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Politics

What really matters in the world of politics, campaigns, ideology, and more.

Climate
One of Trump’s grudges now threatens America’s weather forecastsOne of Trump’s grudges now threatens America’s weather forecasts
Climate

What happens when you kill the country’s climate science “mothership”?

By Marianne Lavelle
Policy
The looming showdown over IVF, explainedThe looming showdown over IVF, explained
Policy

Trump says he supports IVF. That’s about to be tested.

By Anna North
Politics
The revealing pointlessness of Trump’s primetime speechThe revealing pointlessness of Trump’s primetime speech
Politics

The president is a desperate man.

By Zack Beauchamp
The Logoff
Trump is breaking apart a scientific crown jewelTrump is breaking apart a scientific crown jewel
The Logoff

The National Center for Atmospheric Research is a treasure. The Trump administration wants to dismantle it.

By Cameron Peters
Can money buy Americans happiness?
The Case for Growth

The real cause of America’s “vibecession.”

By Eric Levitz
Politics
Is ISIS back?Is ISIS back?
Politics

A deadly weekend in Australia and Syria raises questions about the terror group’s future.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Republican women in Congress are tired of Mike JohnsonRepublican women in Congress are tired of Mike Johnson
Podcast
Politics

The House speaker still has Trump’s backing, but a growing number of his female colleagues have had enough.

By Kelli Wessinger and Noel King
Culture
Please don’t make airports healthy again. Just make them more efficient.Please don’t make airports healthy again. Just make them more efficient.
Culture

Mini gyms and healthier food options aren’t going to make airports less miserable.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Politics
Trump’s war on democracy is failingTrump’s war on democracy is failing
Politics

And it’s his own fault.

By Zack Beauchamp
Today, Explained newsletter
The mass shooting on Australia’s Bondi Beach, briefly explainedThe mass shooting on Australia’s Bondi Beach, briefly explained
Today, Explained newsletter

The antisemitic attack killed at least 15 people and injured dozens more.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
The global shadow economy behind Trump’s latest move on VenezuelaThe global shadow economy behind Trump’s latest move on Venezuela
Politics

A black market has been growing for years. This escalation puts a new spotlight on it.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Trump’s support is collapsing — but why?Trump’s support is collapsing — but why?
Politics

How Trump’s winning coalition is unraveling in real time.

By Christian Paz
Why America gave up on economists
The Case for Growth

Both parties have turned their backs on traditional economic advice. Is the country paying the price?

By Andrew Prokop
The Logoff
Trump’s redistricting loss in Indiana, briefly explainedTrump’s redistricting loss in Indiana, briefly explained
The Logoff

Indiana Republicans ruin Trump’s week.

By Cameron Peters
Health
Blame Republicans for our health insurance messBlame Republicans for our health insurance mess
Health

Conservatives haven’t taken health policy seriously for decades.

By Dylan Scott
Politics
Why Republicans in Congress are turning against TrumpWhy Republicans in Congress are turning against Trump
Podcast
Politics

Republicans are also quitting in droves.

By Avishay Artsy and Astead Herndon
The Logoff
The “Trump Gold Card,” briefly explainedThe “Trump Gold Card,” briefly explained
The Logoff

A fast-tracked green card — for $1 million.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
The Supreme Court sounds surprisingly open to a case against a death sentenceThe Supreme Court sounds surprisingly open to a case against a death sentence
Politics

The justices seemed to reject Justice Neil Gorsuch’s earlier call for major changes to the rules governing punishment.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
The fierce debate behind Trump’s move on selling AI chips to ChinaThe fierce debate behind Trump’s move on selling AI chips to China
Politics

China hawks were no match for the world’s most valuable company.

By Joshua Keating
Podcasts
The Republicans fighting Trump’s latest redistricting planThe Republicans fighting Trump’s latest redistricting plan
Podcast
Podcasts

The president wants new congressional maps in Indiana. Its GOP state senators aren’t so sure.

By Kelli Wessinger and Astead Herndon
Future Perfect
Where lab-made DNA is created — and barely policedWhere lab-made DNA is created — and barely policed
Future Perfect

DNA synthesis is going global. The biosecurity rules aren’t keeping up.

By Shayna Korol
Today, Explained newsletter
Is MAGA falling apart?Is MAGA falling apart?
Today, Explained newsletter

How the GOP is suffering from success.

By Cameron Peters and Andrew Prokop
The Logoff
Trump axes Biden’s student loan planTrump axes Biden’s student loan plan
The Logoff

The end of the SAVE plan, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters
Podcasts
What Venezuelans really wantWhat Venezuelans really want
Podcast
Podcasts

“Everyone has PTSD right now.”

By Ariana Aspuru and Noel King
Podcasts
Who is Nicolás Maduro?Who is Nicolás Maduro?
Podcast
Podcasts

And why did Trump want him out?

By Ariana Aspuru and Noel King
Politics
There is a real chance of a US-Venezuela war — so why does it feel fake?There is a real chance of a US-Venezuela war — so why does it feel fake?
Politics

“Fog of war” is the least of it.

By Joshua Keating
The Case for Growth
Older voters are gaining power. Young people are paying the price.Older voters are gaining power. Young people are paying the price.
The Case for Growth

Seniors’ rising political influence is a threat to economic growth.

By Eric Levitz
Culture
The Kennedy Center Honors continue Trump’s vengeance on liberal HollywoodThe Kennedy Center Honors continue Trump’s vengeance on liberal Hollywood
Culture

Sunday’s awards exemplify MAGA’s politics of resentment.

By Constance Grady
Politics
How the Supreme Court is using Trump to grab more power for itselfHow the Supreme Court is using Trump to grab more power for itself
Politics

The Court’s GOP majority wants to grow Trump’s authority, but also give itself a veto power over the president.

By Ian Millhiser
Future Perfect
Betting scandals broke sports. Could prediction markets do the same to politics?Betting scandals broke sports. Could prediction markets do the same to politics?
Podcast
Future Perfect

You can now place bets on elections, wars, and deportations. Should you?

By Ariana Aspuru and Noel King
Politics
Confused by the Trump administration? Think of it as a royal family.Confused by the Trump administration? Think of it as a royal family.
Politics

America’s new “neoroyalist” foreign policy.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
The Supreme Court takes up the most unconstitutional thing Trump has doneThe Supreme Court takes up the most unconstitutional thing Trump has done
Politics

There is no plausible argument that Trump’s attack on birthright citizenship is constitutional.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
America has a new clash of civilizations — with European liberalsAmerica has a new clash of civilizations — with European liberals
Politics

According to Trump’s new national security strategy, America is done with “democracy promotion”…except in Europe.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
The Supreme Court just made gerrymandering nearly untouchableThe Supreme Court just made gerrymandering nearly untouchable
Politics

The Court’s Texas decision is a victory for Republicans, and it is a terrible blow to all gerrymandering plaintiffs.

By Ian Millhiser
The Logoff
Trump’s war crimes scandal, briefly explainedTrump’s war crimes scandal, briefly explained
The Logoff

War crimes allegations are engulfing the Pentagon after a deadly strike in the Caribbean.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
The Supreme Court case that could redefine “cruel and unusual,” explainedThe Supreme Court case that could redefine “cruel and unusual,” explained
Politics

Hamm v. Smith is a death penalty case, but it could have big implications for anyone accused of a crime.

By Ian Millhiser
The Logoff
Trump’s new immigration crackdown, briefly explainedTrump’s new immigration crackdown, briefly explained
The Logoff

Trump is using a tragedy to stop immigration applications from 19 countries.

By Cameron Peters
Future Perfect
Did Trump accidentally boost direct giving?Did Trump accidentally boost direct giving?
Future Perfect

The Dells’ $6 billion gift just legitimized Trump accounts.

By Sara Herschander
Politics
The twisted reason why Trump is bombing Venezuelan boatsThe twisted reason why Trump is bombing Venezuelan boats
Politics

For this administration, war crimes are a feature, not a bug.

By Eric Levitz
Politics
The dark reality behind Trump’s new anti-immigrant policiesThe dark reality behind Trump’s new anti-immigrant policies
Politics

His administration is now openly advancing a worldview built by white nationalists in the 2010s.

By Zack Beauchamp