The Thread
Where policy, equity, and culture come together
Could the Iran War Accelerate the Energy Transition?
What’s In Your Wallet? If You’re a Parent, It Should Be a Library Card.
Looking Back at 9/11: Peter Bergen and David Sterman on 25 Years of the War on Terror
Beyond Nation-States: A New Reading List for Understanding Global Politics Today
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
A New Era for Captain America: Navigating Patriotism and Identity in a “Brave New World”
Marvel’s latest had a lucrative opening weekend. Ted Johnson and Joe Wilkes discuss its success in navigating today’s political landscape.
How to Protect Your Privacy Online: Five Tips from Tech Policy Experts
Protect your online privacy with these five practical steps from New America’s tech policy experts Nat Meysenburg and Sydney Saubestre.
Behind the Lens: Filmmakers Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat on Sugarcane
Filmmakers and Fellows Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat discuss Sugarcane, a documentary honoring Indigenous resilience and history.
DeepSeek’s Disruption: Digital “Sovereignty” Meets Reality at the Paris AI Summit
Candace Rondeaux and Akash Kapur consider what China’s DeepSeek could mean for AI global governance.
The Last Arena: How Sports Are Shaping the Future of Media—A Look Ahead to Super Bowl LIX
Andrés Martinez examines how the NFL’s TV and streaming dominance is reshaping media’s future through live sports.
The Groundhog Day of American Politics: How the Two-Party Doom Loop Fuels Stalemates and Polarization
Lee Drutman explores how the U.S. political system feels like an endless cycle and how we can break free with proportional representation.
Paid Leave in 2025: Three Crucial Battlegrounds for Working People and Families
Vicki Shabo offers a peek at what’s ahead for paid leave in 2025, highlighting three key areas to watch in an unpredictable year.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Misguided Bet on Trump to Save the City’s Economy
Mayor Bowser looks to Trump for DC’s revival, but Alex Anacki argues its residents, not return-to-work policies, hold the city’s potential.
A World Without Faces: Understanding Face Blindness and Its Impact
Jeff Kleeman shares his journey with prosopagnosia, or face blindness, & why early detection matters to support children with the condition.
How Student Loan Debt Impacts All Ages and What Trump’s Administration Can Do
Tia Caldwell examines the growing burden of student loan debt on borrowers and the future of debt under another Trump administration.