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Policy Archive

Archives for May 2024

Politics
The best — and worst — criticisms of Trump’s convictionThe best — and worst — criticisms of Trump’s conviction
Politics

Was Trump wrongly convicted? The debate, explained.

By Eric Levitz
Supreme Court
The NRA just won a big Supreme Court victory. Good.The NRA just won a big Supreme Court victory. Good.
Supreme Court

Even truly repulsive speakers have First Amendment rights.

By Ian Millhiser
Policy
The NCAA’s proposal to pay college athletes is fair. That’s the problem.The NCAA’s proposal to pay college athletes is fair. That’s the problem.
Policy

The end of amateurism finally comes for college sports. Will we miss it?

By Bryan Walsh
Housing
A new strategy to house homeless peopleA new strategy to house homeless people
Housing

To clear tent encampments in cities, some leaders urge a focus beyond shelters.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
World Politics
The slaughter in Rafah and Israel’s moral nadirThe slaughter in Rafah and Israel’s moral nadir
World Politics

Israel is massacring Palestinians — and undermining its own security in the process.

By Zack Beauchamp
Abortion
The Comstock Act, the long-dead law Trump could use to ban abortion, explainedThe Comstock Act, the long-dead law Trump could use to ban abortion, explained
Abortion

A defunct federal law is Republicans’ best hope of banning abortion throughout the United States.

By Ian Millhiser
“Everyone is absolutely terrified”: Inside a US ally’s secret war on its American critics
World Politics

A foreign government is trying to silence US critics of its authoritarian turn — and it’s succeeding.

By Zack Beauchamp
Policy
Rent control for child care?Rent control for child care?
Policy

Lawmakers in Minnesota want to cap out-of-pocket child care costs.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
The Gray Area
The known unknowns about Ozempic, explainedThe known unknowns about Ozempic, explained
Podcast
The Gray Area

Ozempic has become hugely popular. Researchers are racing to learn more about what it does to us.

By Sean Illing
Politics
Why a GOP governor’s pardon of a far-right murderer is so chillingWhy a GOP governor’s pardon of a far-right murderer is so chilling
Politics

A Texas man who killed a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020 was pardoned yesterday. Here’s what it says about politics in 2024.

By Eric Levitz
Today, Explained newsletter
Why school segregation is getting worseWhy school segregation is getting worse
Today, Explained newsletter

Seventy years after the Brown decision, many students are divided by their race and socioeconomic status.

By Fabiola Cineas
World Politics
Make “free speech” a progressive rallying cry againMake “free speech” a progressive rallying cry again
World Politics

Protecting radical dissent requires tolerating right-wing speech.

By Eric Levitz
Climate
Why is Biden blocking the cheapest, most popular EVs in the world?Why is Biden blocking the cheapest, most popular EVs in the world?
Climate

Biden is acting like he hates the Chinese more than he likes the climate.

By Dylan Matthews
Child Care
The child care cliff that wasn’tThe child care cliff that wasn’t
Child Care

We don’t need apocalyptic economic predictions to advocate for better family policy.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Supreme Court
The 9 worst court decisions since Trump remade the federal judiciaryThe 9 worst court decisions since Trump remade the federal judiciary
Supreme Court

This is what happens after four years under an insurrectionist president. It will get much worse if he gets eight.

By Ian Millhiser