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Sean Illing

Sean Illing

Host of The Gray Area

    Latest articles by Sean Illing

    Robert Mueller won’t save us
    The Vox guide to Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia investigation

    Only Congress can decide if the president is above the law.

    By Sean Illing
    Explainers
    Why we pretend to know things, explained by a cognitive scientistWhy we pretend to know things, explained by a cognitive scientist
    Explainers

    New research explains why we pretend to know more than we do.

    By Sean Illing
    World Politics
    Trump and Kim Jong Un just struck a deal. Here’s what it means and what comes next.Trump and Kim Jong Un just struck a deal. Here’s what it means and what comes next.
    World Politics

    An expert explains who gained from the Trump-Kim deal and why.

    By Sean Illing
    World Politics
    America, explained by a North Korean propaganda bookAmerica, explained by a North Korean propaganda book
    World Politics

    I fake-interviewed a real North Korea propaganda book. Here’s what it told me.

    By Sean Illing
    World Politics
    Fear, loneliness, and duty — an American journalist on daily life in North KoreaFear, loneliness, and duty — an American journalist on daily life in North Korea
    World Politics

    “The level of fear is unimaginable.” —author Suki Kim

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    A feminist philosopher makes the case against Jordan PetersonA feminist philosopher makes the case against Jordan Peterson
    Politics

    Peterson sounds like a stereotypical postmodernist.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    Former top spy James Clapper explains how Russia swung the election to TrumpFormer top spy James Clapper explains how Russia swung the election to Trump
    Politics

    “It stretches credulity to conclude that Russian activity didn’t swing voter decisions.”

    By Sean Illing
    World Politics
    Trump just canceled the North Korea summit. 9 experts explain what happens now.Trump just canceled the North Korea summit. 9 experts explain what happens now.
    World Politics

    It’s not great.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    What is the future of news? Bleak, probably.What is the future of news? Bleak, probably.
    Politics

    A professional fact-checker explains why our fake news problem isn’t going away.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    8 legal experts on whether Trump’s demand for an investigation into the FBI is legal8 legal experts on whether Trump’s demand for an investigation into the FBI is legal
    Politics

    Spoiler alert: It’s complicated.

    By Sean Illing

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