Fault Lines

What Comes After the Protests

The killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis will continue to bring people to the streets. Can it bring change?

What a Viral YouTube Video Says About the Future of Journalism

A streamer’s investigation of fraud in Minnesota garnered millions of views. His content was questionable, but his methods will likely inspire scores of imitators.

Americans Won’t Ban Kids from Social Media. What Can We Do Instead?

Free-speech norms and powerful tech companies make legal restrictions unlikely—but social changes are already taking place.

Five Things That Changed the Media in 2025

A.I., of course—but there were also other, less obvious stories and trends that are going to shape how we understand the news.

If You Quit Social Media, Will You Read More Books?

Books are inefficient, and the internet is training us to expect optimized experiences.

Jeffrey Epstein, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and the Future of American Politics

Life after Trump may not be what we expect.

Nick Fuentes Is Not Just Another Alt-Right Boogeyman

The rise of the white-nationalist streamer should worry us even more than it already does.

Is Gambling Really Threatening the Integrity of Sports?

After a recent N.B.A. scandal, more writers and pundits have come out against legalized betting. But the case that they’re making is weaker than it appears.

What Explains Graham Platner’s Popularity?

The U.S. Senate candidate from Maine seems like the embodiment of the dirtbag left. But there’s another way to understand his appeal.

Sora 2 and the Limits of Digital Narcissism

What we enjoy about generative A.I. may also be its ultimate limitation: we want to see ourselves.