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Policy Archive

Archives for May 2016

The Gates Foundation is trying to stop Zika by giving mosquitos a sexually transmitted disease
Play
Technology

The approach releases bugs with a bacteria that would render them and their offspring unable to transmit disease.

By Ina Fried
Ford CEO Mark Fields says ‘dynamics get very funky’ in talks with Google and Uber
Play
Technology

Partnerships require a “cultural fit.”

By Johana Bhuiyan
Explainers
Donald Trump’s smear campaign against a federal judge, explainedDonald Trump’s smear campaign against a federal judge, explained
Explainers

Judge Gonzalo Curiel is hearing one of the lawsuits against Trump University. Trump’s racist attempt to bring him down is deeply troubling — even for Trump.

By Dara Lind
The White House made me a poster child for beating the odds. Then I dropped out of college.
Features

“The same kid who had sat next to the first lady as an example of how anybody could beat the odds and attend college was no longer even in college. I felt like a fraud.”

By Anthony Mendez
Climate
The way we protect the oceans is badly outdated. Here’s how to change that.The way we protect the oceans is badly outdated. Here’s how to change that.
Climate

The number one thing we can do to protect the seas.

By Liza Gross
Politics
It’s time we have a holiday to honor those who try to stop wars, tooIt’s time we have a holiday to honor those who try to stop wars, too
Politics

Memorial Day remembers the cost of war. Let’s honor those who tried to minimize it.

By Dylan Matthews
Culture
Saga creator Brian K. Vaughan on Cleveland, aliens, and what’s next for his comicsSaga creator Brian K. Vaughan on Cleveland, aliens, and what’s next for his comics
Culture

How graphic rocket ship sex scenes help Brian K. Vaughan write a story about mortality.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Netflix’s Bloodline has great performances and nothing going onNetflix’s Bloodline has great performances and nothing going on
Culture

Every time something interesting threatens to happen in season two, it backs away.

By Emily St. James
Technology
A complete list of all the ride-hail, auto and tech companies that have joined forcesA complete list of all the ride-hail, auto and tech companies that have joined forces
Technology

In the future of transportation, everyone is looking for a dance partner.

By Johana Bhuiyan
Life
Why endless airport security lines are suddenly everywhereWhy endless airport security lines are suddenly everywhere
It’s not just transgender people: public restrooms have bred fear for centuries
Criminal Justice

Fear created the gender-segregated bathroom. And today, an apparition of that same fear prevents us from abandoning it.

By Sarah Frostenson and Zachary Crockett
Video
When carmakers taunted horsesWhen carmakers taunted horses
Play
Video

You know cars are faster than horses. But in the early days of automobiles, carmakers had to wage a fierce PR battle to win.

By Phil Edwards
Politics
Shaun King explains why he thinks the Democratic Party can’t be savedShaun King explains why he thinks the Democratic Party can’t be saved
Politics

“I don’t believe the Democratic Party when it comes to issues of racial justice, of prison reform.”

By Emmett Rensin
Marriage Equality
Agree with Peter Thiel or not, Gawker acted irresponsibly by outing gay people for yearsAgree with Peter Thiel or not, Gawker acted irresponsibly by outing gay people for years
Play
Marriage Equality

Outing gay people isn’t just cruel. It’s dangerous.

By German Lopez
A third of new cellular customers last quarter were cars
Technology

Most smartphones go to existing customers, with the real growth coming from tablets and other devices.

By Ina Fried