The average American 25-year-old Gen Zer has an annual household income of over $40,000, more than 50% above the average baby boomer at the same age. The Economist considers how long this economic advantage could last.

The Economist

Generation Z is unprecedentedly rich

Is it criminal accountability or prosecutorial overreach? Examining Trump's charges in his hush-money case, legal columnist Elie Honig explains how the former president's characterization is all a matter of perspective. Read by Karl Miller.

New York Magazine

Donald Trump’s trial is a Rorschach test

The U.S. today has extraordinary levels of gun ownership and rising firearm deaths. Megan Kang examines the root of America's gun culture and argues that hanging onto them as a venerable tradition is to misread history. Read by Emily Woo Zeller.

Aeon

Why America fell for guns

Artificial intelligence may eventually surpass humans in art, intellect, music and sport. But that doesn’t mean the competition will end. The Economist reflects on why humans will probably still strive to exceed their fellow humans.

What will humans do if technology solves everything?

Ex-Tinder CEO Renate Nyborg is turning to advanced AI to make us less lonely. Speaking to Madhumita Murgia about her transformative journey in tech, the former executive shares her ambition to reshape social connections in our digital world. Read by Gina Rogers.

Financial Times

The loneliness cure

Is his performative masculinity genuine or a comedic ploy? Ben Terris meets with Nick Adams, a Trump-backed raconteur teaching America’s young men the art of being hard to deal with. Read by Mark Deakins.

The Washington Post

The deeply silly, extremely serious rise of ‘Alpha Male’ Nick Adams

In a candid interview, Britain's shortest-serving Prime Minister signals that left-wing bureaucratic resistance and weak Conservative support are to blame for her downfall. Talking to George Parker, Liz Truss discusses her turbulent 49-day tenure, radical economic policies, and belief in a deep-state conspiracy. Read by Jonathan Booth.

Liz Truss: ‘I don’t believe in guardrails’

The legalization of cannabis in the United States has been an unqualified success for approximately no one. But a legal psychedelics industry could serve at least some Americans well, Jane C. Hu writes.

The Atlantic

Almost no one is happy with legal weed

An earlier era of the internet badly burned media companies. However, content-makers are determined not to be caught out again in the age of AI. The Economist reflects on why a frenzy of litigation and dealmaking is under way.

Generative AI is a marvel. Is it also built on theft?

Palestinian-American artist DJ Khaled has remained silent as the war in Gaza has unfolded. Maysa Mustafa reflects on why his story is a cautionary tale of the limits of celebrity solidarity at a time when it may no longer be needed. Read by Marni Penning.

New Lines Magazine

DJ Khaled’s disappearing act

Arabs across the Middle East are angry, but their governments can’t afford to sever ties. David E. Rosenberg argues that - despite longstanding tensions and regional conflicts - Arab states have maintained strategic relations with Israel, prioritizing stability and financial benefits over political disputes. 

Read by Michael Bott.

Foreign Policy

Why Arab states haven’t broken with Israel

Some countries are experimenting with, or reintroducing, conscription in response to dwindling recruitment numbers and escalating global tensions. The Economist reveals that despite various attempts to make military service appealing, the values of younger generations and lucrative job markets continue to challenge traditional recruitment efforts.

Would you really die for your country?

As many now consider the sex trafficking and sexual abuse allegations against Sean Combs to define his legacy, Craig Jenkins examines how the rap mogul shook off decades of rumoured bad behaviour with wholesome PR revamps. Read by Karl Miller.

Vulture

Diddy’s open secrets

Jeanette Breen, a New York midwife, falsified 12,499 vaccine records using homoeopathic pellets instead of actual vaccines. James D. Walsh reflects on how her actions raised public health concerns and legal scrutiny amid tightening vaccination laws. Read by Michael Satow.

What led a New York midwife to fake 12,499 vaccine records? And what, exactly, did parents know?

Staff at Amazon went undercover on Walmart, eBay, and other marketplaces as a third-party seller called 'Big River'. The mission: to scoop up information on pricing, logistics, and other business practices. The Wall Street Journal's exclusive reports on this secret operation. 

Read by Betsy Foldes Meiman.

The Wall Street Journal

Inside Amazon’s secret operation to gather intel on rivals

As "P4x," Alejandro Caceres single-handedly disrupted an entire country's internet. Then he tried to show the US military how it can—and should—adopt his methods. Andy Greenberg explores the fascinating story of the cybersecurity entrepreneur and vigilante hacker. 

Read by Mark Deakins.

WIRED

A vigilante hacker took down North Korea’s internet. Now he’s taking off his mask

The egg donation industry in the U.S. is a world of high financial stakes and little regulation, where women’s traits are commodified. Paige Bruton reports on the serious ethical questions these findings are raising. Read by Sharon Bott.

Because you’re worth it: how the US egg donation industry monetizes beauty

As Gucci struggles with a sharp decline in revenue, some investors and analysts are questioning whether CEO François-Henri Pinault is the right man to overhaul the company at this critical juncture. Bloomberg analyses the billionaire's attempt to turn Gucci's parent company Kering around.

Read by Gina Rogers.

Bloomberg

Billionaire Pinaults fight to pull Gucci off the discount rack

A growing body of research suggests that a positive state of mind plays a significant role in promoting both physical and mental well-being. Immaculata De Vivo explores the correlation between optimism and numerous positive health indicators. Read by Gina Rogers.

MIT Press Reader

The new science of optimism and longevity

Leading expert in the field Dr Marc E. Agronin explains how early detection of Alzheimer's disease has changed how patients view a diagnosis and how they live with it. Read by Ron Butler.

Trending