The Many Lives of Catherine the Great

A new Hulu show presents the life of the Russian empress as a narrative of lean-in empowerment. But was it?

Sophie Pinkham

The Past and Future of Latinx Politics

Two new books look at the history of Latinx Democrats and Republicans and the role each will play in the future.

Ed Morales

Maria Reva’s Mordant and Profound Fiction

In her short story collection, Good Citizens Need Not Fear, Reva documents the chaos, joy, and serendipity of life before and after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Jennifer Wilson

Run the Jewels’ Wake-up Call

While other mainstream rappers might create one song or one album dedicated to the unrest, Killer Mike and El-P have carried that torch for six years.

Marcus J. Moore

Bodies & Water

Felicia Zamora

I used a tool to reach…

Bruce Smith

The Deep Roots of Our Housing Crisis

By examining the history of housing inequality in San Francisco and California, Conor Dougherty makes a sobering case for how and why our politics and politicians have failed.

Rachel M. Cohen

The Racist Roots of New Technology

From facial recognition to VR, Ruha Benjamin’s new book illuminates how cutting-edge tech reproduces inequalities.

Stephen Kearse

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Ennio Moltedo

The Troubling Origins of Birthright Politics

Two new works of history examine how the politics of birthright citizenship can be a vehicle for liberation and equality and serve the cause of exclusion.

Nathan Perl-Rosenthal