American Boozing at a 25-Year High

5:40 p.m.

trump on trial

What Happened in the Trump Trial Today: End of the Beginning

By Nia Prater

A running recap of Donald Trump’s first criminal trial.

5:04 p.m.

early and often

Trump Is Ready to Flood Courts With Election Fraud Claims

By Ed Kilgore

The 100,000 election “observers” Trump plans to deploy in 2024 will ensure there’s lots of material for fraud allegations, even if it’s all frivolous.

4:49 p.m.

miss americana

Will Taylor Swift Endorse Joe Biden in 2024?

By Margaret Hartmann

Swift has yet to weigh in on the 2024 election. But considering her bad blood with Trump, another Biden endorsement is a long time coming.

4:28 p.m.

trump trial

Man Who Self-Immolated Near Trump Trial Identified: Live Updates

By Intelligencer Staff

The 37-year-old man, who survived the fire, distributed a manifesto of conspiratorial beliefs shortly before igniting himself.

3:51 p.m.

just asking questions

Ron Wyden Fears Congress Is About to Enable a Spying Dragnet

By Matt Stieb

The senator discusses a FISA extension bill that could deputize thousands of businesses to surveil Americans.

1:10 p.m.

what we know

What to Know About the New Student-Loan-Forgiveness Plans

By Lynnley Browning, Nia Prater, and Chas Danner

Biden’s relief measures and proposals are good news for borrowers — if you can figure out their looming deadlines and complexity.

12:04 p.m.

trump on trial

‘Sleepy Don’: Trump Falls Asleep (Three Times!) During Hush-Money Trial

By Margaret Hartmann

Courtroom reporters saw Trump “dozing off” during the first day of his Manhattan criminal trial. Then he did it again two more times.

12:00 p.m.

the approval matrix

The Approval Matrix: The Smallest Matrix Who Ever Lived

Our guide to what’s highbrow, lowbrow, brilliant, and despicable.

11:43 a.m.

poll position

Trump vs. Biden Polls: How Will the Hush-Money Trial Play?

By Ed Kilgore

Polling shows voters consider these charges the least serious made against Trump, and reactions to a possible conviction match party affiliation.

11:35 a.m.

the national interest

Lara Trump Threatens ‘Four Years of Scorched Earth’ If Trump Retakes Power

By Jonathan Chait

Sounds like a fun time for America.

10:30 a.m.

the money game

Elon Musk Has Forgotten What Tesla Is

By Kevin T. Dugan

The electric vehicle–maker is cutting 10 percent of its workforce ahead of a big robotaxi announcement, just as its sales are plummeting.

6:00 a.m.

the law

The Idea of Presidential Immunity Is Not As Ridiculous As You’ve Heard

By Elie Honig

Still, Trump will probably lose in the Supreme Court. But he might win in the political arena.

5:00 a.m.

screen time

How Product Recommendations Broke Google

By John Herrman

And ate the internet in the process.

4/18/2024

what we know

NYPD Arrests Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Columbia University: How It Happened

By Intelligencer Staff

More than 100 people were arrested after Columbia University requested an NYPD crackdown on the protesters’ encampment.

4/18/2024

early and often

Biden’s Uncle (Probably) Wasn’t Eaten by Cannibals

By Margaret Hartmann

Do the facts support the president’s tale of World War II-era cannibalism? Not really. But doubt Uncle Joe at your own peril.

4/18/2024

trump on trial

A Trump Juror Has Been Outed

By Matt Stieb

A woman has been dismissed from serving after she told the court friends warned her that identifying information had been made public.

4/18/2024

life after roe

Why Are Republicans Suddenly Sounding So Pro-Choice?

By Irin Carmon

Maybe it’s because they want the 19th century to do their dirty work.

4/18/2024

early and often

Who’s the Trump VP Pick? Latest Odds for Every Shortlist Candidate.

By Margaret Hartmann

Does Kari Lake have “the look”? Is J.D. Vance loyal enough? Is MTG out? Here are each VP candidate’s odds in the race to be Trump’s running mate.

4/18/2024

the national interest

Why a Second Trump Term Will Make the Middle Class Pay

By Jonathan Chait

No more low-interest-rate free ride.

4/18/2024

early and often

This Year’s Democratic Convention Won’t Be a Replay of 1968

By Ed Kilgore

Expected protests over the Israel-Gaza war are drawing comparisons to 1968. But much has changed since that riotous Chicago convention.

4/18/2024

screen time

The First AI Gadgets Are a Cautionary Tale

By John Herrman

These wearable devices feel new and ambitious — and that’s the problem.

4/17/2024

alejandro mayorkas

The Mayorkas Impeachment Trial Was a Joke

By Ed Kilgore

Republicans hoped for a messaging exercise against Biden’s border policies, but Senate Democrats quickly dismissed their charges.

4/17/2024

early and often

The ‘Uniparty’ Delusion Shared by MTG and RFK Jr.

By Ed Kilgore

Despite increased polarization, right-wing extremists, conspiracy theorists, and some pro-Palestinian protesters say the two parties are no different.

4/17/2024

fog of war