Reasonably Optimistic

What the collapse of a $2 billion law firm reveals

Weil, Gotshal & Manges was a nearly century-old law firm that was profitable, prestigious and apparently healthy — until an exodus of superstar partners caused it to unra

Did the 2026 midterms put religion back in politics?

For years, religion in American politics has been closely associated with the right. But in the 2026 midterm elections, candidates on the left — including Abdul El-Sayed

How AI went from fringe idea to unstoppable force

Artificial intelligence can feel as though it arrived overnight. But today’s AI boom grew out of a vision championed by a small group of researchers who believed machines

What a reality show taught this author about modern masculinity

When journalist Jon Ronson’s son arrived at a Connecticut castle expecting a party, the owner told him and his friends that they had actually been invited to appear on a

Netflix’s next act may look a lot like old TV

The streaming revolution promised viewers an endless library of movies and shows for less than cable. Netflix led that charge, becoming the era's dominant streaming servi

How the DSA is reshaping the Democratic Party

The Democratic Socialists of America was once on the fringes of American politics. Now, DSA candidates are winning primaries, challenging establishment Democrats and push

What prediction markets can tell us that polls can’t

On platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, users can bet on elections, interest-rate cuts, corporate earnings and almost any question with an answer that will eventually be

The fight for fed-up voters in the 2026 midterms

The polls suggest a strong Democratic showing in the 2026 midterms. They also reveal an electorate angry about the cost of living, political corruption and a system many

The overlooked businesses making Americans rich

The American Dream can feel farther away than ever. Housing is expensive, good jobs seem harder to find and the people getting rich seem to be concentrated in a handful o

How America can recover from Trump-era politics

There’s a lot to complain about in the American political system: Congress lurches from deadline to deadline, presidents claim more and more power and each side of the ai

The job interview advice Gen Z needs to hear

A viral debate over bringing iced coffee to a job interview may seem trivial. But it points to a bigger divide over what employers are looking for when college degrees, c

Is AI taking Gen Z’s jobs? It’s not that simple.

Artificial intelligence feels different from previous technological innovations because it can write, reason, analyze and generate ideas. In other words, it can do at lea

The $1 million prize for academics who tell unwelcome truths

What do you do when your research leads to a conclusion that challenges conventional wisdom? You can publish it and risk the backlash — or quietly bury the findings and m

How conservatism went from Reagan to Trump

In the decades following World War II, the American right coalesced around fusionism — the idea that individual liberty and limited government could coexist with religiou

Why everyone seems to hate Flock cameras

No one likes the idea of being surveilled. That concern is fueling a nationwide backlash against Flock cameras, the automated license plate readers police use to find sto

What AI experts fear most

Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than many expected. So much so that some of the experts who understand it best are sounding the alarm. Are their warnings exag

This medieval revolt has a warning for today

More than six centuries ago, the Black Death wiped out nearly half of England’s population. Suddenly, workers had more power, wealthy landowners had less, and the old soc

The strange truth behind our obsession with UFOs and aliens

It doesn’t take much to ignite a new wave of alien conspiracy theories on social media. But beyond the internet speculation lies a serious scientific question: If billion

My mother’s secret changed how I think about abortion

Shortly before her mother died, Megan McArdle learned a family secret. Decades earlier, her mother had given birth to a son and placed him for adoption. Megan’s attempt t

The myths fueling America’s AI data center backlash

AI data centers have become America’s newest political villain — accused of draining local water supplies, overheating communities and sending electricity bills soaring.