Skip to main content
The Doomsday Clock is running out of time
Future Perfect

Are we really 89 seconds away from annihilation?

By Bryan Walsh
The Doomsday Clock is running out of time
Future Perfect

Are we really 89 seconds away from annihilation?

By Bryan Walsh
How Greenland feels about Trump, explained by a GreenlanderHow Greenland feels about Trump, explained by a Greenlander
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Greenland: not for sale, but open for business.

By Avishay Artsy and Noel King
Did Israel “win” the post-October 7 war?Did Israel “win” the post-October 7 war?
World Politics

Hamas survived, but Iran is reeling. How 15 months of destruction changed the Middle East.

By Joshua Keating
How much credit does Trump really deserve for the Gaza ceasefire?How much credit does Trump really deserve for the Gaza ceasefire?
Politics

Trump’s role in the Israel-Hamas negotiation, explained.

By Andrew Prokop

The latest in World Politics

What it will really take to end the war in UkraineWhat it will really take to end the war in Ukraine
World Politics

Trump wants a ceasefire. The problem is that Russia thinks it’s winning.

By Joshua Keating
What’s in the Gaza ceasefire deal? And can it last?What’s in the Gaza ceasefire deal? And can it last?
Politics

The agreement that hopes to end the Israel-Hamas war, explained.

By Zack Beauchamp
The world has entered the third nuclear age
The HighlightThe Highlight

Nuclear guardrails are falling apart — and Donald Trump is about to retake the launch codes.

By Joshua Keating
The real danger of Trump’s Greenland gambitThe real danger of Trump’s Greenland gambit
World Politics

What happens when you treat the world like a game of Risk.

By Joshua Keating
Justin Trudeau is resigning. Here’s what comes next.Justin Trudeau is resigning. Here’s what comes next.
World Politics

A cost-of-living crisis and conflict in the Liberal Party mean the resignation’s not a surprise.

By Ellen Ioanes
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The drone hysteria is a glimpse of the futureThe drone hysteria is a glimpse of the future
Future Perfect

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

By Bryan Walsh
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
How Trump could gut the refugee programHow Trump could gut the refugee program
Trump 2.0, explained

A second Trump presidency could be even worse for refugees than the first.

By Ellen Ioanes
How China could try to strangle Taiwan without firing a shot
World Politics

The Taiwan invasion everyone fears might never happen. Here’s what could take place instead.

By Joshua Keating
Assad is gone. Will Syrian refugees go home?Assad is gone. Will Syrian refugees go home?
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

The big decision facing millions of Syrian refugees, explained.

By Avishay Artsy and Noel King
What really mattered in 2024What really mattered in 2024
Future Perfect

The stories that will endure from a wild year.

By Kelsey Piper
The Supreme Court wades into the Israel-Palestine conflictThe Supreme Court wades into the Israel-Palestine conflict
Supreme Court

What could possibly go wrong?

By Ian Millhiser
After 13 years of war, Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has been defeated. What comes next?After 13 years of war, Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has been defeated. What comes next?
World Politics

How the Assad regime collapsed slowly, then all at once.

By Joshua Keating
Mexico just put animal welfare into its national constitutionMexico just put animal welfare into its national constitution
Future Perfect

These reforms are a big win for advocates, but what happens next will be crucial for animals rights.

By Sam Delgado
How the Syrian rebels’ surprise offensive shocked the worldHow the Syrian rebels’ surprise offensive shocked the world
World Politics

The world had moved on from Syria — but Syrians had other ideas.

By Joshua Keating
France’s government just collapsed. What does that actually mean?France’s government just collapsed. What does that actually mean?
World Politics

The political crisis is months in the making

By Ellen Ioanes
The South Korean president’s stunning martial law decree, explainedThe South Korean president’s stunning martial law decree, explained
World Politics

The National Assembly voted down the decree, but the political crisis isn’t over.

By Ellen Ioanes
Why protests in the country of Georgia matterWhy protests in the country of Georgia matter
World Politics

Georgians are trying to move toward Europe. Their government may have different plans.

By Ellen Ioanes
A hopeful post-apocalyptic novel for right nowA hopeful post-apocalyptic novel for right now
Audio
The HighlightThe Highlight

Author Eman Abdelhadi on imagining a better world.

By Jorge Just
He thought he would die in Putin’s gulag. Now he has a message for the world.He thought he would die in Putin’s gulag. Now he has a message for the world.
World Politics

Leading Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza tells Vox the world needs to start preparing now for Putin’s fall.

By Joshua Keating
Trump’s win is part of a mysterious — and ominous — worldwide trendTrump’s win is part of a mysterious — and ominous — worldwide trend
Politics

Why are people all over the world angry at “the system”?

By Zack Beauchamp
Israel and Hezbollah seem headed for a ceasefire. Here’s what we know.Israel and Hezbollah seem headed for a ceasefire. Here’s what we know.
World Politics

What’s in the ceasefire deal, and what could come next.

By Ellen Ioanes
Trump’s tariff plan is an inflation planTrump’s tariff plan is an inflation plan
Trump 2.0, explained

New tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China could make life more expensive.

By Ellen Ioanes
The unexpected place that could become an immigration flashpoint under TrumpThe unexpected place that could become an immigration flashpoint under Trump
Trump 2.0, explained

Trump’s immigration crackdown could extend to the US-Canada border.

By Nicole Narea
International arrest warrants are out for Netanyahu and Gallant. What happens next?International arrest warrants are out for Netanyahu and Gallant. What happens next?
Israel

The International Criminal Court issued warrants over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

By Ellen Ioanes
The three foreign policy factions fighting for Trump’s earThe three foreign policy factions fighting for Trump’s ear
Trump 2.0, explained

Generals out. Loyalists in. A look at Trump’s new foreign policy team.

By Joshua Keating
Trump loves tariffs. Will the rest of America?Trump loves tariffs. Will the rest of America?
Trump 2.0, explained

If enacted, his plan could remake world trade — and squeeze US consumers.

By Haleema Shah and Noel King
Biden is letting Ukraine use a powerful new weapon. What happens next?Biden is letting Ukraine use a powerful new weapon. What happens next?
Russia

Putin’s response is renewing concerns about nuclear escalation.

By Ellen Ioanes
Want to donate to charity? Here are 10 guidelines for giving effectively.Want to donate to charity? Here are 10 guidelines for giving effectively.
Future Perfect

How to do the most good possible with the money you give.

By Dylan Matthews and Sigal Samuel
Trump didn’t gut foreign aid last time. This time could be different.Trump didn’t gut foreign aid last time. This time could be different.
Trump 2.0, explained

What Trump’s return could mean for the global poor.

By Dylan Matthews