Volcanoes are erupting in The Philippines, but on-fire Australia received some welcome rain. The Iran war cries have been called off and The Donald’s military powers are about to be hamstrung by the Senate. Meanwhile, his impeachment trial is starting, and we’re all on Twitter for a front-row seat.
Category: Feature Article
05/23/2023

Is moral progress a myth?
Some say we’re moving backwards. But the evidence—including the international abolition of slavery, global declines in violence, and a rise in rights for the disenfranchised—says otherwise.
05/17/2023

There is no debt ceiling crisis: an explainer
An evergreen guide to debt ceiling reporting and why this time is not in fact different
05/08/2023

Op-ed: The trust factor
With trust in the media and government near record lows, what can be done to repair some of the faith that has been lost?
03/14/2023

Over-diagnosing democratic decline
With the number of populist leaders down to a 20-year low, and much of what has been called “democratic backsliding” corrected through the electoral process, are reports of democracy’s decline exaggerated?
03/09/2023

Progress in 5 Minutes: Caste as protected category
With Seattle's historic move to ban caste discrimination, along with recently added protections at some US universities, momentum is growing.
02/28/2023

We need a psychology of progress
Ultimately, progress is powered by people. So if we want to drive progress, we have to understand the machinery of human minds.
02/14/2023

Now is the best time in history to love and be loved
The incredible social and human rights improvements over the last two centuries are powerful evidence that further progress remains possible.
02/01/2023

The silent killers sweeping the world
And a new initiative to tackle them
12/08/2022

Why young people should resist being cynical about the world
From a historical perspective, we are living in a vastly different world than we were 100 years ago, for the better.
12/07/2022

“I’m sorry to hear that you and your wife have decided to get divorced.”
A sample conversation with ChatGPT shows both the promise and the limitations of the technology.
11/16/2022

Greening the city: pockets of hope for urban biodiversity
Cities are adopting green infrastructure to become more climate-resilient. These measures are reviving all kinds of urban biodiversity as well.
11/08/2022
