Shouts & Murmurs
Meet My Shitty A.I. Friends
Crystal: Only ever messages you when she needs something—usually a software update—but still starts the chat acting like she’s just checking in.
By Sarah Vollman and Olivia de Recat
What I Imagine TV’s “Mature Audiences” Are Like
They know that the true meaning of “Netflix and chill” is to remain calm and not shut your eyes during the scary parts.
By Sarah Garfinkel
How We Got the Story
This five-part series, which includes this three-part series on how we got the story, is the result of a two-year investigation, involving scores of interview requests, several interviews, and five 311 calls.
By Bruce Headlam and Stephen Sherrill
America!: J. D. Vance’s Early Art-House Films Discovered
Notable movies include “Cat Ladies,” “Stolen Valorian,” and “Awkward Daddy Stuff.”
By Ali Fitzgerald
Back-to-Introversion Sale
When the kids go back to school, I’m going back to introversion.
By Talib Babb
Every Newspaper Obituary’s First Paragraph
Alfred T. Alfred, whose invention of the plastic fastener that affixes tags to clothing upended the tag industry, died on Saturday.
By Emily Zauzmer
A Field Guide to Bros
This guide will help you easily identify the main subspecies of bro in their natural environments.
By Ben Chase
Is That a Young Child You Have? Please, Please, Take Our Old Toys!
I can just run home right now, throw all of my kids’ old toys into a garbage bag, and dump it on your front porch.
By Eddie Small
Get to Know the New Pop Girls
Calling all girls, gays, and theys: mother has arrived!
By Sophia Zarders