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Politics

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

Biden’s DOJ just asked the Supreme Court to do a huge favor for Donald Trump
Supreme Court

The Court has a chance to resolve a years-long fight over “nationwide injunctions,” just days before Trump takes office.

By Ian Millhiser
Biden’s DOJ just asked the Supreme Court to do a huge favor for Donald Trump
Supreme Court

The Court has a chance to resolve a years-long fight over “nationwide injunctions,” just days before Trump takes office.

By Ian Millhiser
TikTok should lose its big Supreme Court caseTikTok should lose its big Supreme Court case
Supreme Court

The Supreme Court case asking if the government can ban TikTok is easier than it looks.

By Ian Millhiser
What if everyone qualified for welfare benefits?What if everyone qualified for welfare benefits?
Policy

Universal programs are much easier to administer than means-tested ones.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Trump and Musk actually made a good point on immigrationTrump and Musk actually made a good point on immigration
PoliticsMember Exclusive

The US does need more skilled workers. But that’s not all it needs.

By Eric Levitz

The latest in Politics

The past 24 hours in South Korea’s chaotic politics, explainedThe past 24 hours in South Korea’s chaotic politics, explained
World Politics

South Korea’s impeached president avoided arrest — for now.

By Ellen Ioanes
House Republicans’ speaker drama, briefly explainedHouse Republicans’ speaker drama, briefly explained
Politics

Initial GOP defections point to the party’s divides.

By Li Zhou
President Biden blocked the sale of US Steel. Why?President Biden blocked the sale of US Steel. Why?
Vox’s guide to Donald Trump’s 2024 policies

How a consolation prize for unions might screw everyone over — them included.

By Dylan Matthews
The New Orleans attack shows that ISIS hasn’t gone away. It’s changed.The New Orleans attack shows that ISIS hasn’t gone away. It’s changed.
World Politics

The “caliphate” is history. But ISIS is still a threat.

By Joshua Keating
25 things we think will happen in 2025
Future Perfect

From tariffs and a Trump/Elon break-up to artificial general intelligence, here’s what could happen in 2025, according to the Future Perfect team.

By Dylan Matthews, Bryan Walsh and 4 more
The huge stakes in a new Supreme Court case about pornographyThe huge stakes in a new Supreme Court case about pornography
Supreme Court

Texas asks the justices to abandon longstanding First Amendment protections for sexual speech.

By Ian Millhiser
TikTok is headed for a ban — but can Trump still save it?TikTok is headed for a ban — but can Trump still save it?
Politics

The four ways Trump could potentially preserve the app.

By Li Zhou
Elon Musk is on a collision course with Stephen MillerElon Musk is on a collision course with Stephen Miller
Politics

The Trumpworld feud over H-1B visas, explained.

By Andrew Prokop
2024 cemented the tough-on-crime comeback2024 cemented the tough-on-crime comeback
Policy

Tough-on-crime laws are back. But next year could be different.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The 14 predictions that came true in 2024 — and the 10 that didn’t
Future Perfect

The 24 forecasts we made in 2024, revisited.

By Bryan Walsh, Dylan Matthews and 4 more
Jimmy Carter’s legacy: A disappointing presidency, a remarkable post-presidency, explained
Politics

Jimmy Carter, the longest-lived president in US history, dies at 100.

By Dylan Matthews
How Trump could crack down on blue cities and states to enact mass deportationsHow Trump could crack down on blue cities and states to enact mass deportations
Trump 2.0, explained

Democrats moved to the right on immigration. Will sanctuary cities still stand up to Trump?

By Nicole Narea
How the US made progress against gun violence in 2024How the US made progress against gun violence in 2024
Politics

It’s easy to feel like gun violence is hopeless and never getting better. 2024 disproves that.

By Marin Cogan
The high-tech future of assisted suicide is here. The world isn’t ready.The high-tech future of assisted suicide is here. The world isn’t ready.
Politics

A “suicide pod” in Switzerland roils the right-to-die debate.

By Marin Cogan
9 actually good things that happened in 20249 actually good things that happened in 2024
Future Perfect

It wasn’t the easiest year, but 2024 was not without its bright spots.

By Bryan Walsh
The 10(ish) most read Future Perfect stories of 2024The 10(ish) most read Future Perfect stories of 2024
Future Perfect

Why young people are getting cancer, problems with OpenAI, and the little intelligence agency that could.

By Bryan Walsh
The Matt Gaetz ethics report, explainedThe Matt Gaetz ethics report, explained
Congress

The report accuses Gaetz of paying women for sex — including a 17-year-old.

By Ellen Ioanes and Li Zhou
The long decline of the American death penalty, explainedThe long decline of the American death penalty, explained
Criminal Justice

President Biden’s latest move against the death penalty is part of a much larger nationwide trend.

By Ian Millhiser
Climate change is pushing some governments to the breaking pointClimate change is pushing some governments to the breaking point
Climate

One country offers a glimpse into the future of warming and unrest.

By Umair Irfan
Biden made good use of the pardon power. It still needs reform.Biden made good use of the pardon power. It still needs reform.
Policy

Presidents routinely abuse the pardon, but Biden’s record-setting commutations underscore why reforms should be narrow.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The uncomfortable question about “Latino” votersThe uncomfortable question about “Latino” voters
Politics

Is the group too diverse to think of with just one word?

By Christian Paz
A public housing success storyA public housing success story
Policy

Americans don’t have to look abroad for answers.

By Abdallah Fayyad
House Republicans just exposed the limits of Trump’s powerHouse Republicans just exposed the limits of Trump’s power
Politics

That bodes poorly for his agenda next year.

By Eric Levitz
Trump, the government funding chaos agent, is backTrump, the government funding chaos agent, is back
Politics

Trump is blowing up funding deals, again. It’s a preview of what’s to come.

By Li Zhou
What the hell is going on in Congress, explainedWhat the hell is going on in Congress, explained
Politics

Trump stoked another congressional crisis. But there’s an intriguing twist to this one.

By Andrew Prokop
Can Trump get a Gaza ceasefire?Can Trump get a Gaza ceasefire?
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

The president-elect is pushing Hamas to free Israeli hostages by January 20.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Noel King
How Democrats should — and shouldn’t — moderate on immigrationHow Democrats should — and shouldn’t — moderate on immigration
Politics

Democrats must not forfeit the fight for expanding legal admissions.

By Eric Levitz
The Supreme Court’s new abortion case should be an easy win for Planned ParenthoodThe Supreme Court’s new abortion case should be an easy win for Planned Parenthood
Supreme Court

Although nothing is ever certain in this Supreme Court.

By Ian Millhiser
The horrifying rape case roiling France, explainedThe horrifying rape case roiling France, explained
World Politics

Gisèle Pelicot’s husband drugged and assaulted her for a decade. She demanded a public trial.

By Li Zhou
Gisèle Pelicot’s marital rape case shocked the world. It echoes a quieter revolution in the US.Gisèle Pelicot’s marital rape case shocked the world. It echoes a quieter revolution in the US.
World Politics

A marital rape case in France reverberated around the world. This is how it happened.

By Marin Cogan
Biden pulled off a $370 billion miracle for the climate. Where did the money go?Biden pulled off a $370 billion miracle for the climate. Where did the money go?
Climate

Turns out, it’s surprisingly hard to spend government cash.

By Umair Irfan
Will CEOs actually deliver on their Trumpy job promises?Will CEOs actually deliver on their Trumpy job promises?
Politics

SoftBank is making another big jobs pledge. It’s not clear it came through the first time.

By Li Zhou
Trump’s media lawsuits could do serious damage to America’s free pressTrump’s media lawsuits could do serious damage to America’s free press
Donald Trump

Lawsuits against ABC and the Des Moines Register are meant to chill the media.

By Ellen Ioanes
The Supreme Court will race to decide whether the government may ban TikTokThe Supreme Court will race to decide whether the government may ban TikTok
Supreme Court

The federal law targeting TikTok takes effect January 19. The Supreme Court appears likely to resolve this case by then.

By Ian Millhiser
The drone hysteria is a glimpse of the futureThe drone hysteria is a glimpse of the future
Future PerfectMember Exclusive

Thousands of people were convinced they were seeing drone swarms. Get used to it.

By Bryan Walsh
Why conservatives condemn Luigi Mangione and celebrate Daniel PennyWhy conservatives condemn Luigi Mangione and celebrate Daniel Penny
On the RightMember Exclusive

A tale of two killings.

By Zack Beauchamp
How a tiff over tariffs exposed the Canadian government’s fragilityHow a tiff over tariffs exposed the Canadian government’s fragility
World Politics

Simmering tensions between Justin Trudeau and former ally Chrystia Freeland erupted Monday.

By Ellen Ioanes
A new Supreme Court case about religion has a hidden trap for workersA new Supreme Court case about religion has a hidden trap for workers
Supreme Court

Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin has a sympathetic plaintiff, and alarmingly high stakes for workers.

By Ian Millhiser
Trump’s for-profit presidencyTrump’s for-profit presidency
Trump 2.0, explained

The many ways that Donald Trump could use the presidency for personal gain — again.

By Nicole Narea
What’s up with all these drone sightings?What’s up with all these drone sightings?
PoliticsMember Exclusive

The 7 biggest questions, answered as best we can.

By Li Zhou