The History of the “Riot” Report
A study of reports published by government commissions after periods of protest and struggles for justice, which have perversely “acted as alibis for inaction”.
The Cave Kingpin Buying Up America’s Underground
The story of an eccentric millionaire with a passion for caves that extends to purchasing and charting huge numbers of them, mainly in Minnesota. His methods have proven controversial.
The neoliberal era is ending. What comes next?
An opinion piece suggesting that the neoliberal approach to government’s time is coming to an end, and that “a space has opened up for a different, more realistic view of human nature: that humankind has evolved to cooperate.” The author recognises that what will fill that space is far from certain.
Christoph Niemann
Illustrator of numerous covers and stories for The New Yorker and other august publications, Cristoph Niemann’s inventive and playful style, often mixing illustration with real world objects and photography, is a delight.
How Do We Change America?
A powerful essay that poses the question “How do we change America?”, looks to the past and finds a repetitive cycle of calls for reform much like those being put forward by many politicians now, followed by policy making and implementation failures. The author proposes that, in the end, “We cannot insist on “real change” in the United States by continuing to use the same methods, arguments, and failed political strategies that have brought us to this moment.”
City of Solitude
This story weaves together evocative testimony of life under and after lockdown from residents of Wuhan, the first epicenter of the covid-19 pandemic.
The C.D.C. Waited ‘Its Entire Existence for This Moment.’ What Went Wrong?
An account (disputed in some quarters) of the Center for Disease Control & Prevention’s response to the covid-19 pandemic that is none too complimentary.
They Built a Utopian Sanctuary in a Minneapolis Hotel. Then They Got Evicted.
The story of a hotel that was “comandeered” during protests in Minneapolis and turned into a sanctuary run by volunteers.
Outgrowing growth: why quality of life, not GDP, should be our measure of success
An opinion piece laying out the argument for moving from GDP to quality of life as a better metric against which to measure progress.
Hans Rosling’s 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes – The Joy of Stats
Hans Rosling was an academic who excelled in using data in visual and accessible ways to tell the story of humanity’s progress. This excerpt from his Joy of Stats programme tells a powerful story in just four minutes.