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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
Is Trump defying the Supreme Court?Is Trump defying the Supreme Court?
The Logoff

His team argues it can leave a wrongfully deported man in a foreign mega-prison.

By Patrick Reis
The Republican attempt to steal a state supreme court election, explainedThe Republican attempt to steal a state supreme court election, explained
Supreme Court

Whoops! Republicans have somehow managed to violate Bush v. Gore.

By Ian Millhiser
Universities have a weapon in the fight against Trump. Why aren’t they using it?Universities have a weapon in the fight against Trump. Why aren’t they using it?
Education

Why Harvard and other rich universities aren’t tapping their fortunes to push back against the administration.

By Kevin Carey

The latest in Politics

How Joe Rogan’s America processed Trump’s tariffsHow Joe Rogan’s America processed Trump’s tariffs
Trump Administration

Trump’s podcasting and new media allies in the “manosphere” don’t know what to make of his tariff policy.

By Christian Paz
The Supreme Court case that seeks to make everyone’s health insurance worse, explainedThe Supreme Court case that seeks to make everyone’s health insurance worse, explained
Supreme Court

The Obamacare wars are back.

By Ian Millhiser
The far-reaching effects of Trump’s tariffs on low-income people, explainedThe far-reaching effects of Trump’s tariffs on low-income people, explained
Policy

Wall Street may be reeling, but it’s poor and working-class people who’ll be hurt by the Trump’s trade war.

By Abdallah Fayyad
How commerce became our most powerful tool against global povertyHow commerce became our most powerful tool against global poverty
Good News

The inconvenient truth about trade.

By Bryan Walsh
The playbook Trump is following to deport protestersThe playbook Trump is following to deport protesters
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

The authors of Project 2025 are at it again with Project Esther, a plan that’s supposedly about fighting antisemitism.

By Amanda Lewellyn
He was deported in error. Why won’t the government provide any information about him?He was deported in error. Why won’t the government provide any information about him?
Politics

We don’t know what happened to Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts — and it should worry every American.

By Nicole Narea
Trump’s favorite trick is blowing up in his face (and ours)Trump’s favorite trick is blowing up in his face (and ours)
Politics

He thinks chaotic behavior gets him better deals. Instead it’s gravely harming the US economy.

By Andrew Prokop
The Trump administration says cheap goods aren’t part of the American dream. They’re wrong.The Trump administration says cheap goods aren’t part of the American dream. They’re wrong.
Future Perfect

Everyone likes cheap consumer goods that will get more expensive under Trump’s tariffs.

By Kelsey Piper
Trump’s new talks with Iran could end in a deal — or a warTrump’s new talks with Iran could end in a deal — or a war
World Politics

The odds of both scenarios have never been higher.

By Joshua Keating
Trump defied a court order. The Supreme Court just handed him a partial loss.Trump defied a court order. The Supreme Court just handed him a partial loss.
Supreme Court

Even Trump’s lawyers concede that deporting Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was illegal.

By Ian Millhiser
Trump’s Orwellian rewrite of 2020Trump’s Orwellian rewrite of 2020
The Logoff

He’s trying to criminalize telling the truth about 2020.

By Patrick Reis
What Trump’s tariff pause can’t solveWhat Trump’s tariff pause can’t solve
Politics

Nobody knows what Trump will do next — and that’s a problem.

By Nicole Narea
The problem with the “progressive” case for tariffsThe problem with the “progressive” case for tariffs
Politics

Democrats shouldn’t echo Trump’s myths about trade.

By Eric Levitz
Why can Trump just say everything is an “emergency” and do whatever he wants?Why can Trump just say everything is an “emergency” and do whatever he wants?
Policy

Trump’s power to declare a national emergency is a national emergency.

By Abdallah Fayyad
What just happened with Trump’s tariffs?What just happened with Trump’s tariffs?
The Logoff

He paused some tariffs — and then escalated a trade war with China.

By Patrick Reis
Trump’s tariff war isn’t overTrump’s tariff war isn’t over
Politics

There’s a questionable assumption fueling the stock market rally.

By Eric Levitz
Why Trump blinkedWhy Trump blinked
Politics

His advisers claimed it was all part of the plan. Trump said otherwise.

By Andrew Prokop
The misunderstanding breaking the global economyThe misunderstanding breaking the global economy
Politics

Trump believes that if the US has a trade deficit with a country, they’re “beating” us. Huh?

By Andrew Prokop
The real losers from Trump’s stock crash, explained in 2 chartsThe real losers from Trump’s stock crash, explained in 2 charts
Politics

It’s not just the wealthy.

By Nicole Narea
Trump’s tariffs are an opportunity for China. Can Beijing seize it?Trump’s tariffs are an opportunity for China. Can Beijing seize it?
World Politics

Is America remaking the global economy or leaving it to its rival?

By Joshua Keating
Some elite Trump supporters are having regrets. We asked them why.Some elite Trump supporters are having regrets. We asked them why.
On the Right

After the tariffs, they’re worried they made a MAGA mistake.

By Zack Beauchamp
Would you pay more for an American-made TV? This influential thinker thinks you will.Would you pay more for an American-made TV? This influential thinker thinks you will.
Politics

A conversation with Oren Cass, the right’s point person on tariffs.

By Noel King and Miles Bryan
What happened the last time the US went all-in on tariffs?What happened the last time the US went all-in on tariffs?
Politics

Plus 6 other questions about Trump’s tariffs, answered.

By Nicole Narea
Trump’s tariffs are a mess. But are tariffs always bad?Trump’s tariffs are a mess. But are tariffs always bad?
Policy

Don’t judge tariffs on how Trump is using them.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The Supreme Court just made it easier for Trump to deport peopleThe Supreme Court just made it easier for Trump to deport people
Supreme Court

Despite the fact there isn’t a plausible argument the Alien Enemies Act can be used to do so.

By Ian Millhiser
Trump’s tariff-driven market crash, briefly explainedTrump’s tariff-driven market crash, briefly explained
The Logoff

The Dow has lost more than 4,000 points since the president rolled out his tariffs.

By Patrick Reis
The influential paper that explains Trump’s radical tariff policyThe influential paper that explains Trump’s radical tariff policy
Future Perfect

Tariffs aren’t helping globalization’s losers — they’re victimizing them again.

By Dylan Matthews
America may be headed for this rare type of economic crisisAmerica may be headed for this rare type of economic crisis
Politics

Stagflation, explained.

By Eric Levitz
Trump’s tariffs risk destroying his winning coalitionTrump’s tariffs risk destroying his winning coalition
Donald Trump

Already distrusted on the economy, Trump’s tariffs will be a liability with the voters who put him in office.

By Christian Paz
How the Nintendo Switch 2 delay explains Trump’s tariffsHow the Nintendo Switch 2 delay explains Trump’s tariffs
Culture

Trump threw a blue shell at Nintendo — and the global economy.

By Nicole Narea
A conspiracy theorist convinced Trump to fire the NSA directorA conspiracy theorist convinced Trump to fire the NSA director
The Logoff

Laura Loomer, a 9/11 truther, apparently gets input into the president’s national security decisions.

By Patrick Reis
What this disastrous week taught us about the Trump presidencyWhat this disastrous week taught us about the Trump presidency
Politics

The true nature of America’s crisis has been revealed.

By Zack Beauchamp
The right is cooking up a surprising legal fight against Trump’s tariffsThe right is cooking up a surprising legal fight against Trump’s tariffs
Supreme Court

At least some GOP legal elites are lining up against Trump’s trade policy. That could be enough to sway the justices.

By Ian Millhiser
How Trump’s tariffs could help ChinaHow Trump’s tariffs could help China
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

“You couldn’t have drafted these conditions better if you were a Chinese diplomat.”

By Noel King and Gabrielle Berbey
You have questions about Trump’s tariffs. We have answers.You have questions about Trump’s tariffs. We have answers.
Politics

And also more questions.

By Nicole Narea
The real reason Trump is destroying the economyThe real reason Trump is destroying the economy
Politics

Trump is imposing ruinous tariffs because American democracy is no longer strong enough to stop him.

By Zack Beauchamp
The best legal case against Trump’s tariffs, explainedThe best legal case against Trump’s tariffs, explained
Supreme Court

The president has broad authority over trade, but SCOTUS sometimes vetoes the president when they think he went too far.

By Ian Millhiser
The powerful force behind Trump’s tariffsThe powerful force behind Trump’s tariffs
Politics

The nostalgia is the point.

By Eric Levitz
How Wisconsin explains AmericaHow Wisconsin explains America
Politics

The two electorates that are swinging American politics.

By Christian Paz
I’m doing good work in my government job. Should I quit anyway?
Future PerfectThe Highlight

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

By Sigal Samuel