Culture
Sonny Rollins Lived to See Justice for His Wrongly Convicted Father Sonny Rollins Lived to See Justice for His Wrongly Convicted Father
The jazz legend fought for nearly 80 years to clear his father of racially motivated charges.
The Entwined History of Capitalism and Race in the Americas and Beyond The Entwined History of Capitalism and Race in the Americas and Beyond
Better to start the history of the United States in 1492 than in 1776.
The Contradictions of 1776 The Contradictions of 1776
From the outset the United States was founded to protect both freedom and slavery.
The Revolution Heard Around the World The Revolution Heard Around the World
The global politics of 1776.
Books
The Cruel Optimism of Being a Mets Fan The Cruel Optimism of Being a Mets Fan
A new book by A.M. Gittlitz tells the story of a beloved baseball team.
The Radical Genius of Álvaro Enrigue The Radical Genius of Álvaro Enrigue
His new novel is as much a work of political philosophy as it is one of fiction.
What Happened to Tucker Carlson? What Happened to Tucker Carlson?
The transformation of a once promising, if conservative, magazine journalist into a conspiracy-minded talking head.
Film
How Much On-Screen Violence Is Too Much? How Much On-Screen Violence Is Too Much?
I’ve always been a little sensitive about films that depict school shootings. But Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama was an outlier.
Claire Denis’s Haunting Neocolonial Drama Claire Denis’s Haunting Neocolonial Drama
Compared to her other films, The Fence is a minor work. But it contains within it a set of expansive themes.
Why Barbara Kopple’s Labor Films Remain As Urgent as Ever Why Barbara Kopple’s Labor Films Remain As Urgent as Ever
As her Oscar-winning labor documentaries return to theaters, Kopple reflects on union-busting, gig work, and her latest film on unions.
May Day Films to Inspire You With Solidarity May Day Films to Inspire You With Solidarity
From Modern Times to Harlan County, USA.
Esther Kinsky’s Celluloid Dreams Esther Kinsky’s Celluloid Dreams
In Seeing Further, a novel obsessed with the tactile feeling of arthouse cinema, the sad state of our moviegoing comes into focus.
Television
What’s Behind the Corporate Pillaging of “60 Minutes” What’s Behind the Corporate Pillaging of “60 Minutes”
By firing veteran correspondent Scott Pelley, the leaders of CBS News have elevated toadying over truth-telling.
Why Losing Colbert Hurts So Much Why Losing Colbert Hurts So Much
Trump would have all his comedian critics fired if he could. But Colbert represents a particular loss.
How Netflix Cashes In on the Comedy Culture Wars How Netflix Cashes In on the Comedy Culture Wars
The streamer managed to make a celebrity roast for the innocuous comedian Kevin Hart into an ideological free-fire zone—another sign of the Trumpification of pop culture.
Architecture
How Trump Got His Tacky Arch Approved How Trump Got His Tacky Arch Approved
Neoclassical revivalists had to sell their souls.
What Would Happen if You Walked All of New York’s Shoreline? What Would Happen if You Walked All of New York’s Shoreline?
The art and architecture of New York’s vast and sweeping waterfront.
America’s True Fascist Architectural Legacy America’s True Fascist Architectural Legacy
It’s not the kitschy White House ballroom—it’s logistics warehouses converted to ICE detention centers.
Music
Sonny Rollins Lived to See Justice for His Wrongly Convicted Father Sonny Rollins Lived to See Justice for His Wrongly Convicted Father
The jazz legend fought for nearly 80 years to clear his father of racially motivated charges.
Bruce Springsteen Gave Us Exactly What We Need Right Now Bruce Springsteen Gave Us Exactly What We Need Right Now
His just-finished tour was a cleansing, healing experience—and a morale-boosting call to arms for everyone fighting for our democracy.
How De La Soul Changed Hip Hop And The World How De La Soul Changed Hip Hop And The World
Austin McCoy joins the show to discuss his new book on De La Soul
Drowning Out the Noise Drowning Out the Noise
How music became the cathartic refuge for my political frustration.
The Intermediate States of Éliane Radigue The Intermediate States of Éliane Radigue
On the life and work of the pathbreaking French composer.
Publishing
The Rise of the Sensitivity Reader The Rise of the Sensitivity Reader
Adam Szetela’s That Book Is Dangerous! examines the emergence of a new job in publishing—secondary readers who comb through books for possible offenses.
Did You Know There’s an Independent Bookstore Revival Underway? Did You Know There’s an Independent Bookstore Revival Underway?
Americans fight back against big tech.
Ishmael Reed on His Diverse Inspirations Ishmael Reed on His Diverse Inspirations
The origins of the Before Columbus Foundation.
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