The Weekend Essay
What Tweens Get from Sephora and What They Get from Us
Kids are mimicking the semi-professionals they see on their phones, imbibing ideas about beauty rooted in deep desires and capitulations.
By Jia Tolentino
Two Paths for Jewish Politics
In America, Jews pioneered a way of life that didn’t rely on the whims of the powerful. Now it’s under threat.
By Corey Robin
Inside Out
The magical in-betweenness—and surprising epidemiological history—of the porch.
By David Owen
What We Know About the Weaponization of Sexual Violence on October 7th
Rape is a shocking and sadly predictable feature of war. But the nature of the crime makes it difficult to document and, consequently, to prosecute.
By Masha Gessen
The Surreal Simulations of a Reality-TV Restaurant Empire
It’s a reunion every night at the “Vanderpump” establishments in Los Angeles.
By Naomi Fry
The Knotty Death of the Necktie
The pandemic may have brought an end to a flourishing history.
By Adam Gopnik
Hayek, the Accidental Freudian
The economist was fixated on subconscious knowledge and dreamlike enchantment—even if he denied their part in his relationships.
By Corey Robin
It’s Mourning in America
In the past century, grief has shifted from a public process to a private problem—something meant to be solved. Is there a better way?
By Cody Delistraty
How “The Real World” Created Modern Reality TV
The rules governing everything from “Big Brother” to “The Real Housewives” started three decades ago, with a radical experiment on MTV.
By Emily Nussbaum
How the Fridge Changed Flavor
From the tomato to the hamburger bun, the invention has transformed not just what we eat but taste itself.
By Nicola Twilley