Society
Stories at the intersection of urbanization, inequality, labor, and community — the human dimensions of the news.
176 articles
Back-to-School Hauls Gone Wild: $2,000 for a Kindergartner?
A mom's $2,000 back-to-school haul for her kindergartner is the tip of a toxic iceberg. Inflation, TikTok, and parental guilt are making school supplies a status symbol—and kids are paying the price.
He Wanted My Signature, Not My Eyes: The Executor Trap
When my brother asked me to sign as his executor without reading the document, I refused. Here's why you should too.
Chicago's Secret Classroom: Why Professionals Are Ditching Degrees for Sacred Knowledge
Doctors, lawyers, and engineers are trading burnout for textbooks at Darul Qasim. Inside the quiet revolution remaking American Islam—and the professionals who can't get enough of it.
Thirty Years On, a Daughter Still Hunts for the Truth Behind a Sikh Activist's Murder
Thirty years after Sikh activist Jaswant Singh Khalra vanished, his daughter Navkiran still fights for answers — and a new film has stirred old wounds.
Charity Accused of Trying to Harvest Living Man's Organs Faces Shutdown
Network for Hope faces shutdown after allegedly trying to harvest a living man's organs. The group denies it, but the feds aren't buying it. Here's the ugly story.
Six Companies Own 90% of Your Screen: Who's Actually Pulling the Strings?
Six corporations control 90% of American media. This isn't just about your screen — it's about who shapes your reality. Read this before you scroll again.
Trump's Latest Attack on Birthright Citizenship Is Dead on Arrival
Trump's new executive orders to end birthright citizenship are a political stunt doomed for the courts. But the damage to families is real.
Annuities and SSI: A $700 Lifeline That Could Vanish in a Blink
A reader's plan to help his brother with an annuity hits the brutal wall of SSI rules. The system punishes gifts, and only one path keeps benefits intact.
Medicaid stripped her accounts bare. Now her kids are fighting the credit card company
Margaret thought her $100,000 life insurance policy would protect her kids. Then Medicaid stripped her accounts and the credit card company came calling. The brutal math of dying broke in America.
Indian Journalist Tarun Tejpal Sentenced to 10 Years: Justice or Revenge?
Journalist Tarun Tejpal, once a hero of Indian investigative reporting, has been sentenced to 10 years for rape. A stunning fall from grace, and a rare victory for #MeToo in India.
Nashville Plays Hardball: Eminent Domain Halts Data Center Next to Zoo
Nashville voted to seize land and kill a data center project to protect zoo elephants from noise. It's a bold, risky move that could reshape how cities deal with tech development.
The Grim Irony: How Criminals Outearn Botanists in America's Broken Economy
A podcast's dark joke reveals the brutal truth: botanists save the world and starve, while criminals get rich. Here's why that's a disaster.