Politics
The oil market that sets today’s gas prices was invented in western Pennsylvania
A historian traces how Oil City brokers, then John D. Rockefeller, then futures exchanges decided what the world pays for crude – and why no one entity does today.
When abortion and surrogacy law collide, contracts can’t answer the hardest questions
A custody battle over a newborn with a heart condition raised a question courts have rarely faced: Can anyone be forced to end a pregnancy?
Martin Luther King Jr. was ahead of his time in pushing for universal basic income
The policy of providing guaranteed cash incomes has gained momentum in recent years. This tool to tackle inequality has the potential to address racial resentment.
Why older lawmakers may wait too long to step aside
Many older incumbents are on the ballot for the 2026 midterms, adding to America’s debate over the wisdom of aging politicians delaying their retirement.
Meet the ‘independent voters’ who will likely decide which party triumphs in the 2026 midterm elections
Republicans and Democrats need to make inroads with independent voters. But the themes that motivate the party faithful may not sit well with independents, who tend to recoil against partisan rancor.
What the law says about armed officers at polling places
What does the law say about armed officials at the polls? That’s one of four questions that a legal scholar answers as Trump administration threats have piled up about voting in the midterms.
Why the assault weapons debate is a culture debate
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear two assault weapons cases caps a multi-decade dispute over restricting assault weapons that extends far beyond legal arguments.
Primary voters are unrepresentative, inconsistent and very powerful
Primary winners represent the views of a small group of people who turn out inconsistently and often do not even represent the the views of the parties’ voters, to say nothing of the general public.
Armed poll watchers: New Jersey’s 1981 racist voter intimidation campaign is a cautionary tale ahead of 2026 midterms
An armed voter suppression campaign in New Jersey in 1981 finds echoes today in the Trump administration’s persistent efforts to suppress the vote and undermine trust in elections nationwide.
These state supreme court races could decide abortion access and trans rights
Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan have open seats on their state supreme court, and these hotly contested races will influence how those courts rule in several high-stakes cases.