The Succession Plot Point That Explained the Whole Series
In Shiv, what is often a cliché storyline became both poignant and tragic in the HBO show’s finale.
The Labor-Shortage Myth
Things are finally looking up for the American worker. Why does the government see that as a crisis?
How Actual Smart People Talk About Themselves
Hint: not by discussing IQ
What Really Happened to Malaysia’s Missing Airplane
Five years ago, the flight vanished into the Indian Ocean. Officials on land know more about why than they dare to say.
ChatGPT Is Already Obsolete
The next generation of AI is leaving behind the viral chatbot.
Fans’ Expectations of Taylor Swift Are Chafing Against Reality
The singer’s collaboration with the rapper Ice Spice has launched a new debate about what she owes her ultra-devoted audience.
The Coming Biden Blowout
Republicans thought about running without Trump in 2024—but lost their nerve. They’re heading for electoral disaster again.
The Most Compelling Female Character on Television
Happy Valley’s Catherine Cawood is that rarest of TV unicorns: an ordinary woman written with such care that she becomes extraordinary.
What I Learned When My Parents Got Arrested
At 21, I was supposed to be worried about my education. Instead, I was worried about raising money for my parents’ bail.
Why Dad’s Side of the Family Tends to Miss Out
Many people have stronger bonds with their maternal relatives. Why?
Gavin Newsom Is Not Governing
Leading California is more than a full-time job––and neglecting it to do PR stunts in red states is frivolous and irresponsible.
The Most Overhyped Space Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey is prescient, beautiful, and entirely unsatisfactory.
Seven Tips From Susan Sontag for Independent Thinking
What would the intellectual powerhouse think about our culture of groupthink and self-righteousness?
A Nobel Laureate Walks Into a Supermarket
Annie Ernaux on the malaise of the grocery store
The Type of Love That Makes People Happiest
When it comes to lasting romance, passion has nothing on friendship.
The First Social-Media Babies Are Growing Up—And They’re Horrified
How would you feel if millions of people watched your childhood tantrums?
America’s Approach to Addiction Has Gone Off the Rails
In a time of fentanyl and meth, we need to use law enforcement differently—and more often.
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
How a Philly Ob-Gyn Ended Up Delivering a Baby Gorilla
“For the most part, I was in the moment, doing what I do every day.”
Photos of the Week: Bull Vault, Buddha Wash, Bass Guitar
A diving championship in England, Darth Vader on trial in Chile, Manhattanhenge in New York City, a graduation ceremony at West Point, ongoing floods in northern Italy, and much more