News and Politics - Slate Magazine
Articles about News and Politics - Slate Magazine
Hester Prynne Wore the Letter A in The Scarlet Letter. What Did the A Stand For?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Oct. 13, 2026.
Is This How a Red State Socialist Wins?
Can the Sunshine State swing the Senate?
The Adjective Pavonine Is Used for Which Bird?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Oct. 12, 2026.
Here’s How—and Where—It Could All Go Wrong for Democrats
The road to winning the Senate runs through Maine. Gulp.
The Antidote to Our Anti-Democratic Supreme Court
Why waiting for Justice Alito to retire isn't a strategy, and what Congress could do instead.
There’s a Reason Pete Hegseth Chose the Fort Hood Shooter for His Grotesque Publicity Stunt
A brutal public execution will not bring honor to the American military or to this country.
The Saving Grace of Trump’s Revenge Tour
The president has launched two more efforts to turn his delusions into criminal charges for his enemies.
Kathy Hochul Says New York Needs to Close the “Cornell Seven” Loophole. That’s False
To be clear, there are no intoxication or consent “loopholes” in New York sexual assault law.
Bonus: What Cornell Says About “Duty Of Care”
There’s a wide gulf between the public’s reaction and the environment that could’ve let this happen.
A House Candidate Says She Was Raped While Campaigning. It’s a Horrific Account—and an Urgent One
Bernadette Greene-Placentia says she has lived through an experience that women everywhere have to fear.
Think You’re Smarter Than a Slate Senior Writer? Find Out With This Week’s News Quiz
Test your knowledge of this week’s big stories.
Florida Is About to Kill My Friend. I Hope the Executioners Read This First
Years ago I was a lawyer for William Reaves, who will soon be put to death in Florida.
The Latest Example of Trumpworld’s Corruption Is Pretty Funny. It’s Also Really Bad
Corruption is contagious, and Trump’s is spreading.
Republicans Have the Cash, but Democrats Have the Atmosphere
Republicans are shifting money from North Carolina to Kansas as Democrats keep adding targets. The hosts debate whether the wider map is real or a feint.
What Is the Sum of a Gross and a Score?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Oct. 8, 2026.
Trump Found a New Way to Do Family Separation Without the Backlash
Family separation has become just another devastating consequence of the president’s mass deportation agenda.
American Alliances Can Outlast Trump. But They Might Not Survive What Comes After Him
After Trump, will America's friends still want to be our friends?
What Happens After a Blue Wave
Waves crash up the shoreline--then they go back.
Which U.S. President Co-Wrote the Federalist Papers With Alexander Hamilton and John Jay?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Oct. 7, 2026.
A Progressive Democrat Tried to Woo MAHA Republicans. The Early Response Is Revealing
In theory, there's plenty for MAHA voters to like about a progressive Democrat. There's one big problem.
What Pablo Torre Is Finding Out
People want to believe sports are fair, but in politics? Well, we’d LIKE to
Christa Pike’s Botched Execution Was Even More Gruesome Than We’ve Been Led to Believe
Last week, six members of the United States Supreme Court blessed a cruel and unusual horror show at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.
Meet the GOP Boogeymen
A generational change in politics is here. Just ask Hasan Piker and Adam Mockler.
Anti-Abortion Activists Finally Overreached at the Supreme Court
Abortion is back at the Supreme Court.
One Vulnerable Group Is Again in the Supreme Court’s Crosshairs More Than Others
Across those cases, a troubling pattern emerges.
The Supreme Court’s Shattered Precedents Are Coming Back to Haunt It
It will not be the last time we see how hard it is to pick up all the pieces.
Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Patti LuPone All Won Tony Awards for Best Actress in Which Broadway Musical?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Oct. 6, 2026.
I Watched Abdul El-Sayed in a Room With Black Voters—and Saw Why He’s Had Trouble With Them
Inside one room on a recent Saturday afternoon, I saw the problem at work.
Hasan Piker and Adam Mockler Are Ready for Something New
Bring on the bruisers, the posters, the shameless.
Just One GOP Justice Needs to Flip for Big Oil to Face Climate Accountability. Welp
The Supreme Court officially began its new term on Monday morning with oral argument in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County.
We Have a New Contender for Dumbest Political Move of the Century
Sometimes, Trump’s terrible policies also make for terrible politics.
How Trump Can—and Cannot—Still Mess With the Midterms
If everyone remains vigilant and ready, we should make it safely to January.
Did Sam Alito Recuse in the Big Climate Case Because His Fellow Conservatives Told Him “We Got This”?
"It's hard to know."
Which Adjective Refers to Someone Called a Crepehanger?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Oct. 5, 2026.
Democrats Are Struggling to Beat Susan Collins. You Can (Still) Blame One Man
In a year that’s shaping up so well for Democrats, things still look dicey in Maine.
The GOP Killed His District. He’s Not Giving Up
The state’s only majority Black district was erased after Callais—all the more reason to run.
Are the Polls Too Good to Be True for Democrats?
Once again, pollsters’ inability to reach Trump voters might disappoint Democrats.
SCOTUS Ignored the Horrors of Lethal Injection. After Christa Pike, Will We Continue to Let Them?
Corinna Barrett Lain on lethal injection's secrets and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on a captured court.
Our Unpopular President Leads an Unpopular War. Remember What Dems Got the Last Time That Happened?
It's beginning to look a lot like 2006.
I Teach Gender-Based Policing at Cornell. Here’s How My Campus Police Should Have Responded to Jane Doe
Gender-responsive policing recognizes people of different genders can experience crime, victimization, and interactions with law enforcement differently.
Off the Record: This Bot Was Made for You and Me
America.gov—is this true?
Think You’re Smarter Than Slate’s Politics Editor? Find Out With This Week’s News Quiz
Test your knowledge of this week’s big stories.
Is Trump All There? A New Interview Gives Us Five Serious Reasons to Wonder
We just got an unfettered view into the mind of the world’s most powerful person. It’s alarming, to say the least.
Jack Smith Testifies, and Senate Republicans Come Up Empty-Handed
Smith used the hearing to remind senators that many likely witnesses against Trump were Republicans.
Tierra Walker Died from Texas’ Abortion Ban. Will Anyone Pay a Price?
All the defendants will also likely blame Walker for her own condition, given that she suffered from a constellation of issues before becoming pregnant.
The Supreme Court Just Took What Will Be the Blockbuster Case of the Term
On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court accepted what is sure to be the blockbuster case of its 2026-2027 term.
Christa Pike’s Botched Execution Is a Travesty. Blame the Supreme Court’s MAGA Majority
The state of Tennessee tried to put Christa Pike to death on Wednesday, in what was an embarrassing spectacle of cruelty.
Scurvy Is Caused by a Deficiency of Which Vitamin?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Oct. 1, 2026.
Trump’s Latest Attempt to Cheat in the Midterms Faces Little Blowback
These ads violate at least two laws.
Who the “Protect College Sports Act” Actually Protects
The House GOP has to choose between Ted Cruz’s college football bill and Pete Hegseth.
The Trump Administration’s Most Dangerous Man
He’s in charge of the agency tasked with keeping you safe. He doesn’t seem to be very good at his job.
How Trump’s Big Mouth Sabotaged His Press Ban
The legal rubber met the authoritarian road last week with a full-frontal assault on the fundamental freedom of the press.
To Which of His Six Wives Was King Henry VIII Married for the Longest Time?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 30, 2026.
The Cheap Money Era Isn’t Coming Back
This isn’t the new normal. It’s the old normal.
The Supreme Court Is Furious at These Defiant Judges. The Justices Should Look in the Dang Mirror
States feel emboldened to try and subvert democracy because the Supreme Court has enabled them to.
This Mortifying Attempt to Trap Jack Smith in Perjury Was Like Something Out of The Office
The whole exchange has to be seen to be believed.
Donald Trump’s Chatbot Has Some Harsh Feedback for Donald Trump
Trump’s chatbot knows who won the 2020 election—and where Barack Obama was really born.
The Supreme Court’s Term-Opening Blockbuster Will Test the Conservative Justices Like No Other Case
The results could shape responses to climate change for decades to come.
The Logo for Which Automaker Features a Horizontal Lightning Bolt, Cutting Through a Circle?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 29, 2026.
It Was the Essential Home of Supreme Court News. Now It’s a Joke. What Happened?
How high-stakes poker brought down a pillar of Supreme Court coverage.
Trump Used to Be Good at Attacking the Press. Things Have Changed
He really did used to be good at this.
A Hit of Democratic Hopium
Even before the scandal broke, Susan Collins was facing down strong Democratic headwinds.
This Weekend’s Storm Was a Preview of What’s to Come
Why you’re getting rained on.
A Delightful New Way to Flip a Deep-Red District
Bobby Pulido isn’t your typical Democrat.
Something Described as Rupestrian Is Made Up of Which Material?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 28, 2026.
Trump’s White House Press Ban, Other Attacks on Free Speech Are Impeachable
The speech, press, and assembly protections of the First Amendment are central pillars of our constitutional order.
The Blue Tsunami Sets Its Sights on the Texas Governor’s Race
The race was supposed to be a foregone conclusion. It’s anything but.
The Knockdown Dragout Fight for Max Miller’s House Seat
An issues candidate vs. a candidate with some issues.
How Hard Could the Blue Wave Hit?
These races weren’t supposed to be close. Now they very much are.
The First Amendment Constitutional Crisis Is Here
First Amendment expert Jameel Jaffer on why this is a break-the-glass moment for press freedom in America.
The Supreme Court Bets That Trump and GOP States Will Follow the Law on Voter Purges. Uh-Oh
Their decision hinges on the Trump administration and GOP-led states actually following the law.
Trump Perfected His Favorite New Legal Pretext in Environmental Cases
He announced that his planned 250-foot triumphal arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery would become a “Military Complex.”
Trump Is Being Oddly Cozy With Xi Jinping
Trump tends to make this mistake with authoritarians whose power he admires and envies.
Think You’re Smarter Than a Slate Senior Editor? Find Out With This Week’s News Quiz
Test your knowledge of this week’s big stories.
Kamala Harris Is Quietly Reaching Out to the Voters She Thought She Didn’t Need in 2024. They’re Listening—Carefully
Kamala Harris’ return to Michigan this week was telling.
The Latest Sign Donald Trump Is Feeling Scared About the Midterms
Remember the Hatch Act? Neither do we.
Inside Trump’s Information Cocoon, the Press Is an Unwelcome Guest
The government's line is that access is a privilege, not a right. That claim looks different applied to an entire outlet instead of an individual reporter.
Off the Record: Draining the Press Pool
Is he violating the First Amendment or clearing the competition?
What Are Progressives Supposed to Do About Public Education?
Hannah-Jones’ attempt to live her values backfired. But what’s the alternative?
At Which Temperature Are the Fahrenheit and Celsius Scales Equal?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 24, 2026.
Trump Found a New Horrifying Way to Disappear ICE Detainees
President Trump and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller have transformed America’s immigration system into an astonishingly cruel deportation machine.
Is a Tejano Star’s Next Stop Congress?
A proud gunowner, former heartthrob, and Democrat.
When Immigration Agents Killed People in January, the Nation Took Notice. What’s Different Now?
So far, federal agents have not faced consequences for their fatal interactions with the public. That can’t stand.
Republican Judges Defy Supreme Court to Try to Boost GOP in Midterms
On Tuesday, the 8th Circuit again ruled for Missouri Republicans who want to use new, gerrymandered congressional districts in the November election.
Trump’s Threats Against the 2026 Election Are Far From Over
Last week the Supreme Court finally pulled the plug on the president’s mail-voting shenanigans. There’s more to come.
The Ancient Roman Province of Lusitania Encompassed Most of Which Modern-Day Country?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 23, 2026.
We Finally Found Out What It Would Take for Republicans to Abandon Donald Trump
Republicans’ desperation is palpable as Trump’s favorability craters, and the polling looks increasingly grim for the GOP.
The Fascist Threat Brewing in…Kansas?
Where rights are going backwards.
The Supreme Court Is Poised to Strangle Climate Lawsuits in the Cradle
The term is about to start with a landmark climate case.
The Reaction to Trump’s Speech at the U.N. Was Revealing
The president’s wild speech before the U.N. assembly mostly got crickets—and deservedly so.
Which Actress Sued Pitbull Over His 2011 Song “Give Me Everything”?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 22, 2026.
It’s the Cruelest Conspiracy on the Internet. Donald Trump Has Taken It Up. After a Dark Year, I Found the Truth
An internet conspiracy theory was killing people even before the president posted about it. I found the man who started it. He’s nothing like you’d expect.
The Data Center Will Not Hold
Nobody seems to like data centers but one man.
Trump Went So Far This Time That Even Fox News Won’t Stand for It
The president's attacks on journalism have hit a new level.
Most U.S. States Are Divided Into Counties. What Are Similar Divisions in Alaska Called?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 21, 2026.
Does James Talarico Have a Chance?
Democrats for decades have been seeing a “blue Texas” on the horizon. They have paid for it dearly. But they’re trying something new this time.
Why is Everyone Fighting Over… Macklemore?
Mackle accordingly.
The Theory Behind Government’s Cruelest Paperwork
Annie Lowrey explains the “ordeal mechanism theory,” the idea that government benefits should be hard to get.
Trump Loves a Populist Crusade. Why Does He Hate This One?
The president is going to bat for an industry that the public can’t stand. Why?
Did Congress Really Mean to Protect the Environment? SCOTUS is Skeptical
Plus, how postal chaos is altering our sense of election security.
Off-the-Record: Weddings by Kremlev
Favors ARE traditional on the day of a Don’s offspring’s wedding.
Think You’re Smarter Than a Slate Website Developer? Find Out With This Week’s News Quiz
Test your knowledge of this week’s big stories.
They’re the Greatest Political Villains in America. Trump Can’t Stop Talking About Them. I Went Into Their Shadowy Lair
“It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor, or even 9/11,” Trump declared.
What Did the Kennedy Center Ever Do to Donald Trump?
The president is threatening to level an arts venue because the courts won’t let him rename it after himself.
Why Don Jr.’s Wedding Photos Have Zero Russians in Them
Umar Kremlev quietly covered the cost of a private island wedding, and every trace of his entourage got scrubbed from the released photos.
Are We Heading For “Pearl Harbor in Space”?
The space arms race is just beginning.
Trump Is Aiming Again at a Familiar First-Term Target. The Consequences Could Be Deadly
By heedlessly seeking to end a centurieslong practice, the Trump administration is headed down a dangerous path.
The Supreme Court Is Being Asked to Intervene in a Texas Surrogacy Battle. The Justices Must Say No
The case presents a profound conflict between two important principles.
Trump’s New Effort to Mess With Student Visas Was Shot Down in Humiliating Fashion
The change was set to take effect on Tuesday.
The Pathogen Yersinia Pestis Is Responsible for Which Disease?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 17, 2026.
We Might Finally See Consequences for Gerrymandering Abuses
For exactly one year, Missouri has been locked in a confusing legal battle over which congressional map it can use for the November elections.
On 9/11, I Went on the Campaign Trail With Abdul El-Sayed. What I Saw Was Revealing
“The thing that they’re attacking isn’t really me.”
A Promising Young TV Star Was Sentenced to 92 Years for a Brutal Crime He Says He Didn’t Commit. Then a Prison Guard Delivered a Life-Changing Message
Tall and elaborately tattooed, with a pair of dark braids draping his shoulders, he was perfect for the role of a wrongfully convicted online sensation.
Who’s Interfering in the Election Now
They let the maps slide, but even this Supreme Court wasn’t going to let the USPS run mail-in voting.
The Jewish Leaders Celebrating Macklemore’s Dismissal From Ed Sheeran’s Tour Have Lost the Plot on Antisemitism
The leaders of many Jewish organizations need to understand what their constituents think about Israel.
Who’s to Blame for Higher Prices? Trump’s Own Fed Chair Just Pointed a Subtle Finger
Trump is dealing with the consequences of his own actions. So are we.
The Supreme Court Put Efforts to Ban the Abortion Pill on Hold. Louisiana Decided It Can’t Wait That Long
Even if the administration continues to slow-walk any move on mifepristone, the district court in the Louisiana case could force it to act.
“Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick” Summed Up the Foreign Policy of Which President?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 16, 2026.
John Roberts’ New Role Model Demonstrates Everything Wrong With the Supreme Court
If the court is curling up anywhere, it is at the feet of a presidency increasingly unchecked by law.
We Found the Most Galling Argument of the Upcoming Supreme Court Term
This fall, the Supreme Court will entertain a Second Amendment challenge to the prohibition of assault weapons in Viramontes v. Cook County.
JD Vance Enters the Mommy Wars
A strings—and rings—attached proposal.
Not Even the Supreme Court Can Stop Trump’s Most Insidious Midterms Trick
The president has some other tricks up his sleeve.
Trumpworld Has Found Its New Jeffrey Epstein
The ties with the Tate brothers are deep.
Which Country Is the All-Time Leader in Medals Won in the Winter Olympics?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 15, 2026.
Is Trump Losing His Touch?
The GOP tries playing the old hits.
Let’s Celebrate the Supreme Court Not Outright Rigging the 2026 Election
For the time being, let’s celebrate that the center of the court did hold, even as dangers remain ahead in both 2026 and 2028.
Trump’s Pro–Global Warming Agenda Is About to Get Even Worse
New Trump administration rules undercut efforts to reduce climate pollution from power plants.
What Type of Structure Is a Redoubt?
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Sept. 14, 2026.
The Trump Proposal to Pay Moms for Childcare May Sound Like a Good Thing. But There’s a Truly Disturbing Catch
It’s a reverse–Robin Hood. Yikes.
How Ivanka Trump Sparked a Revolution in Albania
Anti-Jared mania grips Albania!