How the meritocracy bred smugness—and drove voters to Donald Trump.
Books
Libertarians Took Control of This Small Town. It Didn’t End Well.
A new book shows the troubling consequences of Grafton, New Hampshire’s anti-government experiment.
The Fallacy of Meritocracy on America’s College Campuses
A new book shows how our higher ed system favors the rich. Will COVID-19 make the problem even worse?
How the GOP Built a Loyal Hispanic Base
For decades, Republicans used appointments and policies to win a reliable third of the Latino vote.
Humans Don’t Have a Monopoly on Culture
A new book explains how species pass skills and knowledge down generations—and what it means for conservation goals.
What Motivates the Republican Party?
The GOP seems wildly hypocritical and unprincipled, until you understand its guiding idea.
Capitalism’s Nine Lives
Predicting the end of the free market system is a mug’s game, but a bigger welfare state is a pretty sure bet.
What Makes Today’s Dictators Different
They rely more on demagoguery than secret police—but they’re just as dangerous.
From Katrina to COVID-19: There Are Reasons Disasters Hurt the Poor the Most
A new book shows how policy choices have made some people more vulnerable than others.
Can Anything Dislodge the Electoral College?
Today’s reformers join a long history of groups that have tried, and failed, to eliminate the institution.
