All Society
First Look10 million users join Threads. Could it trigger the end for Twitter?Meta launched Threads, a text-based app mirroring Twitter, and drew 10 million users in its first seven hours. Although Threads is now live in over 100 countries, data privacy concerns will prevent a launch across the European Union.
First LookWhat to know about Fourth of July holiday origins and traditionsThe Fourth of July is, for many Americans, an opportunity for parades, cookouts, and fireworks – but have you ever wondered about the holiday’s origins and traditions? Here’s what to know about the United States’ Independence Day.
In Pictures: A day for a bigger ‘us’ – and a bigger USCan a nation that reflects the world in all its diversity cohere? Can it thrive and remain free and grow?
Maine town debates high-flying proposal for world’s largest flagpoleWhen Morrill Worcester unfurled his plan to unite all Americans in Columbia Falls, Maine, the town was instantly divided. Some see his vision for the world’s largest flag pole as an atrocity and tourist trap. Others hail him as the ultimate patriot.
First LookMeta implements new parental privacy features. Are they enough?Instagram and Facebook are implementing new parental supervision tools and privacy features. Yet critics argue these measures fall short because they require families to opt in to using them.
When $1 billion isn’t enough. Why the Sioux won’t put a price on land.How do you make reparations for historic harm when money is off the table? To accept cash for stolen land would be to sell out in the purest sense, members of the Sioux say. They want their land – or at least a say in how it is protected.
First LookBlack baseball players are at historic lows. Can MLB change that?The percentage of Black players in Major League Baseball is at its lowest level ever. But there are signs that could change as the sport is seeing early results of its diversity initiatives and by encouraging expressions of joy and celebration at games.
Signing off social: Meet the teens with no time for TikTokA new poll found that most Americans would like to return to a time when society was unplugged, including 63% of 18- to 34-year-olds.
First LookJuneteenth is celebrated on June 19. But do you know why?Juneteenth marks June 19, the day when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. For generations, Americans have celebrated the day with parades and cookouts, but knowledge of its history is also important.
Difference Maker‘A breath of fresh air’: How one group offers Black men a path to healingStigma and lack of affordability around mental health in vulnerable communities can hinder progress. A Philadelphia-area nonprofit seeks to help one segment of the population heal.
What is behind a huge drop in the murder rate this year?The murder rate in big U.S. cities spiked in recent years. This year has so far seen a big decline. A change in policing could be contributing.
First LookEnd of the line for California transit riders? Funding gets slashed.Californians have always loved their cars but now the state’s public transit system has lost $2 billion in government funding. A decline in ridership during the pandemic is partly to blame, but advocates say scaling back will weaken the system even more.
FocusOne is the loneliest number: What will help people connect again?How do Americans rediscover their spirit of community and connection after a pandemic that left behind an epidemic of loneliness?
No more ‘faceless bureaucracy’? How cities are deepening trust.Most Americans think favorably of local government. Still, citizens academies try to deepen trust by getting past “faceless bureaucracy.”
In rural Alabama, a mass shooting America ignoredThe Dadeville mass shooting saw four teens killed and 25 injured at a Sweet 16 party. It points to how and why America views gun deaths differently.
First LookRacist abuse in international soccer: Time for real change?Racist insults toward Real Madrid soccer player Vinícius Júnior expose a persistent worldwide problem in the sport, but federations are slow to sanction teams for racism. Education and stricter penalties are needed to tackle this issue, experts say.
First LookLeague of her own: Knuckleball pitcher with big baseball dreamsEri Yoshida is a Japanese baseball player who dreams her knuckleball pitch will take her to the big leagues. No stranger to overcoming the odds, she’s pitched in games – and won – in Japan, the United States, and Canada – against men and women.
Cover StoryUntangling the roots of violence: What can we learn from the South?Beneath the South’s reputation for comfort food and a friendly welcome lie deep roots of violence. Can untangling them help uproot them?
Jim Brown stood for those who stood against the establishmentJim Brown was the paragon of football running backs. But he saw himself as a man fighting for the freedom of those around him – including himself.
First LookCalifornia's Black reparations team wraps up. Are solutions coming?California is nearing the conclusion of its first-in-the-nation Black reparations task force. Black state residents say they hope the effort results in meaningful actions.
