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How we make and spend money, and how economics influences the world around us.

Student loans are about to get worse
Policy

Trump’s new law is a major change to higher education. Here’s what that means for you.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Student loans are about to get worse
Policy

Trump’s new law is a major change to higher education. Here’s what that means for you.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Policy
How the GOP beat Democrats to a child care winHow the GOP beat Democrats to a child care win
Policy

There’s $16 billion in new day care spending tucked inside Trump’s welfare-slashing tax package.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Politics
The Republican tax bill, explained in 500 wordsThe Republican tax bill, explained in 500 words
Politics

It combines budget-busting tax cuts and painful social program cuts.

By Andrew Prokop

The latest in Money

Today, Explained podcast
What the rise of “buy now, pay later” services tells us about the economyWhat the rise of “buy now, pay later” services tells us about the economy
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

Burritos on a payment plan, explained.

By Miles Bryan and Noel King
Economy
What today’s new college graduates are up againstWhat today’s new college graduates are up against
Economy

The class of 2025 is graduating into a weird job market.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Politics
3 ways Americans could pay for Trump’s war with Iran3 ways Americans could pay for Trump’s war with Iran
Politics

The conflict could take a toll in both blood and money.

By Eric Levitz
The Gray Area
The economic theory behind TrumpismThe economic theory behind Trumpism
Podcast
The Gray Area

A leading conservative thinker on populism’s rise on the right.

By Sean Illing
Trump Administration
Trump’s big, beautiful bill, explained in 5 chartsTrump’s big, beautiful bill, explained in 5 charts
Trump Administration

Here are the numbers behind the bill behind Trump’s breakup with Elon Musk.

By Nicole Narea
Explain It to Me
Can pop music actually predict a recession?Can pop music actually predict a recession?
Podcast
Explain It to Me

Now that’s what I call economic downturn!

By Jonquilyn Hill
Defense & Security
Why the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon MuskWhy the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon Musk
Defense & Security

How Musk’s SpaceX became too big to fail for US national security.

By Joshua Keating
Policy
The big, bad bond market could derail Trump’s big, beautiful billThe big, bad bond market could derail Trump’s big, beautiful bill
Policy

Trump wants to blow a $3 trillion hole in the budget. The bond market is saying “no way.”

By Dylan Matthews
Donald Trump
The sweeping federal court order blocking Trump’s tariffs, explainedThe sweeping federal court order blocking Trump’s tariffs, explained
Donald Trump

If this decision stands on appeal, it’s a big loss for Trump that will make it difficult for his trade war to continue.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
The real reason DOGE failed isn’t what you thinkThe real reason DOGE failed isn’t what you think
Politics

Musk tried to act as the CEO for the federal workforce. His effort fell apart — due to some surprising resistance.

By Andrew Prokop
Technology
Google as you know it is slowly dyingGoogle as you know it is slowly dying
Technology

The search giant’s midlife crisis is now your problem.

By Adam Clark Estes
Politics
Why are men so much more right-wing than women now?Why are men so much more right-wing than women now?
Politics

Don’t blame Joe Rogan too much — one theory says that the roots of this gender gap go back decades.

By Maia Mindel
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court just revealed one thing it actually fears about TrumpThe Supreme Court just revealed one thing it actually fears about Trump
Supreme Court

The Republican justices draw a line in the sand – in an order that makes absolutely no sense.

By Ian Millhiser
Philanthropy
Bill Gates shows what the end of perpetual philanthropy looks likeBill Gates shows what the end of perpetual philanthropy looks like
Philanthropy

Why billionaires need to give more — and give faster.

By Benjamin Soskis
Policy
There’s a better way to help underpaid workers than “no tax on tips”There’s a better way to help underpaid workers than “no tax on tips”
Policy

Tipped workers need a raise, not a tax cut.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Policy
The reconciliation bill is Republicans doing what they do bestThe reconciliation bill is Republicans doing what they do best
Policy

The GOP remains a conspiracy to steal from the poor and give to the rich.

By Dylan Matthews
Donald Trump
The ugly truth about Trump’s big, beautiful billThe ugly truth about Trump’s big, beautiful bill
Donald Trump

Trump is promising tax cuts and a new golden age. Here’s what’s really inside it.

By Andrew Prokop
Economy
The first federal court hearing on Trump’s tariffs did not go so well for TrumpThe first federal court hearing on Trump’s tariffs did not go so well for Trump
Economy

Much of the hearing focused on whether Richard Nixon can save Trump’s tariffs.

By Ian Millhiser
Economy
The tariffs are here. Inflation isn’t. What gives?The tariffs are here. Inflation isn’t. What gives?
Economy

Is our long-ish national economic nightmare over?

By Eric Levitz
Music
Stadium concerts are the worst summer hangStadium concerts are the worst summer hang
Music

Your favorite artist — plus 80,000 other people.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Politics
Trump’s tariffs have already failed at their main jobTrump’s tariffs have already failed at their main job
Politics

Trump’s team had grand ambitions for reordering global trade. They’re backing down.

By Andrew Prokop
Supreme Court
The Federalist Society is surprisingly ambivalent about TrumpThe Federalist Society is surprisingly ambivalent about Trump
Supreme Court

America’s most powerful legal organization confronts Trump’s incompetence.

By Ian Millhiser
Education
We’re at the beginning of a harsh new era for college studentsWe’re at the beginning of a harsh new era for college students
Education

Paying for school could become a lot more difficult — on multiple levels.

By Kevin Carey
Economy
How Trump’s attacks on the Fed could sabotage the US economyHow Trump’s attacks on the Fed could sabotage the US economy
Economy

Trump is threatening the independence of the Fed. That’s dangerous.

By Nicole Narea
Economy
A federal court is about to decide whether to strike down Trump’s tariffsA federal court is about to decide whether to strike down Trump’s tariffs
Economy

We’re about to get our first window into whether the judiciary will allow Trump’s trade war to continue.

By Ian Millhiser
The Logoff
Trump’s new plan for student loans, briefly explainedTrump’s new plan for student loans, briefly explained
The Logoff

5 million Americans are facing having their loans sent to collections.

By Patrick Reis
Politics
How Trump could make Americans permanently poorerHow Trump could make Americans permanently poorer
Politics

The most surprising consequence of Trump’s trade war.

By Eric Levitz
Business & Finance
Why prices on some of Americans’ go-to shopping sites are suddenly spikingWhy prices on some of Americans’ go-to shopping sites are suddenly spiking
Business & Finance

The end of the de minimis exemption, briefly explained.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
What is — and isn’t — getting pricier under Trump’s tariffs?What is — and isn’t — getting pricier under Trump’s tariffs?
Politics

Prices are rising due to Trump’s tariffs — but not universally just yet.

By Nicole Narea
The Logoff
The turmoil at 60 Minutes, briefly explainedThe turmoil at 60 Minutes, briefly explained
The Logoff

The vaunted news program is under attack.

By Patrick Reis
Politics
Trump’s tariffs hurt the working class. Why are some unions on board?Trump’s tariffs hurt the working class. Why are some unions on board?
Politics

The president’s economic policy has put unions in an awkward position.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Explain It to Me
How to talk to your boomer parents about retirementHow to talk to your boomer parents about retirement
Explain It to Me

It’s time to take a hard look at your own finances — and theirs.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Politics
Democrats keep saying America is an “oligarchy.” Is that true?Democrats keep saying America is an “oligarchy.” Is that true?
Politics

A political scientist explains “oligarchy” and argues that America has earned that label.

By Lee Drutman
Politics
Why Trump is losing his trade war with ChinaWhy Trump is losing his trade war with China
Politics

Trade wars are easy to win — if you’re China.

By Eric Levitz
Culture
Why does Gen Z smell like sugar?Why does Gen Z smell like sugar?
Culture

From Dunkin’ deodorant to Sabrina Carpenter perfume, smelling good isn’t enough — it’s all about smelling edible.

By Kyndall Cunningham
The Logoff
Can Trump call off his trade war with China while pretending he’s not?Can Trump call off his trade war with China while pretending he’s not?
The Logoff

The latest on the trade war.

By Andrew Prokop
Economy
Trump’s tariffs are driving a gold rushTrump’s tariffs are driving a gold rush
Economy

Gold has become a rare safe bet in Trump’s economy.

By Nicole Narea
How Donald Trump is remaking America
The domestic fallout from Trump’s tariffs, in 3 chartsThe domestic fallout from Trump’s tariffs, in 3 charts
How Donald Trump is remaking America

Businesses and consumers are already appearing to panic.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
The daunting task facing Democrats trying to win back the working classThe daunting task facing Democrats trying to win back the working class
Politics

The Democratic Party faces an electoral math problem post-Trump. A new project is trying to solve it.

By Christian Paz
The Logoff
Trump vs. the Fed, briefly explainedTrump vs. the Fed, briefly explained
The Logoff

A post is not a crisis — yet.

By Patrick Reis