Photos of the Week: Relic Crown, Floating Village, Ice Harvest
A Christmas fair in Romania, an enormous indoor ice rink in Paris, a surfing Santa Claus in Australia, a sunset camel safari in India, a cyclo-cross race in Belgium, and much more
Bashar al-Assad Exploited Alawites’ Fear
To move forward, Syria needs to guarantee their safety.
The GOP Is Treating Musk Like He’s in Charge
This week, the world’s richest person solidified his influence over American politics.
America’s Bird-Flu Luck Has Officially Run Out
Bird flu has spread so widely that it was always going to make someone seriously sick.
A Nonreligious Holiday Ritual
The winter solstice is a pristine time for the simple act of noticing.
Why Reading Books in High School Matters
You’ll understand when you’re older.
Postpone Your Pleasures
And enjoy them all the more.
Musk Makes a Mess of Congress
The billionaire may have just tanked a bipartisan bill to fund the government. All he needed was a few hours on X.
A Beacon in the Clouds
Day 19 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar
An Autistic Teenager Fell Hard for a Chatbot
My godson was especially vulnerable to AI companions, and he is not alone.
The Cost of Lawlessness on the West Bank
Settler violence against Palestinians is rising, and Israel seems unwilling to stop it.
A Biting Satire of the Art World’s Monstrousness
Ella Baxter’s new novel explores why creative genius so often seems to be at odds with being a good person.
The Luxury Makeover of the Worst Pastry on Earth
How panettone, the once-reviled Italian Christmas treat, became a high-end commodity
In Praise of Mercy
Clemency is a tool for correcting the vengeful tendency to punish rather than forgive.
How Liberal America Came to Its Senses
The period of left-wing illiberalism that began about a decade ago seems to have drawn to a close. The final cause of death was the reelection of Donald Trump.
A Mysterious Health Wave Is Breaking Out Across the U.S.
America is suddenly getting healthier. No one knows why.
Why Online Returns Are a Hassle Now
Getting your money back is not as simple as it used to be.
Trump Has Found the Media’s Biggest Vulnerability
Most major media properties are tied to larger business interests that can benefit from government policy—or be harmed by it.
A Gala for Right-Wing Revenge
The mood that dominated an annual soiree for the New York Young Republicans: gleeful promises of retribution for Trump’s perceived enemies.
Images of Krampus—Saint Nick’s Dark Companion
Recent images of people dressed in frightening Krampus costumes, parading in front of crowds and chasing bystanders