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

Policy Archive

Archives for August 2016

The tyranny of a traffic ticket: how small crimes turn fatal for poor, minority Americans
Features

A traffic ticket is an inconvenience for some. In poor, minority communities, it can mean a lifetime of legal battles and encounters with police.

By German Lopez
“It’s like a war zone”: how the Olympics nearly destroyed a Rio neighborhood
Sports

Meet the couple fighting to save Vila Autódromo.

By Tara Golshan
Politics
Robocops are here. It’s time to create rules for how police can use them.Robocops are here. It’s time to create rules for how police can use them.
Politics

As with drones in the military, technology is being deployed before we’ve thought through some very tough questions.

By P.W. Singer and Emefa Addo Agawu
67 former civil rights era activists endorse Black Lives Matter: “y’all take it from here”
Politics

Former members of SNCC recognize the intergenerational fight for racial justice.

By Victoria M. Massie
Stop and frisk’s end didn’t cause a crime wave in New York City — a big win for reform
Politics

The New York Daily News editorial board recently acknowledged it was wrong about stop and frisk’s end leading to more crime. It’s a big deal.

By German Lopez
7 articles on how the movement for black lives transformed the 2016 election
Politics

The Ferguson uprising gave momentum to a movement politicians can’t ignore.

By Victoria M. Massie
“This was the new Jim Crow”: an oral history of the Ferguson protests
Police Violence

Local residents, activists, officials, and journalists recall the life-changing August 2014 events in Ferguson.

By German Lopez, Rachel Huggins and 2 more
More Americans use marijuana now than live in the state of Texas
Politics

A new survey found marijuana use nearly doubled in three years.

By German Lopez
Lyft riders can now add more than one stop to their routes
Technology

Grab some coffee on your way to work, pick up a friend to take to dinner — all without upsetting your Lyft driver.

By Johana Bhuiyan
Explainers
The Refugee Olympic Team doesn’t need your cheers. They need countries to fix their crisis.The Refugee Olympic Team doesn’t need your cheers. They need countries to fix their crisis.
Explainers

The team shouldn’t have to exist — but it might spur governments into action.

By Dara Lind
Politics
Trevor Noah: a very serious conversation with a very funny manTrevor Noah: a very serious conversation with a very funny man
Podcast
Politics

The Daily Show host on how to find humor in tragedy, what Obama’s election didn’t change about race in America, and the best advice he’s ever received.

By Ezra Klein
Sweden may have the answer to America’s gun problem
Gun Violence

The country places gun responsibilities over gun rights. America should do the same.

By Tom Heberlein
Technology
Apple’s diversity report is better than that of most tech companies — with one exceptionApple’s diversity report is better than that of most tech companies — with one exception
Technology

Overall diversity looks good, but it’s not the whole story.

By Victoria M. Massie
Explainers
Chicago police shooting of Paul O’Neal: officers shoot and kill unarmed black manChicago police shooting of Paul O’Neal: officers shoot and kill unarmed black man
Explainers

The Independent Police Review Authority released videos of the events preceding and following the shooting. But there’s no video of the actual shooting.

By German Lopez