Culture
How the Border Patrol Moved Inland—and Created a Police State How the Border Patrol Moved Inland—and Created a Police State
In 1994, the writer Leslie Marmon Silko wrote a piece for The Nation warning of a frightening new immigration regime.
Why “The Voice of Hind Rajab” Will Break Your Heart Why “The Voice of Hind Rajab” Will Break Your Heart
A film dramatizing a rescue crew’s attempts to save the 5-year-old Gazan girl might be one of the most affecting movies of the year.
How Laura Poitras Finds the Truth How Laura Poitras Finds the Truth
The director has a knack for getting people to tell her things they’ve never told anyone else—including her latest subject, Seymour Hersh.
Organized Labor at a Crossroads Organized Labor at a Crossroads
How can unions adapt to a new landscape of work?
Books
Organized Labor at a Crossroads Organized Labor at a Crossroads
How can unions adapt to a new landscape of work?
Mahmood Mamdani’s Uganda Mahmood Mamdani’s Uganda
In his new book Slow Poison, the accomplished anthropologist revisits the Idi Amin and Yoweri Museveni years.
Helen DeWitt and Ilya Gridneff’s Sweeping Anti-War Novel Helen DeWitt and Ilya Gridneff’s Sweeping Anti-War Novel
Your Name Here dramatizes the tensions and possibilities of political art.
Film
Why “The Voice of Hind Rajab” Will Break Your Heart Why “The Voice of Hind Rajab” Will Break Your Heart
A film dramatizing a rescue crew’s attempts to save the 5-year-old Gazan girl might be one of the most affecting movies of the year.
How Laura Poitras Finds the Truth How Laura Poitras Finds the Truth
The director has a knack for getting people to tell her things they’ve never told anyone else—including her latest subject, Seymour Hersh.
Rob Reiner’s Legacy Can’t Be Sullied by Trump’s Shameful Attacks Rob Reiner’s Legacy Can’t Be Sullied by Trump’s Shameful Attacks
The late actor and director leaves behind a roster of classic films—and a much safer and juster California.
One Buyout After Another One Buyout After Another
The multibillion-dollar takeover bids targeting Warner Bros. Discovery show how Trump’s corrupt model of governance-by-payback could destroy Hollywood.
Jafar Panahi Will Not Be Stopped Jafar Panahi Will Not Be Stopped
Imprisoned and censored by his home country of Iran, the legendary director discusses his furtive filmmaking.
Television
Rob Reiner’s Legacy Can’t Be Sullied by Trump’s Shameful Attacks Rob Reiner’s Legacy Can’t Be Sullied by Trump’s Shameful Attacks
The late actor and director leaves behind a roster of classic films—and a much safer and juster California.
The Slop of Things to Come The Slop of Things to Come
This past week boasted many overhyped AI breakthroughs, but the healthiest one was the fierce repudiation of a contemptuous McDonald’s ad.
One Buyout After Another One Buyout After Another
The multibillion-dollar takeover bids targeting Warner Bros. Discovery show how Trump’s corrupt model of governance-by-payback could destroy Hollywood.
Architecture
The Messy Campus Thriller of “After the Hunt” The Messy Campus Thriller of “After the Hunt”
Luca Guadagnino’s films have always asked viewers to turn off their brains when it comes to love and sex. In his new film, he asks the opposite.
The Transformation of the New York Waterfront The Transformation of the New York Waterfront
From the Navy Yard and Industry City to the recent remaking of Bush Terminal, developers are attempting to remake Brooklyn’s coastline.
Your Dream House Might Be a Fantasy Your Dream House Might Be a Fantasy
AI has has invaded the real estate industry, dissolving the boundaries between image enhancement and false advertising.
Music
Who’s the Boss? Who’s the Boss?
A bowdlerized biopic of Bruce Springsteen, starring Jeremy Allen White, flattens a musician whose politics and identity are much more complicated.
The Sonic Risks of PUP and Rico Nasty The Sonic Risks of PUP and Rico Nasty
On their new albums, the punk rockers and rapper break all the rules.
“It’s a Warning, Set to a Dance Beat”: Jon Batiste on His New Song 20 Years After Katrina “It’s a Warning, Set to a Dance Beat”: Jon Batiste on His New Song 20 Years After Katrina
The New Orleans jazz great tells Covering Climate Now, “When you make a song, you want to inspire people, but you also want to let them know what they can do.”
Ozzy Osbourne, Rock God Despite Himself (1948–2025) Ozzy Osbourne, Rock God Despite Himself (1948–2025)
The Prince of Darkness, who gave us heavy metal as we know it, has been laid to rest.
The Life and Times of Talking Heads The Life and Times of Talking Heads
How influential was the New Wave band?
Publishing
Chester Himes’s Harlem Noirs Chester Himes’s Harlem Noirs
Himes helped reinvent the idea of the detective novel. He also transformed it into a powerful vehicle for social criticism.
James Baldwin’s Radical Politics of Love James Baldwin’s Radical Politics of Love
While Baldwin was persecuted in part because of whom he loved, it was love that impelled him to bring about a more utopian future in which such persecution was not possible.
Militarism Has Long Worked to Shield Antisemitism Militarism Has Long Worked to Shield Antisemitism
From the Cold War till Donald Trump, there’s always been a special dispensation for hawkish bigots.
Latest in Culture
Republicans and Obamacare, Again—Plus, Early, Early Bob Dylan Republicans and Obamacare, Again—Plus, Early, Early Bob Dylan
On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols has our political update, and Sean Wilentz talks about the latest release in the Dylan Bootleg series.
Dec 10, 2025 / Jon Wiener
A Visceral Look at the Impossible Task of Mothering A Visceral Look at the Impossible Task of Mothering
Mary Bronstein’s “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” is at once harrowing and mesmerizing.
Nov 24, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Beatrice Loayza
Rethinking Nuremberg for the 21st Century Rethinking Nuremberg for the 21st Century
The new film Nuremberg may tell us as much about the present as about the past.
Nov 10, 2025 / Elizabeth Borgwardt
The Invention of the Modern Self The Invention of the Modern Self
How did the idea of the individual come into being?
Nov 10, 2025 / Books & the Arts / David A. Bell
Joachim Trier’s Nostalgic Lens Joachim Trier’s Nostalgic Lens
In Sentimental Value, the Norwegian filmmaker’s most ambitious work yet, he examines the porous boundary between art and life.
Nov 7, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Alana Pockros
