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Policy Archive

Archives for September 2016

You may think the world is falling apart. Steven Pinker is here to tell you it isn’t.
Politics

A look at the data suggests this is nowhere near the worst year in history.

By Julia Belluz
Elon Musk is having a hard time figuring out what caused last week’s SpaceX explosion
Technology

And he needs your help to work it out.

By Johana Bhuiyan
Ford is buying shuttle service Chariot to dominate San Francisco’s transport system
Technology

Ford wants to prove that it can do transportation as a service — and do it right.

By Johana Bhuiyan
Get angry about Brock Turner’s crime. But don’t use it as a reason to pass bad laws.
Criminal Justice

I’m a public defender. Here’s why we shouldn’t let tragedies drive public policy.

By Rachel Marshall
I helped 9/11 survivors recover. The worst part came 6 months after.
Features

There are four stages that communities go through after a disaster. The hardest is disillusionment.

By Kelly Caldwell
A new strategy to stop Kaepernick-inspired protests: play the national anthem when no one’s around
Sports

Megan Rapinoe wasn’t allowed to protest with Colin Kaepernick. That only proves his point.

By Victoria M. Massie
Airport shuttles may be getting safer thanks to this self-driving startup
Technology

SuperShuttle will be the first commercial fleet to be equipped with self-driving startup Driversiti’s technology.

By Johana Bhuiyan
Didi is worth $34 billion after an investment by Foxconn
Technology

Didi says the two companies are exploring opportunities for cooperation but as yet have no concrete plans.

By Johana Bhuiyan
Science
These women asked their doctors for better birth control. The responses were infuriating.These women asked their doctors for better birth control. The responses were infuriating.
Science

“I gave up and eventually was left to resort to an abortion when I got pregnant.”

By Sarah Kliff
Criminal Justice
Darren Seals, a Ferguson protester, found dead in burned vehicle in St. Louis suburbDarren Seals, a Ferguson protester, found dead in burned vehicle in St. Louis suburb
Criminal Justice

Seals fought to educate people on police brutality and for black voters not to blindly align with Democrats.

By Victoria M. Massie
Bill Clinton’s $18 million job as “honorary chancellor” of a for-profit college chain, explained
Politics

Laureate Education has a better reputation than most for-profits, at least.

By Libby Nelson
Donald Trump’s immigration plan, explained in 500 words
Explainers

It’s pretty clear!

By Dara Lind
Politics
The media is officially in denial about Donald Trump’s immigration planThe media is officially in denial about Donald Trump’s immigration plan
Politics

Stop trying to make Trump’s immigration pivot happen. It’s not going to happen.

By Dara Lind
A new report finds the people signing up might be getting sicker
Health Care

The population buying coverage on the Obamacare marketplace is getting less healthy.

By Sarah Kliff