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Policy

Vox’s policy team covers how government action and inaction affect people’s lives: the problems facing the US, the ideas that could solve them, and the debates and arguments that will determine if those solutions become reality.

MDMA’s federal approval drama, briefly explained
Future Perfect

MDMA looked like it was on a fast track for PTSD treatment. Now, an FDA committee is advising otherwise.

By Oshan Jarow
Your flight was canceled. Now what?Your flight was canceled. Now what?
How to travel now

Here’s how to get to where you want to go, and make sure your luggage makes it too.

By Allie Volpe
Inside the fight over California’s new AI billInside the fight over California’s new AI bill
Future Perfect

California legislator Scott Wiener on why the home of the AI industry is the right place to regulate it.

By Kelsey Piper
Free medical school won’t solve the doctor shortageFree medical school won’t solve the doctor shortage
Future Perfect

Too many Americans can’t find a doctor. Michael Bloomberg is donating $1 billion to Johns Hopkins to try to change that.

By Dylan Scott

The latest in Policy

Kamala Harris and the border: The myth and the factsKamala Harris and the border: The myth and the facts
Politics

No, Kamala Harris is not a “border czar.” But that doesn’t matter to Republicans.

By Christian Paz
Why the Secret Service keeps failingWhy the Secret Service keeps failing
Policy

If events like the assassination attempt of Donald Trump are to be avoided in the future, the agency needs to change.

By Abdallah Fayyad
It’s time to stop arguing over the population slowdown and start adapting to itIt’s time to stop arguing over the population slowdown and start adapting to it
Future Perfect

The world population could peak in your lifetime.

By Bryan Walsh
Biden is betting on impossible promises to progressivesBiden is betting on impossible promises to progressives
Politics

Biden is trying to reinvigorate his candidacy by pushing progressive priorities.

By Nicole Narea
What so many high-profile shootings have in commonWhat so many high-profile shootings have in common
Politics

The Trump assassination attempt and many other public crimes in America are committed by isolated young men.

By Anna North
The crime wave is over but Republicans can’t let goThe crime wave is over but Republicans can’t let go
Politics

The GOP is still pretending that crime is spiraling out of control.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The clever politics of Republicans’ anti-immigrant pitchThe clever politics of Republicans’ anti-immigrant pitch
2024 Elections

The Republican National Convention featured plenty of angry rhetoric about immigration. It might find a receptive audience.

By Christian Paz
5 causes — and accelerants — of political violence5 causes — and accelerants — of political violence
Politics

While we can’t always predict public political violence, Vox spoke to four experts who can help us understand it.

By Ellen Ioanes
Someone tried to assassinate the former president — and the GOP still won’t talk about guns?Someone tried to assassinate the former president — and the GOP still won’t talk about guns?
Donald Trump

Republicans have been essential to gun safety legislation before. They could do it again.

By Marin Cogan
A right-wing judge just threw out a case against Trump in a brazen abuse of powerA right-wing judge just threw out a case against Trump in a brazen abuse of power
Politics

The classified documents case against Trump hits another major setback before the 2024 election.

By Nicole Narea
Are assassination attempts getting more common?Are assassination attempts getting more common?
World Politics

The attempt on Donald Trump is the latest in a wave of political violence.

By Joshua Keating
What a big experiment giving money to parents revealsWhat a big experiment giving money to parents reveals
Future Perfect

Giving people cash makes them less poor. It doesn't fix everything.

By Dylan Matthews
What the assassination attempt on President Reagan reveals about the Trump shootingWhat the assassination attempt on President Reagan reveals about the Trump shooting
Explainers

In 1981, Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. and, like Trump, survived.

By Nicole Narea
America is not ready for what comes nextAmerica is not ready for what comes next
Politics

The attempt on Donald Trump’s life has put the republic in peril.

By Zack Beauchamp
How Alec Baldwin’s Rust trial went spectacularly off the railsHow Alec Baldwin’s Rust trial went spectacularly off the rails
Culture

Charges of involuntary manslaughter against the actor have been dismissed, and cannot be refiled. Here's what happened.

By Aja Romano
3 theories for America’s anti-immigrant shift3 theories for America’s anti-immigrant shift
Politics

A recent poll suggests a reversal in a decades-long trend of the public warming to immigrants. What’s causing the shift?

By Christian Paz
The US is failing renters during extreme heat wavesThe US is failing renters during extreme heat waves
Climate

Laws require landlords to provide heat. It’s not the same for AC.

By Li Zhou
Iran’s new president can only change the country so muchIran’s new president can only change the country so much
Iran

Elite clerics still hold ultimate power.

By Ellen Ioanes
Is Kamala Harris a better candidate now than she was four years ago?Is Kamala Harris a better candidate now than she was four years ago?
2024 Elections

Harris flopped in 2020, but a lot has changed in four years.

By Christian Paz
We deserve a more nuanced conversation about working momsWe deserve a more nuanced conversation about working moms
Policy

The “motherhood penalty” is more complicated than you think.

By Rachel M. Cohen
France’s elections showed a polarized countryFrance’s elections showed a polarized country
Explainers

France held back the far right. No one knows what’s next.

By Ellen Ioanes
The Supreme IncompetentsThe Supreme Incompetents
Supreme Court

The justices are awful at their jobs, and they don’t know that they are awful at their jobs.

By Ian Millhiser
Why the US had a violent crime spike during Covid — and other countries didn’tWhy the US had a violent crime spike during Covid — and other countries didn’t
Politics

Violent crime is falling. But understanding why it surged during the pandemic is still important.

By Marin Cogan
The most crucial part of next year’s federal budgetThe most crucial part of next year’s federal budget
Future Perfect

The fight to fund Gavi, the international vaccine fund, explained.

By Dylan Matthews
Innovation in child care is coming from a surprising source: Police departments
Parenting

Day care as public safety and public relations.

By Rachel M. Cohen
What the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually meanWhat the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually mean
World Politics

The UK is getting a new government. What is it promising to do?

By Ellen Ioanes
Why American politicians are so oldWhy American politicians are so old
Policy

And why the solution isn’t age limits.

By Abdallah Fayyad
What should an electric car sound like?What should an electric car sound like?
Video

The driving sounds of EVs, explained by the designers who make them.

By Christophe Haubursin
How white victimhood is shaping a second Trump termHow white victimhood is shaping a second Trump term
Politics

As the GOP’s voting base diversifies, conservative elites are doubling down on white identity politics.

By Zack Beauchamp
If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.
The Vox guide to extreme heat

The US doesn‘t have federal heat protections. A standard would save lives. As a heat dome suffocates much of the East, it‘s becoming more apparent that we need better standards in the face of climate change.

By Sam Delgado
The Supreme Court’s disastrous Trump immunity decision, explainedThe Supreme Court’s disastrous Trump immunity decision, explained
Supreme Court

The Court's Trump immunity case is a blueprint for dictatorship.

By Ian Millhiser
How dangerous is it really to have a baby in America?How dangerous is it really to have a baby in America?
Health

The debate over maternal deaths, explained.

By Anna North
What Kenya’s deadly protests are really aboutWhat Kenya’s deadly protests are really about
World Politics

A proposed tax hike sparked unrest, but Kenya’s real problem is a debt crisis.

By Ellen Ioanes
LBJ and Truman knew when to quit. Will Biden?LBJ and Truman knew when to quit. Will Biden?
Politics

Some lessons from the two presidents who walked away.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Why the Supreme Court just ruled in favor of over 300 January 6 insurrectionistsWhy the Supreme Court just ruled in favor of over 300 January 6 insurrectionists
Supreme Court

The rules governing statutory construction often allow judges to choose how they want to read a law.

By Ian Millhiser
What a big new Supreme Court decision could mean for homeless AmericansWhat a big new Supreme Court decision could mean for homeless Americans
Homelessness

The Grants Pass v. Johnson decision does not spell the end to fights over tent encampments in America.

By Rachel M. Cohen
Joe Biden should save his legacy by ending his candidacyJoe Biden should save his legacy by ending his candidacy
Politics

The case for somebody, anybody else.

By Eric Levitz
Can Democrats replace Biden as their nominee?Can Democrats replace Biden as their nominee?
2024 Elections

Eh, no, not really.

By Christian Paz
Biden vs. Trump: The first 2024 presidential debateBiden vs. Trump: The first 2024 presidential debate
2024 Elections

It's a historic rematch, the first ever debate between a sitting president and a former president.

By Vox Staff
The most important Biden Cabinet member you don’t knowThe most important Biden Cabinet member you don’t know
Policy

Vox’s Dylan Matthews sits down with US trade representative Katherine Tai

By Dylan Matthews