Donald Heathfield and Tracey Foley’s two sons believed their parents were affluent, highly educated Canadians, who happened to live and work in America. In fact, they were Russian spies who had been deep undercover for several decades.
A review of a new book by Obama adviser Ben Rhodes (a speechwriter and Deputy National Security Adviser who was one of the few senior officials to remain in office throughout the whole presidency). The piece reflects on Obama’s style of leadership, the nature of power and governing, and the author’s own journey. It is also replete with anecdotes from behind the scenes of elite politics such as Rhodes discussing the TV show Entourage with David Cameron over after-state-dinner drinks at Buckingham Palace.
A piece delving into the life of professional video gamers living in luxury houses with their team mates, under a rigorously managed regime delivered by an array of staff.
The controversy stoked by the month of riots in France 50 years ago had a seismic impact on French society. This photo essay revisits the events in Paris and around the country in May 1968.
A piece examining the series of challenges Facebook has faced as it struggles to manage the intended and unintended consequences of its huge scale and the reach it has into many parts of its users’ lives.
An engineer and data scientist (formerly at OK Cupid) goes deep in this engaging piece covering how AI, machine learning and ever greater troves of data from social platforms will impact dating.
The challenge of keeping people cool in an age of increasing temperatures risks making us ever more reliant on resource intensive air conditioning that may also be perversely making places hotter for anyone that doesn’t have them.
Published this month, The Uninhabitable Earth is apparently the most read article in New York Magazine’s history. The piece proposes that the impact of climate change will be felt far sooner and far more severely that people realise. The piece is of interest in its own right, but has also provoked a strong response in the scientific community, including many climate change scientists who believe it overstates the case in an unhelpful manner.
A view from across the pond on the social, political and demographic dynamics at play in the British election.