Who's Afraid of Michael Jackson?
by Sherry L. Zane
Why are the people selling a pop star's legacy so afraid of his actual politics?
0:00 / 18:14 · Narrator Gacrux
Daily edition
2026-08-13
Today's Crosscut
Religion as Political Strategy
From Hindu nationalists pushing laws in American statehouses to imperial Japan spreading rumors of a Muslim emperor, political movements often invent religious narratives to build alliances and dodge criticism.
‘Anti-Hindu’ Crimes Remain Low in US, but MAGA Hostility Against Indians is Growing × Emerging Anti-immigration Sentiment in Japan Obscures a Surprising History of Strategic Engagement with Islam
0:00 / 23:13 · Narrator Sulafat/Charon/Vindemiatrix
Behind the news →
Deference Should Follow Expertise, Not Pretext
by Yuvraj S. Tuli
What stops the government from using national security as an excuse to punish its critics?
0:00 / 11:00 · Narrator Vindemiatrix
For the curious →
The Quest for Caffeine You Can Have at Night
by Scott Alexander
What does it actually take to separate an evening cup of coffee from a sleepless night?
0:00 / 24:02 · Narrator Charon
The Primes of Leopoldstadt
by Christian E. O'Connell
What happens when a family tries to break its past down into safer pieces?
0:00 / 13:22 · Narrator Algieba
Hard-Luck Men in Hardscrabble Towns
by Mark Oppenheimer
When a factory town stops making things, what happens to the men who never leave?
0:00 / 15:13 · Narrator Rasalgethi
Smart escape →
Poochmaxxing: the Pet Wellness Sector is Booming
by Jacqueline Boyd, The Conversation
If a dog just wants a good walk, what is the pet wellness industry actually selling?
0:00 / 7:25 · Narrator Sulafat