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Money

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

Artificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic income
Future Perfect

A major study backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman shows unconditional cash has benefits that have nothing to do with AI.

By Oshan Jarow
Artificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic income
Future Perfect

A major study backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman shows unconditional cash has benefits that have nothing to do with AI.

By Oshan Jarow
Here’s what you need to know about the revamped FAFSAHere’s what you need to know about the revamped FAFSA
Even Better

A guide to filling out the federal financial aid form for the upcoming school year.

By Allie Volpe
SpaceX’s risky mission will go farther into space than we’ve been in 50 yearsSpaceX’s risky mission will go farther into space than we’ve been in 50 years
Science

The privately funded venture will test out new aerospace technology.

By Ellen Ioanes
The surprisingly subdued resurrection of Abercrombie & FitchThe surprisingly subdued resurrection of Abercrombie & Fitch
Consumerism

How the once-maligned retailer quietly became a closet staple — and a stock market giant — once again.

By Amanda Lewellyn

The latest in Money

US teacher strikes were good, actuallyUS teacher strikes were good, actually
Education

New research finds labor stoppages raised wages without harming student learning.

By Rachel M. Cohen
Pumpkin spice lattes — and the backlash, and the backlash to the backlash — explainedPumpkin spice lattes — and the backlash, and the backlash to the backlash — explained
Money

Pumpkin spice is America’s most hatable seasonal flavor. But Starbucks is leaning in even more heavily this year.

By Rebecca Jennings
The massive Social Security number breach is actually a good thingThe massive Social Security number breach is actually a good thing
Technology

Freezing your credit files has never been easier. Here’s how to protect yourself.

By Adam Clark Estes
Armed conflict is stressing the bones of the global economyArmed conflict is stressing the bones of the global economy
World Politics

From shipping lanes to airspace to undersea cables, globalization is under physical attack.

By Joshua Keating
The US government has to start paying for things againThe US government has to start paying for things again
Policy

Why, and how, the US should fix its debt problem.

By Dylan Matthews
What can be done about this Supreme Court’s very worst decisions?What can be done about this Supreme Court’s very worst decisions?
Supreme Court

It is important to hang onto grudges against the Supreme Court.

By Ian Millhiser
Inflation has dropped. What happens next?Inflation has dropped. What happens next?
Business & Finance

Is the Federal Reserve finally about to cut interest rates?

By Nicole Narea
Biden wants to free you from all those subscriptions you meant to cancel but didn’tBiden wants to free you from all those subscriptions you meant to cancel but didn’t
Policy

It’s the latest way Biden is trying to combat pesky “junk fees” driving up prices.

By Nicole Narea
Advertisers aren’t buying what X is selling. Is that a crime?Advertisers aren’t buying what X is selling. Is that a crime?
Business & Finance

Elon Musk’s social media site is accusing brands of breaking antitrust laws.

By Whizy Kim
The married tuba-accordion duo who opened a pizzeria
Even Better

The musicians spent 10 years renovating a derelict old building in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and turned it into a thriving business.

By Nicole Dieker Finley
You need a budget. But do you really need to pay for one?You need a budget. But do you really need to pay for one?
Technology

An app called YNAB wants to take the dread out of talking about money. For a price.

By Adam Clark Estes
Why Kamala Harris’s fundraising spree might prove more valuable than Trump’sWhy Kamala Harris’s fundraising spree might prove more valuable than Trump’s
Politics

Can Harris and Trump translate their big fundraising hauls into votes?

By Nicole Narea
Is there an AI bubble — and is it about to pop?Is there an AI bubble — and is it about to pop?
Future Perfect

The bill may be coming due for Silicon Valley’s huge investment in AI.

By Bryan Walsh
Bangladesh’s prime minister just fled the country in a helicopter. Why?Bangladesh’s prime minister just fled the country in a helicopter. Why?
World Politics

Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina is out. What comes next?

By Ellen Ioanes
What caused the global stock market meltdownWhat caused the global stock market meltdown
Money

Stocks plunged across the world Monday. Does it mean a US recession is looming?

By Nicole Narea
Intel was once a Silicon Valley leader. How did it fall so far?Intel was once a Silicon Valley leader. How did it fall so far?
Technology

The semiconductor manufacturer announced huge job cuts and a dividend pause after losing out on AI.

By Ellen Ioanes
Money Talks: The Black business owners who forged a partnership in uncertain times 
Even Better

The greeting card illustrator and the head of a gifting startup got together to support the Buy Black movement.

By Nicole Dieker Finley
Venezuela’s Maduro just tightened his grip on power. What comes next?Venezuela’s Maduro just tightened his grip on power. What comes next?
World Politics

Nicolás Maduro has presided over Venezuela’s economic decline — while increasing his authoritarian tendencies.

By Ellen Ioanes
Money Talks: The mother-daughter duo who won’t let their franchise fail
Even Better

These small-town biz owners are determined to stay connected to their customers.

By Nicole Dieker Finley
Republicans ask the Supreme Court to gut student loan relief a second timeRepublicans ask the Supreme Court to gut student loan relief a second time
Supreme Court

The Court’s first decision blocking student loan forgiveness was a lawless mess.

By Ian Millhiser
Biden is out of the 2024 race. What happens to his campaign donations?Biden is out of the 2024 race. What happens to his campaign donations?
Joe Biden

Kamala Harris is the only Democrat who could seamlessly access Biden’s hundreds of millions in campaign cash.

By Nicole Narea
Traveling has never been better if you’re rich — but it’s worse if you’re notTraveling has never been better if you’re rich — but it’s worse if you’re not
Money

Looking at the growing rift in travel spending.

By Whizy Kim
The hidden cost of your Prime Day purchasesThe hidden cost of your Prime Day purchases
Labor

For Amazon workers, the bevy of sales reinforces the human toll of “same-day delivery, lifetime of injury.”

By Sam Delgado
Prime Day isn’t just for Amazon anymorePrime Day isn’t just for Amazon anymore
Money

Is Amazon’s big made-up shopping holiday past its prime?

By Whizy Kim
How computers made poker a game for nerds
Culture

Algorithms changed the classic card game for good — but is it for the better?

By Nicole Narea
Why I quit SpotifyWhy I quit Spotify
Technology

I dove into the scary world of streaming bundles, and now Dolly Parton talks to me while I walk.

By Adam Clark Estes
TikTok Shop's pushy ad strategy, explainedTikTok Shop's pushy ad strategy, explained
Money

Social media is just one big shopping mall.

By Whizy Kim
The glorious return of the skortThe glorious return of the skort
Culture

How skorts became cool again, as explained by Challengers and Taylor Swift.

By Rebecca Jennings
America’s obsession with hot dogs, explained
Food

The strange ways we do (and don’t) consume glizzies.

By Whizy Kim
France’s elections showed a polarized countryFrance’s elections showed a polarized country
Explainers

France held back the far right. No one knows what’s next.

By Ellen Ioanes
The death of the summer job is a good thing
Money

Teen jobs aren’t what they used to be. They’re worse.

By Abdallah Fayyad
This tiny doll is making everyone so happy
Culture

Sonny Angels, from TikTok trend to SNL sketch fodder, explained.

By Alex Abad-Santos
What the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually meanWhat the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually mean
World Politics

The UK is getting a new government. What is it promising to do?

By Ellen Ioanes
The little-known but successful model for protecting human and labor rightsThe little-known but successful model for protecting human and labor rights
Future Perfect

How a worker-driven initiative is filling in the gaps left behind by corporate social responsibility programs.

By Sam Delgado
If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.
The Vox guide to extreme heat

The US doesn‘t have federal heat protections. A standard would save lives. As a heat dome suffocates much of the East, it‘s becoming more apparent that we need better standards in the face of climate change.

By Sam Delgado
5 terrible reasons for Biden to stay in the race5 terrible reasons for Biden to stay in the race
Politics

A rebuttal of the bad — but prominent — arguments for the president’s candidacy.

By Eric Levitz
What Kenya’s deadly protests are really aboutWhat Kenya’s deadly protests are really about
World Politics

A proposed tax hike sparked unrest, but Kenya’s real problem is a debt crisis.

By Ellen Ioanes
The winners and losers of the Biden economy
Politics

Younger workers have done well under Biden. Fast food fanatics have not.

By Eric Levitz
Is Nvidia stock overvalued? It depends on the future of AI.Is Nvidia stock overvalued? It depends on the future of AI.
Business & Finance

It has been a wild few days for Nvidia stock. But the hype isn’t dying down anytime soon.

By Nicole Narea
How much can we actually control inflation?How much can we actually control inflation?
Audio
Unexplainable

The mystery of inflation may be rooted in psychology.

By Noam Hassenfeld