James Talarico Puts His Faith in Texas Voters

By Tad FriendFebruary 23, 202640 min read

The Senate candidate believes that Democrats can win by appealing to higher values. Can he succeed in the age of Trump?

The US Built a Site to Ensure Fair Access to Public Lands. Then Everything Went Wrong

Recreation.gov was supposed to make access to public lands more equitable and streamlined. Instead, it’s rife with bots and inequality, while a government contractor benefits.

Heather Hansman·May 19, 2026·20 min read

Wired

A Federal Worker Was Fired for Filming DOGE. Now She’s Running for Congress

Alexis Goldstein, a former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau employee, was fired this year for recording DOGE’s incursion into the agency.

Makena Kelly·May 4, 2026·9 min read

The New Yorker

“My Father’s Shadow” Is Intensely—Yet Obliquely—Autobiographical

Akinola Davies, Jr.,’s début feature, scripted by his older brother, Wale, follows two brothers and their father during Nigeria’s historic 1993 election.

Richard Brody·Feb 6, 2026·7 min read

The New Yorker

Gavin Newsom Is Playing the Long Game

California’s governor has been touted as the Democrats’ best shot in 2028. But first he’ll need to convince voters that he’s not just a slick establishment politician.

Nathan Heller·Feb 1, 2026·52 min read

The Conversation

Mali’s security crisis holds warnings for Nigeria: here’s why

Located in the same Sahel region and threatened by similar jihadist insurgents, Nigeria has some lessons to learn from Mali.

Saheed Babajide Owonikoko, Researcher, Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University of Technology·May 24, 2026

The Conversation

Global media networks simplify Ethiopia’s conflicts: insights from 5 years of data

Global media coverage tends to focus on just one of Ethiopia’s conflicts.

Mulatu Alemayehu Moges, Associate Professor of Journalism and Communication, University of Agder·May 24, 2026