Slow Down, Charli XCX
The singer believes that music isn’t the point of pop stardom. Is she right?
Michael Pollan Punctures the AI Bubble
His new book, about the mystery of consciousness, strengthens the case that technology will never truly replicate humans.
The Edge of Mathematics
Terence Tao, the legendary mathematician, explains the promise of generative AI.
The Meme From 2016 That Explains 2026
The more turbulent the times, the more tempting it is to [gesture around at everything].
Gavin Newsom’s Father Issues
The California governor’s new memoir is dominated by a parent’s emotional distance.
The White House Urges Republicans to Ignore Trump’s Diversions
They will let Trump be Trump, but everyone else needs to stay focused on the economy.
Trump’s Suddenly High-Stakes State of the Union
The president is visiting Congress in a dramatically different place from where he was a year ago.
Sam Altman Is Losing His Grip on Humanity
You don’t “train a human.”
What the Roberts Court Is Actually Trying to Accomplish
It’s not about Trump.
The Revenge of the Dummymander
Partisan gerrymandering sometimes backfires on the people drawing the maps. Could that happen again in 2026?
America Doesn’t Need a Deal or a War With Iran
Why the rush, when Washington has all the leverage?
Young Men Aren’t the Only Ones Struggling
Women might be having an even harder time.
High-End Construction Really Does Help Everyone
A new rung at the top of the housing ladder permits people lower down to climb up.
The Republican Party Has a Nazi Problem
How did the GOP become a haven for slogans and ideas straight out of the Third Reich?
When Revolution Bloomed and Died in Damascus
Nothing prepares you for what it’s really like to live at the extreme.
The Trump Administration Is Ending Aid That It Says Saves Lives
The State Department will let lifesaving projects expire because “there is no strong nexus between the humanitarian response and U.S. national interests,” according to an internal email.
Two Portraits of My Father in a Tree
A poem
Different Views of the Winter Olympics
A collection of creative photographs from this year’s games featuring infrared imaging, vintage cameras, optical filters, digital composites, unusual angles, unexpected subjects, and more
MAGA’s Animal Nationalism
The Trump administration has a special bond with dogs and cats.
Frederick Wiseman Always Made His Point
The late filmmaker captured our essential American institutions—and the people trying to navigate them.
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