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Politics

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

Is the United States in self-destruct mode?
The Gray Area

The crisis is in the Constitution.

By Sean Illing
Is the United States in self-destruct mode?
The Gray Area

The crisis is in the Constitution.

By Sean Illing
An influencer is running for Senate. Is she just the first of many?An influencer is running for Senate. Is she just the first of many?
Culture

Caroline Gleich’s Utah Senate campaign is a sign of the blurring lines between digital creators and politicians.

By Rebecca Jennings
Israel’s January 6 momentIsrael’s January 6 moment
Politics

A far-right riot at a military base exposed the contradiction tearing Israel apart.

By Zack Beauchamp
Legendary activist Kimberlé Crenshaw on why those white people Zooms give her hopeLegendary activist Kimberlé Crenshaw on why those white people Zooms give her hope
Culture

The scholar who coined “intersectionality” explains why those fundraisers from white Harris supporters really do matter.

By Constance Grady

The latest in Politics

Chuck Schumer’s ambitious plan to take the Supreme Court down a pegChuck Schumer’s ambitious plan to take the Supreme Court down a peg
Supreme Court

Schumer wants to engage in jurisdiction stripping, a rarely used tactic that can shrink the Supreme Court’s authority.

By Ian Millhiser
The Trump-Vance campaign would be great if not for Trump and VanceThe Trump-Vance campaign would be great if not for Trump and Vance
Politics

The Trump team’s newfound professionalism can’t conceal their candidate’s longstanding flaws.

By Eric Levitz
The US-Russia prisoner swap that freed Evan Gershkovich, explainedThe US-Russia prisoner swap that freed Evan Gershkovich, explained
World Politics

It’s the largest exchange since the Cold War.

By Li Zhou
Why the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big dealWhy the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big deal
Politics

It’s the end of a drawn-out legal process, haunted by the failure of the war on terror.

By Ellen Ioanes
The rebirth of the #ResistanceThe rebirth of the #Resistance
Today, Explained newsletter

Resistance liberals were exhausted. Then Kamala Harris became the nominee.

By Christian Paz
Why two astronauts are stuck in spaceWhy two astronauts are stuck in space
Science

The Starliner test mission is just one of Boeing’s many woes.

By Ellen Ioanes
Speaking to Black journalists, Trump reminded everyone how racist he can beSpeaking to Black journalists, Trump reminded everyone how racist he can be
2024 Elections

Give Trump a platform and he’ll remind people how unlikable he is.

By Christian Paz
A very dangerous 24 hours in the Middle EastA very dangerous 24 hours in the Middle East
Politics

After strikes in Beirut and Tehran, the region has never been closer to all-out war.

By Joshua Keating
What the Kamala Harris identity debate shows about AmericaWhat the Kamala Harris identity debate shows about America
Politics

Identity is complicated, and she shouldn’t have to choose just one.

By Nisha Chittal
Would picking Josh Shapiro actually help Harris in Pennsylvania?Would picking Josh Shapiro actually help Harris in Pennsylvania?
Politics

Vice presidential candidates don’t necessarily enjoy a home-state advantage.

By Eric Levitz
Who could be Kamala Harris’s VP? The potential list, briefly explained.Who could be Kamala Harris’s VP? The potential list, briefly explained.
Politics

Popular Democratic governors from swing states are among those likely in contention.

By Li Zhou
Are we really in a “new Cold War” with China?Are we really in a “new Cold War” with China?
China

The US ambassador to Beijing talks to Vox about trade, Taiwan, climate, and the world’s most important relationship.

By Joshua Keating
Ruthless “cop” or “soft on crime”? Kamala Harris’s record as prosecutor, explained.Ruthless “cop” or “soft on crime”? Kamala Harris’s record as prosecutor, explained.
Today, Explained newsletter

The vice president’s days as a California prosecutor are difficult to define in clear ideological terms.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The short shelf-life of the White House tell-allThe short shelf-life of the White House tell-all
Culture

White House tell-alls age like milk. Why do journalists keep writing them?

By Alexander Sorondo
Project 2025: The myths and the factsProject 2025: The myths and the facts
Politics

The sweeping conservative plan for Trump’s second term is very real. Here’s what it actually says.

By Andrew Prokop
Gen Z loves making Kamala Harris memes. Will they vote?Gen Z loves making Kamala Harris memes. Will they vote?
2024 Elections

The vibes are good, but Harris wouldn’t be the first Democrat to bet on youth turnout — and lose.

By Christian Paz
Where J.D. Vance’s weirdest idea actually came fromWhere J.D. Vance’s weirdest idea actually came from
Politics

How Vance’s proposal to give parents extra votes illustrates the fundamental flaw in his politics.

By Zack Beauchamp
The movement desperately trying to get people to have more babiesThe movement desperately trying to get people to have more babies
Policy

It’s not only J.D. Vance fixating on childlessness: The pronatalists, explained.

By Rachel M. Cohen
Biden’s new Supreme Court reform proposals are mostly uselessBiden’s new Supreme Court reform proposals are mostly useless
Supreme Court

The president is finally going after the high court, but his ideas are pretty weak.

By Ian Millhiser
Venezuela’s Maduro just tightened his grip on power. What comes next?Venezuela’s Maduro just tightened his grip on power. What comes next?
World Politics

Nicolás Maduro has presided over Venezuela’s economic decline — while increasing his authoritarian tendencies.

By Ellen Ioanes
The ugly calculus behind MAGA’s racist and sexist attacks on HarrisThe ugly calculus behind MAGA’s racist and sexist attacks on Harris
Politics

They try to undercut her legitimacy — and stoke fears about women of color in power.

By Li Zhou
Trump proposed bombing Mexico and it somehow wasn’t a big storyTrump proposed bombing Mexico and it somehow wasn’t a big story
Policy

Trump’s extremist policy agenda is flying under the radar — and that’s a problem.

By Zack Beauchamp
Arson attacks underscore the security and terror threats to the Paris OlympicsArson attacks underscore the security and terror threats to the Paris Olympics
Olympics

Officials say Paris will be the “safest place in the world” for the Olympics. Here’s what they’re up against.

By Joshua Keating
A new Supreme Court case threatens to gut the Court’s one good trans rights decisionA new Supreme Court case threatens to gut the Court’s one good trans rights decision
Supreme Court

Republican Justice Neil Gorsuch surprised most Court watchers by supporting trans rights in Bostock v. Clayton County. We’re about to find out if he actually meant it.

By Ian Millhiser
How Kamala Harris could win (or lose) the Electoral CollegeHow Kamala Harris could win (or lose) the Electoral College
Politics

Joe Biden’s best path might not be Harris’s best path.

By Andrew Prokop
J.D. Vance didn’t have sex with a couch. But he’s still extremely weird.J.D. Vance didn’t have sex with a couch. But he’s still extremely weird.
Culture

The rumors were easy to believe, especially when the potential VP has such terrible ideas about sex.

By Rebecca Jennings
What Kamala Harris really thinks about Israel and GazaWhat Kamala Harris really thinks about Israel and Gaza
2024 Elections

Biden’s approach to the war in Gaza has been divisive. Would Harris chart a new path?

By Nicole Narea
J.D. Vance has made it impossible for Trump to run away from Project 2025J.D. Vance has made it impossible for Trump to run away from Project 2025
Politics

He wrote the foreword for a new book by Project 2025’s architect — and has backed some of its most extreme ideas.

By Andrew Prokop
So what does Joe Biden do now?So what does Joe Biden do now?
Politics

In an Oval Office speech, Biden said his farewells. But his job isn’t done yet.

By Nicole Narea
Has Netanyahu finally lost America?Has Netanyahu finally lost America?
Israel

After his latest address to Congress, the Israeli prime minister has never looked more isolated.

By Joshua Keating
Could a short campaign be exactly what Kamala Harris needs?Could a short campaign be exactly what Kamala Harris needs?
Politics

Dozens of other democracies have short election cycles. Can the Democrats learn something from them?

By Ellen Ioanes
Republicans ask the Supreme Court to gut student loan relief a second timeRepublicans ask the Supreme Court to gut student loan relief a second time
Supreme Court

The Court’s first decision blocking student loan forgiveness was a lawless mess.

By Ian Millhiser
The billionaire tax proposal that’s driving Silicon Valley to support TrumpThe billionaire tax proposal that’s driving Silicon Valley to support Trump
Future Perfect

No, it isn’t a devious Democratic plan to destroy startups.

By Dylan Matthews
Why does Kamala Harris want to be president?Why does Kamala Harris want to be president?
2024 Elections

It’s difficult to predict what a Harris presidency would look like. But there are some clues.

By Abdallah Fayyad and Christian Paz
Nancy Pelosi is still in chargeNancy Pelosi is still in charge
Politics

The former speaker’s singular influence most recently played a role in President Biden’s decision to end his candidacy.

By Li Zhou
The one thing Veep captures better than any other political showThe one thing Veep captures better than any other political show
Culture

With Kamala Harris’s ascendancy, the series is on everyone’s mind — and the reason it resonates goes deeper than you might think.

By Whizy Kim
Paris 2024: Olympics news and updatesParis 2024: Olympics news and updates
LIVE
By Gabriela Fernandez
Joe Biden’s enormous, contradictory, and fragile climate legacyJoe Biden’s enormous, contradictory, and fragile climate legacy
Climate

If elected, Trump could slow down Biden’s progress, but the shift to clean energy is unstoppable.

By Umair Irfan
“What was not a race yesterday is a race today”: David Axelrod on Biden dropping out“What was not a race yesterday is a race today”: David Axelrod on Biden dropping out
2024 Elections

What a fresh face might mean for the November presidential election.

By Sean Rameswaram and Bryan Walsh
Could Kamala Harris’s “Brat summer” win her the presidency?Could Kamala Harris’s “Brat summer” win her the presidency?
Culture

Democrats have their first “Brat” candidate. What will it get them?

By Rebecca Jennings