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Politics

What really matters in the world of politics, campaigns, ideology, and more.

The self-inflicted death of American science has already begun
Future Perfect

Trump’s crackdown on foreign students and scientists will do irreparable harm to the country.

By Bryan Walsh
The self-inflicted death of American science has already begun
Future Perfect

Trump’s crackdown on foreign students and scientists will do irreparable harm to the country.

By Bryan Walsh
Trump boots climate scientists from climate science reportTrump boots climate scientists from climate science report
The Logoff

The attack on climate science continues.

By Umair Irfan and Patrick Reis
A cash bonus for having a baby? Trump is considering it.A cash bonus for having a baby? Trump is considering it.
Policy

The potential and limits of “baby bonuses.”

By Rachel Cohen
The most surprising things from Trump’s first 100 daysThe most surprising things from Trump’s first 100 days
Politics

The first 6.8 percent of Trump 2.0, briefly explained.

By Sean Collins, Andrew Prokop and 4 more

The latest in Politics

How Donald Trump is remaking AmericaHow Donald Trump is remaking America
Politics

Amid the chaos of President Trump’s second term, four key domains are shaping the future of American governance — and the nation’s global standing.

By Vox Staff
The real reason DOGE failed isn’t what you thinkThe real reason DOGE failed isn’t what you think
Politics

Musk tried to act as the CEO for the federal workforce. His effort fell apart — due to some surprising resistance.

By Andrew Prokop
Neil Gorsuch is the hero America deservesNeil Gorsuch is the hero America deserves
Supreme Court

Trump filled the Supreme Court bench with anti-government saboteurs. But will they sabotage him?

By Ian Millhiser
How Trump lost CanadaHow Trump lost Canada
Politics

Trump’s “51st state” talk brought Canada’s Liberals back from the dead — and undermined a key American alliance.

By Zack Beauchamp
The turmoil at 60 Minutes, briefly explainedThe turmoil at 60 Minutes, briefly explained
The Logoff

The vaunted news program is under attack.

By Patrick Reis
Trump’s tariffs hurt the working class. Why are some unions on board?Trump’s tariffs hurt the working class. Why are some unions on board?
Politics

The president’s economic policy has put unions in an awkward position.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Today’s Canadian elections are most important in decades — thanks to TrumpToday’s Canadian elections are most important in decades — thanks to Trump
Today, Explained newsletter

It could be a brand-new day for Canadian politics.

By Sean Collins and Zack Beauchamp
Democrats keep saying America is an “oligarchy.” Is that true?Democrats keep saying America is an “oligarchy.” Is that true?
Politics

A political scientist explains “oligarchy” and argues that America has earned that label.

By Lee Drutman
MAGA glam isn’t about beauty — it’s about politicsMAGA glam isn’t about beauty — it’s about politics
Today, Explained newsletter

Examining what’s underneath the “Republican makeup” look.

By Sean Collins
The FBI’s arrest of a local judge, briefly explainedThe FBI’s arrest of a local judge, briefly explained
The Logoff

The arrest escalates the Trump administration’s fight with local municipalities over deportations.

By Patrick Reis
Are Democrats playing into Trump’s hands by fighting deportations?Are Democrats playing into Trump’s hands by fighting deportations?
Politics

Immigration is Trump’s best issue. But the benefits of fighting his lawless deportations are worth the political risks.

By Eric Levitz
Why Trump is losing his trade war with ChinaWhy Trump is losing his trade war with China
Politics

Trade wars are easy to win — if you’re China.

By Eric Levitz
The unspoken rules of MAGA womanhood
Culture

How Kristi Noem and Karoline Leavitt offer two visions of conservative femininity.

By Constance Grady
This pro-Israel group keeps a  blacklist. Now it’s taking credit for deportations.This pro-Israel group keeps a  blacklist. Now it’s taking credit for deportations.
Politics

Canary Mission, the controversial organization targeting student activists, explained.

By Zack Beauchamp
Gen Z is finding religion. Why?Gen Z is finding religion. Why?
Religion

3 theories for Gen Z’s return to God and faith.

By Christian Paz
Trump’s latest blow to civil rights law, briefly explainedTrump’s latest blow to civil rights law, briefly explained
The Logoff

Why the executive order on “disparate impact” matters.

By Andrew Prokop
Trump will almost certainly get away with banning trans people from the militaryTrump will almost certainly get away with banning trans people from the military
Supreme Court

Trump’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to reinstate his ban on trans military service, after a lower court blocked it.

By Ian Millhiser
The US has quietly gotten into another war in the Middle EastThe US has quietly gotten into another war in the Middle East
World Politics

With near daily strikes against Yemen’s Houthis, is there an end in sight?

By Joshua Keating
This senator met with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. He tells us what he saw.This senator met with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. He tells us what he saw.
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

A conversation with Sen. Chris Van Hollen about Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s detention — and where America goes from here.

By Miles Bryan
I’m doing good work in my government job. Should I quit anyway?I’m doing good work in my government job. Should I quit anyway?
Future Perfect

I want to believe I can make a positive impact from the inside, but maybe I’m deluding myself.

By Sigal Samuel
Can Trump call off his trade war with China while pretending he’s not?Can Trump call off his trade war with China while pretending he’s not?
The Logoff

The latest on the trade war.

By Andrew Prokop
How Trump is rewriting American historyHow Trump is rewriting American history
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Yale professor David W. Blight explains why Trump is far from the first to try to rewrite the record.

By Amanda Lewellyn
Trump’s tariffs are driving a gold rushTrump’s tariffs are driving a gold rush
Economy

Gold has become a rare safe bet in Trump’s economy.

By Nicole Narea
The hidden religious divide erupting into politicsThe hidden religious divide erupting into politics
Politics

The “cradle” vs. “convert” fight comes to Washington.

By Katherine Kelaidis
The controversies surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, briefly explainedThe controversies surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, briefly explained
Politics

He texted attack plans to a journalist, but the defense secretary’s problems go well beyond that.

By Patrick Reis
The Supreme Court’s “Don’t Say Gay” argument went disastrously for public schoolsThe Supreme Court’s “Don’t Say Gay” argument went disastrously for public schools
Supreme Court

Many of the justices seemed eager to impose impossible burdens on schools.

By Ian Millhiser
The right-wing conspiracy behind Trump’s war on HarvardThe right-wing conspiracy behind Trump’s war on Harvard
How Donald Trump is remaking America

They’ve dreamed for years of smashing elite universities. Now they’re getting their way.

By Andrew Prokop
Why Florida’s public universities are collaborating with ICEWhy Florida’s public universities are collaborating with ICE
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

As Trump wages war against Harvard, something unprecedented is happening on Florida’s college campuses.

By Devan Schwartz and Sean Rameswaram
The domestic fallout from Trump’s tariffs, in 3 chartsThe domestic fallout from Trump’s tariffs, in 3 charts
How Donald Trump is remaking America

Businesses and consumers are already appearing to panic.

By Nicole Narea
The Democrats’ Michelle Obama problemThe Democrats’ Michelle Obama problem
Politics

Democrats’ search for a savior is doomed. But that might be for the best.

By Christian Paz
Clean energy is big business. These 5 threats loom large.
Escape Velocity

Where current policies and trends could do real damage to climate progress.

By Umair Irfan
Meet the Trump supporters who love wind energy
Escape Velocity

In this conservative state, the wind is too strong for politics to slow it down.

By Benji Jones
American politics has poisoned how we think about the popeAmerican politics has poisoned how we think about the pope
Religion

Will the next pope be liberal or conservative? Neither.

By Christian Paz
Pope Francis is dead. The Church must now confront an uncomfortable truth.Pope Francis is dead. The Church must now confront an uncomfortable truth.
Religion

The political balancing act at the heart of the new conclave.

By Katherine Kelaidis
Kavanaugh and Barrett appear likely to ride to Obamacare’s rescueKavanaugh and Barrett appear likely to ride to Obamacare’s rescue
Supreme Court

The two Republican justices appeared open to an attack on Obamacare, but ultimately seemed likely to reject it.

By Ian Millhiser
We’re still winning the climate fight. Yes, really.We’re still winning the climate fight. Yes, really.
Escape Velocity

The world is steadily moving away from fossil fuels.

By Sean Collins
Will any climate progress survive the next four years?Will any climate progress survive the next four years?
Podcast
Escape Velocity

Trump wants to reverse years of climate progress. It won’t be easy.

By Jonquilyn Hill
We’ve unlocked a holy grail in clean energy. It’s only the beginning.
Escape Velocity

The incredible technology is harnessing the potential of solar and wind — and quietly revolutionizing the energy system.

By Umair Irfan
10 charts prove that clean energy is winning — even in the Trump era
Escape Velocity

Climate progress is actually good business.

By Umair Irfan, Benji Jones and 2 more
Our climate progress is not doomed
Escape Velocity

The future for our planet looks bleak. Here’s why it’s not.

By Paige Vega