Hajj Begins
1,300 pilgrims died in 2024's Hajj heat. It began again this week near 47C.
Iran's Victory Lap
Iran's new supreme leader says the American era is over. Earned victory, real danger, or hollow bravado?
The Squish vs. The Scandal
Texas Republicans chose between a 24-year incumbent and an AG his own party impeached. Trump put his thumb on the scale.
What Is Alcatraz For?
A tourist ferry crashed at the Rock this weekend -- and Trump wants to turn it back into a prison. Should he?
South Carolina Tells Trump No
A red Senate blocked Trump's map to flip Clyburn's seat. Principled stand, scheduling problem, or Jim Crow 2.0?
From Warhead to Reactor
Trump is pulling 20 tons of weapons plutonium out of burial to fuel reactor startups.
Robots on the Bookshelf
Barnes & Noble won't ban AI books, only label them. Authors call it a sellout; skeptics say labels are a fantasy.
The Tank Next Door
A cracked tank nearly blew up next to 50,000 people in Orange County. Blame GKN, the rulebook, or no one?
Bombing During the Truce
The US hit Iran's coast while Trump said peace talks were "proceeding nicely."
Colbert Ends
After 33 years, "The Late Show" signs off. A political hit, cold economics, or a dying format?
"The Man I Love" Divides Cannes
Ira Sachs' AIDS-era drama got a long Cannes ovation -- reported as 7, 8, or 10 minutes. A triumph, or good theater?
The World Cup's Empty Seats
Weeks out, World Cup seats sit unsold at $4,000-plus.
How Much Exercise Do You Need?
Recommendations are all over the map!
Why Indict Raul Castro Now?
The US charged 94-year-old Raul Castro over a 1996 shoot-down. Justice, political theater, or leverage on Havana?
Karpathy Joins Anthropic
An AGI skeptic just joined the lab whose CEO thinks AGI is near.
The Strike Samsung Just Dodged
Some 47,000 chip workers were set to walk over AI profits. A last-minute deal stopped it -- but did it settle anything?
Meta Cuts 8,000 to Fund Its AI Bet
Meta laid off 8,000 and gutted its safety teams while betting $145B on AI. Discipline, cruelty, or a jobs reckoning?
Are the Bond Vigilantes Back?
The 30-year Treasury yield hit 5.2%, its highest since 2007. A fiscal reckoning, a normal repricing, or a Fed problem?
Carson Daly Doesn't Talk To His Daughter
Carson Daly reaches his teen mostly via Snapchat. Is that a sad workaround, no big deal, or exactly the right move?
Who Owns Billy Joel's Story?
Joel calls the unauthorized biopic "misguided." Filmmakers say nobody owns history -- and a friend helped make it.