Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Archive

Archives for October 2014

Technology
Have an AT&T phone? You might be entitled to some moneyHave an AT&T phone? You might be entitled to some money
Technology

AT&T is paying $105 million to settle charges it ignored and profited from scams that put unauthorized third-party charges on customers’ phone bills.

By Timothy B. Lee
archives
An interactive map of how long voting takes in your stateAn interactive map of how long voting takes in your state
archives

Long lines are a consistent image of every election cycle, but in some states the wait can get really long.

By Anand Katakam
archives
How feminism could save Japan from demographic doomHow feminism could save Japan from demographic doom
archives

Japan isn’t having enough babies. Blame the labor market — and sexism.

By Zack Beauchamp
Syria
Buffer zones: the new international plan for a mini-invasion of Syria, explainedBuffer zones: the new international plan for a mini-invasion of Syria, explained
Syria

Secretary of State John Kerry says the US is looking at the plan “very, very closely.” But is it a good idea?

By Max Fisher
Climate
Falling oil prices could hit Wyoming, Oklahoma, and North Dakota hardestFalling oil prices could hit Wyoming, Oklahoma, and North Dakota hardest
Climate

But Alaska, Louisiana, and Texas also face big risks from the current plunge in prices.

By Brad Plumer
archives
Is China’s economy really bigger than the USA’s?Is China’s economy really bigger than the USA’s?
archives

The World Bank’s new approach for comparing living standards internationally is making China and India look richer and displacing the US and Japan from the top of the world economy league tables.

By Matthew Yglesias
Labor
One anecdote that brilliantly explains Germany’s austerity problemOne anecdote that brilliantly explains Germany’s austerity problem
Labor

The country can borrow at ultra-low rates, but instead of investing in its future it’s letting vital infrastructure crumble.

By Matthew Yglesias
Climate
Marijuana farms in California are killing this adorable weaselMarijuana farms in California are killing this adorable weasel
Climate

Bad practices are threatening the Pacific fisher, coho salmon, and other cute critters.

By German Lopez
archives
Everything you need to know about Nobel Literature Prize winner Patrick ModianoEverything you need to know about Nobel Literature Prize winner Patrick Modiano
archives

Patrick Modiano, the French novelist whose work explores ideas of isolation and identity during the Nazi occupation of France, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature on Thursday morning.

By Kelsey McKinney and Brandon Ambrosino
archives
Contrary to what you saw on The Wire, Baltimore’s port is doing fineContrary to what you saw on The Wire, Baltimore’s port is doing fine
archives

America’s largest auto port keeps growing.

By Matthew Yglesias
Culture
Amazon’s Transparent gets a second season. But how many people actually watch it?Amazon’s Transparent gets a second season. But how many people actually watch it?
Culture

Let’s use IMDB ratings to speculate!

By Emily St. James
archives
Study: Gender diversity is good for your workplace and bad for your happinessStudy: Gender diversity is good for your workplace and bad for your happiness
archives

Offices with a more even women-men split perform better but have lower morale, a new study finds

By Danielle Kurtzleben
Health
Why no one knows exactly how bad the Ebola epidemic isWhy no one knows exactly how bad the Ebola epidemic is
Health

How Ebola cases are being missed and under-counted.

By Julia Belluz
Criminal Justice
Yes means yes: California’s new sexual assault law, explainedYes means yes: California’s new sexual assault law, explained
Criminal Justice

The state has redefined what it means for college students to consent to sex. Will their sex lives and rights change dramatically? Probably not.

By Jenée Desmond-Harris
Congress
Federal spending was lower this year than Paul Ryan originally asked forFederal spending was lower this year than Paul Ryan originally asked for
Congress

Thanks, sequestration!

By Matthew Yglesias