s Tennessee special election gave both Democrats and Republicans something to worry about.
Cattle Ranchers Are Beefing With Trump
Torn between supporting ranchers and bringing down prices, the president is trying to have it both ways on beef.
Why American Health Care Is Still a Mess
Jonathan Gruber on the broken American health-care system, Obamacare, the Trump administration’s war on vaccines and science, and being on the wrong end of Republican outrage. Plus: David on Donald Trump’s Ukraine “peace plan,” recent scandals, and They Thought They Were Free, by Milton Mayer.
Why Taylor Swift’s Accent Has Changed
And yours might too.
The Extraordinary Logic of Netanyahu’s Bid for a Pardon
His case for clemency rests on the assumption that he’s irreplaceable.
Pentagon Report: Hegseth Risked Endangering Troops With Signal Messages
The inspector general finds that the defense secretary violated his department’s policies.
A Galactic Cluster
Day 3 of the 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
Electricity Should Be Free at Noon
And two other ideas for lowering electricity costs
Condemning Millions for One Man’s Crime
The sanctity of the individual is an essential Western value.
Ukraine’s Corruption Scandal Is Bad. But Exposing It Is a Win.
The fight was always for the independence of a country that can hold its powerful to account.