Can you control America?
America is a big, complicated country. What does it take to rule it with an iron fist?
Latest
How to stay somewhat sane under authoritarianism
Some things we can all do to stay sane during these tumultuous times.
Republicans want to protect free speech for themselves and no one else
The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress continue to attack free speech in numerous ways.
The threat of mass surveillance under Trump
The Trump administration is collecting our data to realize its authoritarian goals.
What the Red Scare can teach us today
Many of the things that happened during the Red Scare mirror what's happening today.
A long time away from a home I don't recognize
Traveling through Europe while things fall apart back home.
Trump and the AI industry are raising your electricity prices
If you're utility bills are going up, you can thank Trump and the AI companies.
Leah Litman on an unhinged SCOTUS and expanding the Court
Leah Litman on what's happening with the Supreme Court and how Democrats should respond.
The psychological effects of authoritarianism
How living under authoritarianism affects the mind.
Molly Jong-Fast on the 2026 election, SCOTUS and Zohran Mamdani
A wide-ranging interview with the writer Molly Jong-Fast.
Trump's most dangerous facilitators
Who are the most dangerous people surrounding Trump?
AI is killing jobs right now. It's going to get worse.
We don't need to wait to see if AI will kill jobs. It's happening right now.
politics
Fascism and stupidity are not mutually exclusive
People have often said Trump is too stupid to lead an effective fascist takeover of the United States. Not so fast.
travel
Exiting Toulouse
My experience in one of France's largest cities.
climate change
Trump is setting us up for a far worse climate future
How Donald Trump's actions have made the climate fight more difficult.
history
Two legal history experts on using the military against the people
Two legal history experts explain the laws and precedent surrounding the government using the military as a domestic police force.
technology
Lost in Toulouse
What it's like to be lost in a foreign city without a phone.
politics
Two historians weigh in on ICE and the Gestapo
An examination of the Gestapo and ICE.
technology
You are not safe: where social media is taking us
How social media and the technological world generally are distorting society
technology
Artificial intelligence has a gun to democracy's head
If lawmakers don't act, we could be heading for a disaster.
travel
Escape from America
My upcoming trip
News
Welcome to Madness
Welcoming readers to the newsletter