Everybody needs a good editor. You know, someone who lets us know when an idea’s not quite ready or goes on too long or could be more succinct? Well, Taylor Swift is testing the idea.

Not many politicians have any idea of what work looks like for everyday Americans — and what it would take to make it better. A look back to one politician who took time to learn, and what we might still learn from his example today.

The new film Zone of Interest raises wrenching questions about what we would have done to stop what was happening if we were living in Nazi Germany. In this piece (originally written in August 2023) I try to wrestle with how we answer questions like that.

Being part of a fan base means having something in common with a lot of people who don’t look like you, earn like you, vote like you or maybe even believe like you. There just aren’t many parts of life that are like that anymore.

Would you move to another state if someone offered you $10,000 for a home downpayment? Free workspace? Zipline passes? A free mountain bike? across the country, small towns are looking for an edge as they go people-hunting.

“Cowboy Carter” is raising tough questions about what country music is — and whether Black women can sing it.

There are at least three challenges rural communities need to resolve if they are going to land new residents.

What would it take for rural America to reel in more residents? Jobs. But a couple of researchers argue that there companies don’t have to move there — just the people.

Plants close. Relationships end. Jobs disappear. Change sucks. How do we get better at it?

We have this growing misconception that corporations are people. But they aren’t. And that’s not why they give back to communities.

We don’t save for rainy days anymore. Here’s how we might start.

It’s hard to know where to start in addressing our complex affordable housing problem. Here are three places we can focus our attention.