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France’s far right is on the brink of power. Blame its centrist president.
World Politics

How Emmanuel Macron accidentally helped the far right normalize itself.

By Zack Beauchamp
Julian Assange’s release is still a lose-lose for press freedomJulian Assange’s release is still a lose-lose for press freedom
Media

The Wikileaks founder will plead guilty to violating the Espionage Act for publishing leaks about the Iraq War.

By Ellen Ioanes
Why this year’s Hajj was so deadlyWhy this year’s Hajj was so deadly
World Politics

More than 1,300 people died during the pilgrimage to Muslim's holiest site — but it’s not just because of heat.

By Ellen Ioanes
Israel isn’t ending the war in Gaza — just turning its attention to HezbollahIsrael isn’t ending the war in Gaza — just turning its attention to Hezbollah
World Politics

The next phase of Israel’s war in Gaza, explained.

By Nicole Narea

The latest in World Politics

The best plan to help refugees might also be the simplest
Future Perfect

More refugees live in cities. Could cash help them rebuild their lives?

By Jacob Kushner
What nuclear annihilation could look likeWhat nuclear annihilation could look like
Audio
The Gray Area

“The survivors would envy the dead.”

By Sean Illing
Why Israel acts the way it doesWhy Israel acts the way it does
World Politics

Its catastrophic war policy is driven by a national ideology of trauma.

By Zack Beauchamp
Why Latin American leaders are obsessed with mega prisonsWhy Latin American leaders are obsessed with mega prisons
World Politics

El Salvador has touted its tough-on-crime policies (and kept quiet on human rights issues). Now everyone wants to try.

By Ellen Ioanes
The world is running out of soldiersThe world is running out of soldiers
World Politics

Wars are getting more common and militaries are building up. There’s just one thing missing.

By Joshua Keating
Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis, explainedKate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis, explained
Culture

Three months after she disclosed her illness, the Princess of Wales is making a return to public life.

By Constance Grady
The fracturing of South African politics, explainedThe fracturing of South African politics, explained
World Politics

What the defeat of the party that ended apartheid means for South Africa.

By Ellen Ioanes
The perplexing state of Gaza ceasefire negotiations, explainedThe perplexing state of Gaza ceasefire negotiations, explained
World Politics

The problem is that it’s not clear either side wants a ceasefire.

By Joshua Keating
We’re in a new era of conflict and crisis. Can humanitarian aid keep up?We’re in a new era of conflict and crisis. Can humanitarian aid keep up?
Future Perfect

“Utter neglect of displaced people has become the new normal.”

By Jess Craig
Israel’s “war cabinet” just fell apart. What happens now?Israel’s “war cabinet” just fell apart. What happens now?
World Politics

Benny Gantz’s departure from the war cabinet won't change much immediately. But it could end up mattering a lot.

By Zack Beauchamp
Why Europe is lurching to the rightWhy Europe is lurching to the right
Politics

Far-right parties made big gains in EU Parliament elections — and that's already having an effect.

By Ellen Ioanes
World leaders neglected this crisis. Now genocide looms.World leaders neglected this crisis. Now genocide looms.
Future Perfect

Already the world’s worst displacement crisis, new battlefronts in Sudan could unleash ethnic violence and genocide.

By Jess Craig
India just showed the world how to fight an authoritarian on the riseIndia just showed the world how to fight an authoritarian on the rise
Politics

Three big lessons from Narendra Modi's shocking underperformance in the 2024 election.

By Zack Beauchamp
Why China is winning the EV warWhy China is winning the EV war
Play
Video

And what it means for US climate goals.

By Laura Bult
Modi won the Indian election. So why does it seem like he lost?Modi won the Indian election. So why does it seem like he lost?
World Politics

The BJP’s poor performance shows the limits of his autocratic, Hindu supremacist policies.

By Ellen Ioanes
What happens if Gaza ceasefire talks failWhat happens if Gaza ceasefire talks fail
World Politics

More than 3,500 people in Rafah alone could die from conflict trauma by August if Israel expands its invasion.

By Ellen Ioanes
The US tests Putin’s nuclear threats in UkraineThe US tests Putin’s nuclear threats in Ukraine
World Politics

Allowing Ukraine to fire Western weapons into Russia strengthens an ally, but risks violating an unknown red line.

By Joshua Keating
It’s not Islamophobia, it’s anti-Palestinian racismIt’s not Islamophobia, it’s anti-Palestinian racism
Policy

Anti-Palestinian racism is a distinct form of bigotry that's too often ignored.

By Abdallah Fayyad
India’s election shows the world’s largest democracy is still a democracyIndia’s election shows the world’s largest democracy is still a democracy
World Politics

The biggest takeaways from Narendra Modi's political setback.

By Joshua Keating
Why North Korea dumped trash on South KoreaWhy North Korea dumped trash on South Korea
World Politics

It's the latest — and perhaps strangest — escalation in tensions between the two countries.

By Li Zhou
Is a ceasefire in Gaza actually close?Is a ceasefire in Gaza actually close?
World Politics

Biden has put renewed pressure on Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

By Nicole Narea
Israel is not fighting for its survivalIsrael is not fighting for its survival
World Politics

The end of Gaza's suffering can't wait on Hamas's destruction.

By Eric Levitz
What to know about Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s next presidentWhat to know about Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s next president
Politics

Her predecessor's legacy looms large over Mexican politics. She'll have to chart her own way.

By Ellen Ioanes
This changed everything
Life

The turning points that defined the last 10 years.

By Vox Staff
10 big things we think will happen in the next 10 years
Future Perfect

Obesity will go down, electric cars will go up, and a nuclear bomb might just fall.

By Bryan Walsh, Dylan Matthews and 4 more
The overlooked conflict that altered the nature of war in the 21st century
World Politics

From drones to social media, the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan was a preview of Ukraine and the conflicts to come.

By Joshua Keating
The last 10 years, explained
Life

The (wild! scary! surprising!) moments that mattered.

By Vox Staff
What Trump really thinks about the war in GazaWhat Trump really thinks about the war in Gaza
Politics

Trump hasn't laid out a clear vision for Gaza — and that's probably deliberate.

By Nicole Narea
What ever happened to the war on terror?What ever happened to the war on terror?
World Politics

The US is pivoting away from focusing on groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS — at least until the next attack.

By Joshua Keating
Why Israel can't destroy HamasWhy Israel can't destroy Hamas
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Amid ever-increasing global outrage, the objectives in Israel's war are out of reach.

By Sean Rameswaram and Miranda Kennedy
The slaughter in Rafah and Israel’s moral nadirThe slaughter in Rafah and Israel’s moral nadir
World Politics

Israel is massacring Palestinians — and undermining its own security in the process.

By Zack Beauchamp
The enormous stakes of India’s electionThe enormous stakes of India’s election
World Politics

A guide to the world's largest election — and why it's so important.

By Zack Beauchamp
The obscure federal intelligence bureau that got Vietnam, Iraq, and Ukraine right
Future Perfect

INR is “almost always right.” How come nobody has heard of it?

By Dylan Matthews
Why we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of warWhy we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of war
Future Perfect

Non-combatants bear the brunt of modern war's toll, but we don’t know how to memorialize them.

By Bryan Walsh
How worried should we be about Russia putting a nuke in space?How worried should we be about Russia putting a nuke in space?
World Politics

It's not there yet — but we should be concerned.

By Joshua Keating
“Everyone is absolutely terrified”: Inside a US ally’s secret war on its American critics
World Politics

A foreign government is trying to silence US critics of its authoritarian turn — and it’s succeeding.

By Zack Beauchamp
Why ICC arrest warrants matter, even if Israel and Hamas leaders evade themWhy ICC arrest warrants matter, even if Israel and Hamas leaders evade them
World Politics

The role of the International Criminal Court and the limits to its authority, explained.

By Ellen Ioanes and Nicole Narea
Why the US built a pier to get aid into GazaWhy the US built a pier to get aid into Gaza
World Politics

And why it’s not nearly enough.

By Ellen Ioanes
What the death of Iran’s president could mean for its futureWhat the death of Iran’s president could mean for its future
World Politics

The Iranian regime is unlikely to change course in the near term, but Ebrahim Raisi’s death could affect crucial succession plans.

By Ellen Ioanes
Biden promised to defeat authoritarianism. Reality got in the way.Biden promised to defeat authoritarianism. Reality got in the way.
Today, Explained newsletter

Still ‘rockin’ in the free world’?

By Joshua Keating