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Money

How we make and spend money, and how economics influences the world around us.

Why Trump’s tariffs could live forever 
Politics

The president’s protectionism answers a riddle at the heart of American fiscal policy.

By Eric Levitz
Why Trump’s tariffs could live forever 
Politics

The president’s protectionism answers a riddle at the heart of American fiscal policy.

By Eric Levitz
Even Better
How do you keep a kid’s fantasy camp afloat?How do you keep a kid’s fantasy camp afloat?
Even Better

A summer program running on magic, swords, and financial precarity.

By Nicole Dieker Finley
Politics
Turns out the Trump economy is not doing so well after allTurns out the Trump economy is not doing so well after all
Politics

The only things keeping America out of a recession are robots and health care.

By Eric Levitz
The Gray Area
How the fight over what it means to be human has dramatically changedHow the fight over what it means to be human has dramatically changed
Podcast
The Gray Area

A philosopher on humanity’s need for a new story — and a new way to defy where we’re headed.

By Sean Illing

The latest in Money

Politics
Trump actually has a tariff strategy this time. It could still go terribly wrong.Trump actually has a tariff strategy this time. It could still go terribly wrong.
Politics

There’s a method to his trade war madness. But major economic and legal risks remain.

By Andrew Prokop
Even Better
How to start your own business in 2025, according to people who already didHow to start your own business in 2025, according to people who already did
Even Better

From managing tariffs to dreaming up strategy, these six founders discuss the realities of starting a new business.

By Allie Volpe
Culture
The dopamine-driven secret to Labubu obsessionThe dopamine-driven secret to Labubu obsession
Culture

The eerie, baby-eyed figurines are divisive on purpose.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Tech policy
The surprisingly sound financial advice I got from a chatbotThe surprisingly sound financial advice I got from a chatbot
Tech policy

AI wants to fix your money problems. What could go wrong?

By Adam Clark Estes
Politics
Why tariffs haven’t caused runaway inflation — yetWhy tariffs haven’t caused runaway inflation — yet
Politics

If you’re worried about inflation from Trump’s tariffs already, just wait until fall.

By Nicole Narea
Technology
Delta is using AI to give you a personalized airfare. It could be the future of pricing.Delta is using AI to give you a personalized airfare. It could be the future of pricing.
Technology

Companies can harvest everything from your location to your search history to determine how much you pay.

By Adam Clark Estes
Supreme Court
The lawsuit seeking to kill Trump’s tariffs is backThe lawsuit seeking to kill Trump’s tariffs is back
Supreme Court

If the president loses this case, he will go to the Supreme Court to bail him out again.

By Ian Millhiser
Culture
There’s a bigger story behind Colbert’s cancellationThere’s a bigger story behind Colbert’s cancellation
Culture

Did the stalwart host finally become too dangerous for late-night?

By Constance Grady
Economy
Do falling birth rates matter in an AI future?Do falling birth rates matter in an AI future?
Economy

Two forces are reshaping the same future.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Politics
The lie at the heart of Trump’s entire economic agendaThe lie at the heart of Trump’s entire economic agenda
Politics

The White House wants to send Medicaid recipients to the mines.

By Eric Levitz
Policy
Student loans are about to get worseStudent loans are about to get worse
Policy

Trump’s new law is a major change to higher education. Here’s what that means for you.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Policy
How the GOP beat Democrats to a child care winHow the GOP beat Democrats to a child care win
Policy

There’s $16 billion in new day care spending tucked inside Trump’s welfare-slashing tax package.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Politics
The Republican tax bill, explained in 500 wordsThe Republican tax bill, explained in 500 words
Politics

It combines budget-busting tax cuts and painful social program cuts.

By Andrew Prokop
Today, Explained podcast
What the rise of “buy now, pay later” services tells us about the economyWhat the rise of “buy now, pay later” services tells us about the economy
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Burritos on a payment plan, explained.

By Miles Bryan and Noel King
Economy
What today’s new college graduates are up againstWhat today’s new college graduates are up against
Economy

The class of 2025 is graduating into a weird job market.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Politics
3 ways Americans could pay for Trump’s war with Iran3 ways Americans could pay for Trump’s war with Iran
Politics

The conflict could take a toll in both blood and money.

By Eric Levitz
The Gray Area
The economic theory behind TrumpismThe economic theory behind Trumpism
Podcast
The Gray Area

A leading conservative thinker on populism’s rise on the right.

By Sean Illing
Trump Administration
Trump’s big, beautiful bill, explained in 5 chartsTrump’s big, beautiful bill, explained in 5 charts
Trump Administration

Here are the numbers behind the bill behind Trump’s breakup with Elon Musk.

By Nicole Narea
Explain It to Me
Can pop music actually predict a recession?Can pop music actually predict a recession?
Podcast
Explain It to Me

Now that’s what I call economic downturn!

By Jonquilyn Hill
Defense & Security
Why the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon MuskWhy the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon Musk
Defense & Security

How Musk’s SpaceX became too big to fail for US national security.

By Joshua Keating
Policy
The big, bad bond market could derail Trump’s big, beautiful billThe big, bad bond market could derail Trump’s big, beautiful bill
Policy

Trump wants to blow a $3 trillion hole in the budget. The bond market is saying “no way.”

By Dylan Matthews
Donald Trump
The sweeping federal court order blocking Trump’s tariffs, explainedThe sweeping federal court order blocking Trump’s tariffs, explained
Donald Trump

If this decision stands on appeal, it’s a big loss for Trump that will make it difficult for his trade war to continue.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
The real reason DOGE failed isn’t what you thinkThe real reason DOGE failed isn’t what you think
Politics

Musk tried to act as the CEO for the federal workforce. His effort fell apart — due to some surprising resistance.

By Andrew Prokop
Technology
Google as you know it is slowly dyingGoogle as you know it is slowly dying
Technology

The search giant’s midlife crisis is now your problem.

By Adam Clark Estes
Politics
Why are men so much more right-wing than women now?Why are men so much more right-wing than women now?
Politics

Don’t blame Joe Rogan too much — one theory says that the roots of this gender gap go back decades.

By Maia Mindel
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court just revealed one thing it actually fears about TrumpThe Supreme Court just revealed one thing it actually fears about Trump
Supreme Court

The Republican justices draw a line in the sand – in an order that makes absolutely no sense.

By Ian Millhiser
Philanthropy
Bill Gates shows what the end of perpetual philanthropy looks likeBill Gates shows what the end of perpetual philanthropy looks like
Philanthropy

Why billionaires need to give more — and give faster.

By Benjamin Soskis
Policy
There’s a better way to help underpaid workers than “no tax on tips”There’s a better way to help underpaid workers than “no tax on tips”
Policy

Tipped workers need a raise, not a tax cut.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Policy
The reconciliation bill is Republicans doing what they do bestThe reconciliation bill is Republicans doing what they do best
Policy

The GOP remains a conspiracy to steal from the poor and give to the rich.

By Dylan Matthews
Donald Trump
The ugly truth about Trump’s big, beautiful billThe ugly truth about Trump’s big, beautiful bill
Donald Trump

Trump is promising tax cuts and a new golden age. Here’s what’s really inside it.

By Andrew Prokop
Economy
The first federal court hearing on Trump’s tariffs did not go so well for TrumpThe first federal court hearing on Trump’s tariffs did not go so well for Trump
Economy

Much of the hearing focused on whether Richard Nixon can save Trump’s tariffs.

By Ian Millhiser
Economy
The tariffs are here. Inflation isn’t. What gives?The tariffs are here. Inflation isn’t. What gives?
Economy

Is our long-ish national economic nightmare over?

By Eric Levitz
Music
Stadium concerts are the worst summer hangStadium concerts are the worst summer hang
Music

Your favorite artist — plus 80,000 other people.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Politics
Trump’s tariffs have already failed at their main jobTrump’s tariffs have already failed at their main job
Politics

Trump’s team had grand ambitions for reordering global trade. They’re backing down.

By Andrew Prokop
Supreme Court
The Federalist Society is surprisingly ambivalent about TrumpThe Federalist Society is surprisingly ambivalent about Trump
Supreme Court

America’s most powerful legal organization confronts Trump’s incompetence.

By Ian Millhiser
Education
We’re at the beginning of a harsh new era for college studentsWe’re at the beginning of a harsh new era for college students
Education

Paying for school could become a lot more difficult — on multiple levels.

By Kevin Carey
Economy
How Trump’s attacks on the Fed could sabotage the US economyHow Trump’s attacks on the Fed could sabotage the US economy
Economy

Trump is threatening the independence of the Fed. That’s dangerous.

By Nicole Narea
Economy
A federal court is about to decide whether to strike down Trump’s tariffsA federal court is about to decide whether to strike down Trump’s tariffs
Economy

We’re about to get our first window into whether the judiciary will allow Trump’s trade war to continue.

By Ian Millhiser
The Logoff
Trump’s new plan for student loans, briefly explainedTrump’s new plan for student loans, briefly explained
The Logoff

5 million Americans are facing having their loans sent to collections.

By Patrick Reis