The Thread
Where policy, equity, and culture come together
Becoming America: Marielena Hincapié on Writing Her Family’s Immigration Story
The Night Shift at Reykjavik: What ‘The Brink of War’ Tells Us about Arms Control
Could the Iran War Accelerate the Energy Transition?
What’s In Your Wallet? If You’re a Parent, It Should Be a Library Card.
Editor’s Picks
The SAVE Act Is the Wrong Way to ‘Nationalize’ Elections. There’s a Better One.
Four Ways to Protect Yourself from the Deepfakes Taking over the Internet
Is Trump Really a Fascist? Examining the Controversial Claim
The Cost of Beauty: Inside the Broken Promise of Cosmetology School
How Netflix’s ‘A House of Dynamite’ Might Change Our Thinking on Nuclear War
On-Screen Representation Means More Than Just Identity. It’s About Context.
The Latest
10 Top Moments for Care on TV in 2025
From the struggles of parenthood to confronting a cancer diagnosis, Vicki Shabo and Lydia Storie count down the top TV care moments of 2025.
America’s Next Migration: How Midwest Housing Will Shape Our Climate Future
Panfil and Robustelli say the Midwest’s ability to build affordable housing will shape where Americans move as climate migration grows.
Why California’s Prop 50 Is a Victory for Democracy—Even in Its Irony
Maresa Stano writes on how California’s Prop 50 proves the importance of direct democracy in building voters’ power.
The Cost of Beauty: Inside the Broken Promise of Cosmetology School
Through three students’ experiences, we uncover how cosmetology education exploits passion and labor, leaving beauty workers behind.
The Power of the Dead: A Conversation with Will Hunt
As Halloween fades into Día de los Muertos, Will Hunt reflects on how the dead shape our world through rituals, memory, & ancestral remains.
Maryland’s Longevity Plan: How One State Could Help Redefine Aging in America
With federal cuts looming, Mark Swartz explores Maryland’s bold aging plan focused on care, housing, and economic opportunity.
Trump Doesn’t Have Unchecked “Plenary” Powers—So Why Did Stephen Miller Say It?
The White House advisor froze after defending Trump’s power to deploy the National Guard, revealing legal cracks, writes Karen J. Greenberg.
At Texas Universities, Censorship Isn’t a Bug. It’s a Feature.
Texas fires teachers as bans erase trans, nonbinary rights. Morgan Polk explores rising political pressure on higher education.
Trump’s TikTok Deal: Who Rules the Algorithm, Rules the Digital Public Square
Lilian Coral breaks down the TikTok deal using five key principles—and reveals why it’s more political patch than real tech policy.
Gen Z Doesn’t Need ‘Severance’—They Need Shared Spaces for Work and Care
Gen Z wants real work-life balance. Georgia Norton explores how co-located work and child care could be the key to making it possible.
Trump’s Occupation of DC Undermines Proven Housing Solutions
Trump’s crackdown and DC’s next budget both ignore effective solutions to helping people leave homelessness, Helen Bonnyman discusses.
“So Much to Say, No Way to Share It”: How AI Can Change the Game for Learners with Disabilities
AI is transforming accessibility, says expert An-Me Chung, by unlocking new support tools for students with disabilities.
The Dilemma of Jury Duty in Trump and Jeanine Pirro’s DC
Policy expert Mark Schmitt reflects on civic trust and duty after jury service in DC, a city overtaken by force and fear.
No Friend to Workers: The Labor Cost of Trump’s Economy
It’s hard to imagine less of a friend to workers than Trump. For Labor Day, Mary Alice McCarthy urges unity to protect hard-won rights.
In Katrina’s America, the Storm Still Echoes 20 Years Later
Us@250 Fellow Calvin Krippner reflects on Katrina’s legacy—how the storm exposed systemic racism, government failure, and lasting distrust.