Welcome to the January issue of The Highlight

For many, January is a month full of hard-to-keep resolutions and hopeful plans for self-improvement. New year, new … you? We’re kicking off this often uneasy season with an investigation into confidence: How important is it, really? A look at the myth of frictionless relationships is another timely piece, as is a how-to on journaling. Looking ahead to the imminent inauguration of the next president, we’ve also got stories about how young voter groups became disconnected from actual young voters, the many efforts to prosecute Donald Trump, and the collapse of nuclear guardrails worldwide. Work on the promise of nasal vaccines, the ins and outs of egg donation, and policing in the age of the gun help round out our issue. Plus, we’ve got book recommendations for Vox Members and an exclusive Highlight podcast on pronatalism. Did the Trump prosecutions backfire? The Trump prosecutions were supposed to save democracy. They may have imperiled it further. By Andrew Prokop I wanted to be confident. Then I started having doubts. One woman’s nail-biting quest to a better self. By Rachel Sugar Lyman Stone on America’s falling birth rate The demographer is worried that we aren’t having as many babies as we used to — and says he knows how that could change. By Miles Bryan How Democratic Gen Z activists lost the Gen Z vote The organizations dedicated to mobilizing Gen Z got the turnout they wanted, but not the votes. What did they miss? By Christian Paz Swashbuckling adventure novels to start your year Plus trippy detective novels for when you just miss Twin Peaks. By Constance Grady The world has entered the third nuclear age Nuclear guardrails are falling apart — and Donald Trump is about to retake the launch codes. By Joshua Keating “Protecting your peace” can kill your friendships Frictionless relationships are just a fantasy. By Allie Volpe The future of vaccines is needle-free Nasal vaccines are more effective and easier to get to the people who need them most. By Sam Delgado The transformative power of journaling Writing down your thoughts can be good for your mental health. Here’s how to start — and keep at it. By Jillian Anthony How safe is donating your eggs? Egg donation is common. How well do we understand the risks? By Anna North How a major Supreme Court case is changing how police do their jobs The Bruen decision upended America’s gun laws. Years later, cops and courts are still trying to sort out the mess. By Marin Cogan