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Politics

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

Progressives should care that the global population is set to fall
Future Perfect

Don’t let polarization distract you from one of the most important issues the world faces.

By Kelsey Piper
Progressives should care that the global population is set to fall
Future Perfect

Don’t let polarization distract you from one of the most important issues the world faces.

By Kelsey Piper
The Logoff
Is birthright citizenship safe from Trump?Is birthright citizenship safe from Trump?
The Logoff

It’s more complicated than it should be.

By Patrick Reis
World Politics
Trump is shaking up US-Israel relations in a way no one has in decadesTrump is shaking up US-Israel relations in a way no one has in decades
World Politics

The president casts himself as Israel’s greatest defender, while cutting deals with its greatest enemies.

By Joshua Keating
Trump Administration
Are white South Africans really refugees? A historian who grew up under apartheid explains.Are white South Africans really refugees? A historian who grew up under apartheid explains.
Trump Administration

Trump’s new resettlement program ignores the history of apartheid.

By Nicole Narea

The latest in Politics

On the Right
The anti-woke right won in 2024. Now they’re turning on each other.The anti-woke right won in 2024. Now they’re turning on each other.
On the Right

A glimpse into the bitter infighting consuming MAGA’s intellectual ranks.

By Zack Beauchamp
Economy
The first federal court hearing on Trump’s tariffs did not go so well for TrumpThe first federal court hearing on Trump’s tariffs did not go so well for Trump
Economy

Much of the hearing focused on whether Richard Nixon can save Trump’s tariffs.

By Ian Millhiser
Donald Trump
How corrupt is Trump’s plan to accept a Qatari plane?How corrupt is Trump’s plan to accept a Qatari plane?
Donald Trump

Presidents can’t keep gifts that are worth more than $480 unless they buy them. This plane costs about $400 million.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Economy
The tariffs are here. Inflation isn’t. What gives?The tariffs are here. Inflation isn’t. What gives?
Economy

Is our long-ish national economic nightmare over?

By Eric Levitz
Politics
The rise of the regretful Trump voterThe rise of the regretful Trump voter
Politics

Trump is squandering one of his biggest 2024 electoral accomplishments.

By Christian Paz
Politics
Trump’s tariffs have already failed at their main jobTrump’s tariffs have already failed at their main job
Politics

Trump’s team had grand ambitions for reordering global trade. They’re backing down.

By Andrew Prokop
Social Programs
Trump is hoping to quietly gut the social safety netTrump is hoping to quietly gut the social safety net
Social Programs

The president is keeping his hands off Social Security and Medicare — at least for now.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The Gray Area
Is your brain your political destiny?Is your brain your political destiny?
Podcast
The Gray Area

The strange connection between ideology and the brain.

By Sean Illing
Supreme Court
The Federalist Society is surprisingly ambivalent about TrumpThe Federalist Society is surprisingly ambivalent about Trump
Supreme Court

America’s most powerful legal organization confronts Trump’s incompetence.

By Ian Millhiser
World Politics
Americans have tuned out Gaza at the worst possible momentAmericans have tuned out Gaza at the worst possible moment
World Politics

Israel has a horrifying new plan for “the concluding moves” of the Gaza war. Yet it’s flying under the American radar.

By Zack Beauchamp
Today, Explained podcast
What Pope Leo XIV’s history can tell us about his papacyWhat Pope Leo XIV’s history can tell us about his papacy
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

His views on immigration may point to an early clash with the Trump administration.

By Amanda Lewellyn and Noel King
Today, Explained podcast
The remaking of Marco RubioThe remaking of Marco Rubio
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Marco Rubio’s four jobs, explained the best we can.

By Devan Schwartz and Sean Rameswaram
The Logoff
She was arrested for an op-ed. Now a judge has ordered her freed.She was arrested for an op-ed. Now a judge has ordered her freed.
The Logoff

Her detention “chills the speech of the millions and millions of people who are not citizens,” a federal judge said.

By Andrew Prokop
World Politics
Just how bad can the India-Pakistan crisis get?Just how bad can the India-Pakistan crisis get?
World Politics

Two bitter enemies, more than 300 nukes, and no end in sight.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Can Democrats win over Trump voters with this one issue?Can Democrats win over Trump voters with this one issue?
Politics

A former presidential candidate’s dubious plan for winning back Republican zoomers.

By Eric Levitz
Education
We’re at the beginning of a harsh new era for college studentsWe’re at the beginning of a harsh new era for college students
Education

Paying for school could become a lot more difficult — on multiple levels.

By Kevin Carey
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship case isn’t really about birthright citizenshipThe Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship case isn’t really about birthright citizenship
Supreme Court

The justices will soon decide whether to weaken the courts holding back Trump.

By Ian Millhiser
Today, Explained newsletter
What challenges are in store for Pope Leo XIV?What challenges are in store for Pope Leo XIV?
Today, Explained newsletter

Who is the new pope? What will the new pope do? And other questions, answered.

By Sean Collins
Economy
How Trump’s attacks on the Fed could sabotage the US economyHow Trump’s attacks on the Fed could sabotage the US economy
Economy

Trump is threatening the independence of the Fed. That’s dangerous.

By Nicole Narea
Religion
The first American pope is notable for reasons you might not expectThe first American pope is notable for reasons you might not expect
Religion

Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — is not your typical boomer Chicago Catholic.

By Katherine Kelaidis
The Logoff
The truth about Trump’s new trade deal with the UKThe truth about Trump’s new trade deal with the UK
The Logoff

It’s more of a trade framework.

By Cameron Peters and Patrick Reis
Religion
Is the new pope liberal or conservative? Neither.Is the new pope liberal or conservative? Neither.
Religion

American politics has poisoned how we think about the pope.

By Christian Paz
Video
Why this red state made preschool freeWhy this red state made preschool free
Play
Video

How Oklahoma’s universal pre-K program became a model for its progressive peers.

By Coleman Lowndes
Trump Administration
The surprising trend shaking up the Trump administrationThe surprising trend shaking up the Trump administration
Trump Administration

To MAGA hardliners’ chagrin, Marco Rubio and Scott Bessent are on the rise. How long can this last?

By Andrew Prokop
Politics
Trump’s latest deportation scheme is almost certainly illegalTrump’s latest deportation scheme is almost certainly illegal
Politics

Can Trump actually deport immigrants to Libya?

By Nicole Narea
Supreme Court
The Republican attempt to steal a state supreme court election, explainedThe Republican attempt to steal a state supreme court election, explained
Supreme Court

Whoops! Republicans have somehow managed to violate Bush v. Gore.

By Ian Millhiser
On the Right
The warped reality of the elites shaping Trump’s administrationThe warped reality of the elites shaping Trump’s administration
On the Right

White House policy is being hatched in elite conservative bubbles.

By Zack Beauchamp
Economy
A federal court is about to decide whether to strike down Trump’s tariffsA federal court is about to decide whether to strike down Trump’s tariffs
Economy

We’re about to get our first window into whether the judiciary will allow Trump’s trade war to continue.

By Ian Millhiser
The Logoff
A confusing US peace deal, explainedA confusing US peace deal, explained
The Logoff

Both Trump and the Houthis are claiming victory after striking a ceasefire deal.

By Joshua Keating and Patrick Reis
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court just let Trump ban trans people from the militaryThe Supreme Court just let Trump ban trans people from the military
Supreme Court

Trump’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to reinstate his ban on trans military service, after a lower court blocked it.

By Ian Millhiser
Supreme Court
An anti-trans lawmaker brings a Supreme Court case that she absolutely must winAn anti-trans lawmaker brings a Supreme Court case that she absolutely must win
Supreme Court

To defend democracy, the courts must rule in favor of a lawmaker who bullied a high school student.

By Ian Millhiser
Trump Administration
A familiar Trump attack forces Democrats to make an uncomfortable choiceA familiar Trump attack forces Democrats to make an uncomfortable choice
Trump Administration

Trump’s latest executive order presents a test for Democrats.

By Nicole Narea
Why are men so much more right-wing than women now?
PoliticsThe Highlight

Don’t blame Joe Rogan too much — one theory says that the roots of this gender gap go back decades.

By Maia Mindel
The Logoff
Trump’s new plan for student loans, briefly explainedTrump’s new plan for student loans, briefly explained
The Logoff

5 million Americans are facing having their loans sent to collections.

By Patrick Reis
Today, Explained newsletter
Trump promised his tariffs would create jobs. They’re already destroying them.Trump promised his tariffs would create jobs. They’re already destroying them.
Today, Explained newsletter

Auto workers supported tariffs to protect their jobs. They caused layoffs instead.

By Miles Bryan
Politics
How Trump could make Americans permanently poorerHow Trump could make Americans permanently poorer
Politics

The most surprising consequence of Trump’s trade war.

By Eric Levitz
Today, Explained podcast
Love on the Spectrum stars call on RFK Jr. to resignLove on the Spectrum stars call on RFK Jr. to resign
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Two cast members of the hit Netflix reality TV show on what the HHS secretary misunderstands about autism.

By Avishay Artsy
The Gray Area
Did our politics fail us during Covid?Did our politics fail us during Covid?
Podcast
The Gray Area

Political scientist Frances Lee examines the “noble lies” and truth-seeking failures of the pandemic.

By Sean Illing
The Logoff
One big thing to know about Trump’s budgetOne big thing to know about Trump’s budget
The Logoff

Yes, it’s radical. But no, it’s not on the cusp of becoming law.

By Patrick Reis
Business & Finance
Why prices on some of Americans’ go-to shopping sites are suddenly spikingWhy prices on some of Americans’ go-to shopping sites are suddenly spiking
Business & Finance

The end of the de minimis exemption, briefly explained.

By Nicole Narea