We the Gerrymandered
The Founding Fathers get paternalistic.
Recent Stories
VA Supreme Court Gives GOP Huge Lead in Redistricting War
While Republicans are getting away with rigging their congressional maps in unprecedented ways, the Virginia Supreme Court on Friday shelved one of the two meaningful attempts of Democrats to fight back.
Betting on Reality
Prediction markets are everywhere. But nobody’s explaining how they work, why they beat experts, or why institutions fight them so hard. Until now.
Trade Court Slaps Down Trump’s Tariffs (Again)
A federal court ruled on Thursday that yet another one of Donald Trump’s attempts to burden US businesses and consumers with tariffs is illegal.
New Study Unveils Coffee’s Surprising Brain Benefits
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
The Hon. Jim Crow
SCOTUS makes the law great again.
Establishment Dems Don’t Want Their Voters to Decide Certain Primaries
Establishment Democrats don’t trust their own voters to make the decision of who should represent them in some of the races that will decide who controls Congress next year.
A Cactus in Court
Illegal trade in rare ornamental plants is booming — fueled by weak enforcement and a changing climate. But the theft of 1,000 cacti from the Chilean desert has led to a landmark court case in Italy.
‘It’s Intentional’ — Windows 11 Reboots Multiple Times After New Security Update
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Trump Gets His Revenge in Indiana
In what is an indictment of the GOP and how much it has become the party of Donald Trump, at least five Indiana Republicans will be out of a job next year because they dared defy the president on redistricting.
Hilton for Bianco? Gaming Out California’s Absurd Jungle Primary
Will Donald ex Machina save California’s Democrats?
‘Point of No Return:’ New Orleans Relocation Must Start Now Due To Sea Level
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
The Green New Deal Has Evolved. Now It’s All About ‘Affordability.’
A new “working-class climate agenda” seeks to provide economic relief and tackle global warming at the same time.
Orbán Turns to Dust
The strongman was finally swept into the very pile of dust he spent years kicking up.
Astronomers Believe They’ve Detected an Atmosphere Around Icy World Beyond Pluto
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
With Louisiana Rush Job, SCOTUS Proves Gutting Voting Rights Act Was Political
By taking the unusual step of allowing one of their decisions to go into effect immediately, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority is making it easier for Louisiana to disenfranchise its Black voters right away.
Squirrel! Trump’s Lack of Focus on Full Display at WH Small Business Event
Donald Trump’s inability to stay on message poses headaches for the GOP.
Sane King Charles Warns America About Mad King Donald
It’s a dark day for a democracy when it has to take lessons from a monarch.
US Reinstates ‘Gun Show Loophole’ in Rollback of Firearms Restrictions
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Republicans Lack Answers to the Problems Trump Has Created
With six months to go before the midterms, Republicans are offering voters dysfunction and subservience to Donald Trump instead of solutions.
Eyes on Epstein: The Questions Are Moving Into Court
Will the truth escape again?
Donald Trump Thinks Americans Want to See His Face and Name Everywhere
The president is obsessed with putting his name and likeness on government objects to pretend he is being honored by a loving public.
Republicans May Get Ensnared in Their Own SAVE America Act Trap
In what would be a truly ironic turn, it is possible that the only votes the SAVE America Act will end up suppressing are those of angry Republicans.
Germany’s Merz Learns the Hard Way That Appeasing Trump Doesn’t Work
Countries dealing with Donald Trump must choose between standing up to him or never-ending subservience. For inexplicable reasons, leaders like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz choose appeasement and place themselves at the whims of the president.
Saturday Hashtag: #UnjailedAIAgents
Welcome to Saturday Hashtag, a weekly place for broader context.
The Casuistry of Callais: Racism, Power Politics Rolled Into One Cynical Ruling
Thank you, Sam Alito, for this reminder of why I quit the practice of law.
New York Asks Residents To Turn Off Outdoor Lights To Save Migrating Birds
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
What We Don’t Know About Iran Will Hurt Us
Understanding Iran’s power structure, nuclear future, missile red lines, the negotiations, and what both sides are getting dangerously wrong about each other.
As US Economy Limps Along, Trump’s ‘Golden Age’ Is Surely Just Around the Corner
The US economy keeps trudging along thanks to rich people spending lavishly and regular folks having to pay more for the things they need. The promised prosperity, however, is only materializing for those who are already wealthy.
The Supreme Court Makes Sure the South Will Rise Again
Immediately after “their” justices gutted the Voting Rights Act on Wednesday, Republicans in southern states began plotting how they can best minimize the power of Black voters and gerrymander Democrat lawmakers out of office.
Location, Location, Location: Where of Reforestation May Matter More Than Extent
A new study finds that focusing reforestation efforts in strategic locations, such as the tropics, can accomplish global cooling levels comparable to less strategic reforestation efforts covering twice as much area.
SCOTUS Just Rewrote the Voting Rights Act Without Saying So
The Roberts Court has made it a practice to cover its brass knuckles with velvet gloves.
Australia Moves To Tax Meta, Google, and TikTok To Pay for Journalism
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Lessons From the Correspondents’ Dinner
Political assassination is one thing when it involves a foreign country, another when it’s attempted closer to home.
My Head Hurts
If yours doesn’t, it should.
Supreme Court Guts Voting Rights Act, Boosts GOP’s Gerrymandering Efforts
The Supreme Court’s Trump majority did its job again and opened the door for more GOP gerrymanders this year and in the future, (primarily) at the expense of Black Democrats.
Party for One – Republicans Act Like the American People Won’t Vote in November
Republicans are governing as though only Donald Trump gets a vote in the midterms.
Celebrating Orbán’s Defeat? That Might Be Premature
Viktor Orbán’s defeat drew early hurrahs, yet the world beyond Hungary offers a sobering reminder that authoritarian forces remain far from vanquished.
Collapse To Recovery: Are Tipping Points Nature’s Superpower?
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Offshore Wind’s Huge Clean Energy Potential Largely Untapped
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Family Jewels
Trump proposes a crown-transfer procedure.
The State of Solar: Despite Partisan Rhetoric, the Industry Is Still Booming
Solar power is cheap, fast, and in demand as data centers consume more and more electricity.
The Gerrymandering War of 2026 Hits the Home Stretch
A partisan Supreme Court hands Republicans an ill-gotten gerrymandering victory, the fate of the Virginia redistricting referendum is up in the air, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) introduces a blatantly unconstitutional map.
When Oversight in Washington Worked — and Why It Matters Now
Remembering the Church Committee, its shocking discoveries — and what it was like when Congress had backbone.
Rising Cost of Fertilizer, Fuel Pushing Some Farmers to the Brink
PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
Hostile Territory
Our hero is lost in the most dangerous country of all.
Eyes on Epstein: The Pressure Is Showing in the Responses
The rabbit hole goes sideways.
Spot the Difference: Election Fraud, Rigging, and Results Trump Doesn’t Like
With Republicans and Democrats trading accusations that the other side is trying to “steal” elections, it is important to distinguish between actual fraud, legal ways in which one party in particular is trying to rig the system to their advantage, and the ravings of a delusional president who cannot handle defeat.
Gunman Disrupts White House Press Gala — Everybody Is Safe
This is why we can’t have even not-so-nice things… like a dinner in which the press mingles with an administration trying to curb the First Amendment.
Trump Cancels Pakistan Talks That Iran Said Weren’t Happening
Donald Trump on Saturday said that he cancelled the Pakistan trip of his crackerjack diplomatic duo of Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who can now spend their weekend otherwise… like golfing or cutting private business deals with Gulf states.