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Policy Archive

Archives for December 2024

Trump 2.0, explained
How Trump could gut the refugee programHow Trump could gut the refugee program
Trump 2.0, explained

A second Trump presidency could be even worse for refugees than the first.

By Ellen Ioanes
Policy
The tax penalty on married women hiding in plain sightThe tax penalty on married women hiding in plain sight
Policy

Millions would be better off if the US changed its joint filing system.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Politics
Democrats’ problem with working-class voters is bigger than free tradeDemocrats’ problem with working-class voters is bigger than free trade
Politics

Most American workers have benefited from globalization. Democrats are losing ground with them anyway.

By Eric Levitz
Life
Applying to college today is incredibly public and incredibly isolatingApplying to college today is incredibly public and incredibly isolating
Life

Inside the “marathon” race to get into college.

By Anna North
Health
Drug overdose deaths have declined. No one knows why.Drug overdose deaths have declined. No one knows why.
Health

Here are three possible explanations.

By Haleema Shah
Future Perfect
The problem with US charity is that it’s not effective enoughThe problem with US charity is that it’s not effective enough
Future Perfect

The New York Times painted a misleading picture. Less than 0.2 percent of US charity is ruthlessly optimized.

By Dylan Matthews
Explain It to Me
Why do people think Republicans are better for the economy?Why do people think Republicans are better for the economy?
Explain It to Me

Since World War II, the economy has, on average, fared better when Democrats are in the White House.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Today, Explained podcast
How UnitedHealthcare became the face of a broken health care systemHow UnitedHealthcare became the face of a broken health care system
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Luigi Mangione was charged with murdering a health care CEO. The internet responded with a flood of support.

By Miranda Kennedy and Sean Rameswaram
Trump 2.0, explained
How Trump could try to deport immigrants to countries other than their ownHow Trump could try to deport immigrants to countries other than their own
Trump 2.0, explained

Countries like China and Venezuela often don’t accept US deportees. Trump is eyeing a workaround.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
Luigi Mangione’s 3D-printed gun and the problem of untraceable firearmsLuigi Mangione’s 3D-printed gun and the problem of untraceable firearms
Politics

The killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO may be the first time a “ghost gun” was used in a high-profile shooting.

By Marin Cogan
The slippery appeal of RFK Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement
Policy

Everybody loves MAHA — because nobody knows what it really is.

By Keren Landman, MD
The Highlight
How marijuana legalization played itselfHow marijuana legalization played itself
The Highlight

Pricey, legal weed is great news — for the black market.

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Politics
What we don’t talk about when we talk about the “working class”What we don’t talk about when we talk about the “working class”
Politics

The criticism that Democrats left America’s working class behind surged after the 2024 election. Here’s why the term is so hard to define — and why that matters.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Policy
Public housing didn’t fail in the US. But it was sabotaged.Public housing didn’t fail in the US. But it was sabotaged.
Policy

A brief history of how America’s public housing experiment was designed to fail.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The deep roots of Americans’ hatred of their health care system
Future Perfect

The industry’s blame game will not end the US national health care nightmare.

By Dylan Scott