From June 2012 to February 2013, Foster starred as Michelle, an ex-ballerina-turned-Vegas showgirl who finds herself teaching at her mother-in-law Fanny’s (Kelly Bishop) dance studio in remote Paradise, California. By centering ballet, the show, from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, demanded actors who could deliver an emotional monologue and a pas de deux en pointe, […]
Four years ago on Jan. 6, not even most Republicans would have imagined this 2025 anniversary: The West Front of the Capitol — where rioters battled outnumbered police to breach the building, marauding and hunting for lawmakers — is currently getting gussied up for this month’s inauguration of the 2021 mob’s inciter: Donald Trump. “All […]
AI is often considered a threat to democracies and a boon to dictators. In 2025 it is likely that algorithms will continue to undermine the democratic conversation by spreading outrage, fake news, and conspiracy theories. In 2025 algorithms will also continue to expedite the creation of total surveillance regimes, in which the entire population is […]
One hates to be a hater, and yet…two short days into the new year—specifically, a year with the third season of The White Lotus on the horizon and, tragically, no Jimmy Carter—I find myself besieged by bullet-point-heavy lists of what absolutely everyone I follow on Instagram does and does not want to carry with them […]
A significant proportion of people today live in towns and cities that grew up around trade, industry, and cars. Think of the docks of Liverpool, the factories of Osaka, the automobile obsession of New York’s Robert Moses, or the low-density sprawl of modern Riyadh. Few of these places were created with human health in mind. […]
Whether it’s for work, convenience, connection or entertainment, we rely on digital technology. But the prevailing wisdom is that our screen-based lives are not good for us—that our digital devices and apps are addictive and harmful, wrecking attention span, sleep, and more. However, research suggests screen time isn’t actually the driving force behind declines in […]
President-elect Donald Trump has made clear his intent to supercharge his “America First” approach to foreign policy in his second term — and Mexico looks set to be at the tip of the spear. While many of Trump’s predecessors have also followed a “realist” strategy — that is, one in which relative power is at […]
As 2024 comes to a close, people look back to assess their life and contemplate what can be done in 2025 to achieve a more fulfilling existence. In doing so, you may notice a conundrum: Why is it that you have some great things in your life—perhaps a fulfilling career, a loving family, a cozy […]
California and Los Angeles County are getting tougher on crime. The stiffer penalties on some drug and theft crimes that voters recently approved with Proposition 36 took effect this month. Weeks earlier, in L.A. County, former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman was sworn in as the new district attorney and kicked off his administration by reversing […]
Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday, is the first presidential candidate I remember publicly expressing an opinion of. As it turned out, Carter would also be the first (and only) president to publicly express an opinion of me. During Carter’s presidency he was criticized and lampooned, but during his life he was more often hailed for […]
