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Policy

Vox’s policy team covers how government action and inaction affect people’s lives: the problems facing the US, the ideas that could solve them, and the debates and arguments that will determine if those solutions become reality.

Artificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic income
Future Perfect

A major study backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman shows unconditional cash has benefits that have nothing to do with AI.

By Oshan Jarow
Artificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic income
Future Perfect

A major study backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman shows unconditional cash has benefits that have nothing to do with AI.

By Oshan Jarow
How should we sell psychedelics?How should we sell psychedelics?
Future Perfect

A new report outlines policy options for who gets to sell psychedelics, and who gets to buy them.

By Oshan Jarow
MDMA’s federal approval drama, briefly explainedMDMA’s federal approval drama, briefly explained
Future Perfect

MDMA looked like it was on a fast track for PTSD treatment. Now, an FDA committee is advising otherwise.

By Oshan Jarow
Trump wants to stack the DOJ’s leadership with his personal lawyersTrump wants to stack the DOJ’s leadership with his personal lawyers
Trump 2.0, explained

The incoming president appears committed to placing awesome prosecutorial power in the hands of his loyalists.

By Ian Millhiser

The latest in Policy

Matt Gaetz, Trump’s uniquely unqualified pick for attorney general, withdrawsMatt Gaetz, Trump’s uniquely unqualified pick for attorney general, withdraws
Trump 2.0, explained

Gaetz was a reckless pick, even by Trump’s standards.

By Ian Millhiser
America’s literacy crisis isn’t what you thinkAmerica’s literacy crisis isn’t what you think
Culture

This is what happens when kids don’t read for pleasure anymore.

By Anna North
Chef José Andrés knows how to feed people in a crisis
Future Perfect

From Gaza to Asheville to Valencia, the celebrity chef understands

By Izzie Ramirez
Trump wants to use the military for mass deportations. Can he actually do that?Trump wants to use the military for mass deportations. Can he actually do that?
Trump 2.0, explained

Presidential powers to use the military domestically are broad, but not absolute.

By Nicole Narea
Could Trump actually get rid of the Department of Education?Could Trump actually get rid of the Department of Education?
Trump 2.0, explained

Getting rid of the agency would cause a lot of harm and wouldn’t really change school curriculum.

By Ellen Ioanes
Trump’s coalition is a mess of contradictions — and they’re about to be exposedTrump’s coalition is a mess of contradictions — and they’re about to be exposed
Trump 2.0, explainedMember Exclusive

There’s a brewing fight over what Trumpism really stands for, one that pits Trump’s top allies against each other.

By Zack Beauchamp
Trump loves tariffs. Will the rest of America?Trump loves tariffs. Will the rest of America?
Trump 2.0, explained

If enacted, his plan could remake world trade — and squeeze US consumers.

By Haleema Shah and Noel King
If Democrats could compromise with Republicans on abortion, should they?If Democrats could compromise with Republicans on abortion, should they?
Abortion

Advocates fear half-measures could undermine their long-term goals.

By Rachel Cohen
Project 2025 is penetrating the Trump administration alreadyProject 2025 is penetrating the Trump administration already
Trump 2.0, explained

Trump shunned Project 2025. He’s picking its authors for Cabinet positions anyway.

By Nicole Narea
The stunning success of vaccines in America, in one chartThe stunning success of vaccines in America, in one chart
Future Perfect

America, before and after vaccines.

By Dylan Scott
The law is clear on birthright citizenship. Can Trump end it anyway?The law is clear on birthright citizenship. Can Trump end it anyway?
Trump 2.0, explained

The Constitution guarantees citizenship to nearly everyone born in the US. Trump wants to take that away.

By Nicole Narea
Trump says he wants to influence interest rates. Can he?Trump says he wants to influence interest rates. Can he?
Trump 2.0, explained

There’s little Trump could immediately do to threaten the Federal Reserve’s independence.

By Ellen Ioanes
Biden screwed up on inflation — badlyBiden screwed up on inflation — badly
PolicyMember Exclusive

He didn’t just get unlucky. He botched the response.

By Andrew Prokop
Trump didn’t gut foreign aid last time. This time could be different.Trump didn’t gut foreign aid last time. This time could be different.
Trump 2.0, explained

What Trump’s return could mean for the global poor.

By Dylan Matthews
The trans school sports rule the Democrats didn’t talk aboutThe trans school sports rule the Democrats didn’t talk about
Policy

The Biden administration proposed a change to school athletics that sought a compromise.

By Rachel Cohen
The Trump Cabinet picks who seriously threaten democracy — and the ones who don’tThe Trump Cabinet picks who seriously threaten democracy — and the ones who don’t
Trump 2.0, explained

Some of Trump’s picks are normal. Others look a lot like choices made by authoritarians abroad.

By Zack Beauchamp
America's fractured trust in science, explained in 3 chartsAmerica's fractured trust in science, explained in 3 charts
Future Perfect

Science should be bipartisan. Why is our confidence split down party lines?

By Celia Ford
Can Trump ban trans athletes from school sports?Can Trump ban trans athletes from school sports?
Trump 2.0, explained

Trump could weaponize Title IX against trans kids.

By Ellen Ioanes
Did Trump win in 2024 because of racism? It’s complicated.Did Trump win in 2024 because of racism? It’s complicated.
Politics

Trump’s gains with Black and Latino voters tell us something important. But so does his very white base.

By Zack Beauchamp
The most dangerous roads in America have one thing in common
Future Perfect

We can fix our staggering car fatality crisis. Start with these roads.

By David Zipper
Trump tapped Musk to co-lead the “Department of Government Efficiency.” What the heck is that?Trump tapped Musk to co-lead the “Department of Government Efficiency.” What the heck is that?
Trump 2.0, explained

The new presidential commission sounds like a joke. It isn’t.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The election was a loss for Palestinians — and not just because Trump wonThe election was a loss for Palestinians — and not just because Trump won
Politics

From start to finish, Palestinians became a target, and candidates were only interested in maintaining the status quo.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The antipoverty agenda under Trump isn’t all lostThe antipoverty agenda under Trump isn’t all lost
Trump 2.0, explained

Successful minimum wage ballot measures offer small signs of hope.

By Abdallah Fayyad
A Trump second term could bring another family separation crisisA Trump second term could bring another family separation crisis
Trump 2.0, explained

Mass deportations could separate millions of undocumented immigrants and their US citizen children.

By Nicole Narea
Did Democrats lose the 2024 election because of “bad” policies?Did Democrats lose the 2024 election because of “bad” policies?
2024 Elections

Betting on voter gratitude is a common mistake.

By Rachel Cohen
Arizona’s unprecedented crackdown on homeless encampmentsArizona’s unprecedented crackdown on homeless encampments
2024 Elections

Voters this week approved a first-of-its-kind measure to pay property owners if cities don’t address camps.

By Rachel Cohen
This one chart foreshadows Trump’s immigration crackdownThis one chart foreshadows Trump’s immigration crackdown
Policy

Investors in private prisons think they’ve hit the jackpot with a second Trump presidency.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Trump proposed big Medicaid and food stamp cuts. Can he pass them?Trump proposed big Medicaid and food stamp cuts. Can he pass them?
Trump 2.0, explained

What Trump’s return means for America’s poor people.

By Dylan Matthews
The criminal cases against Donald Trump are now basically deadThe criminal cases against Donald Trump are now basically dead
Donald Trump

Turns out all of those indictments were pointless.

By Ian Millhiser
Tough-on-crime laws are winning at the ballot boxTough-on-crime laws are winning at the ballot box
2024 Elections

The backlash to criminal justice reform continues.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Trump won, but so did seven ballot measures protecting abortion rightsTrump won, but so did seven ballot measures protecting abortion rights
Abortion

Ten states had referendums on reproductive freedom.

By Rachel Cohen
Trump won. So what does that mean for abortion?Trump won. So what does that mean for abortion?
Trump 2.0, explained

It will be easier to restrict reproductive rights in the president-elect’s second term.

By Rachel Cohen
Donald Trump has won — and American democracy is now in grave dangerDonald Trump has won — and American democracy is now in grave danger
2024 Elections

Trump’s second term poses an existential threat to the republic. But there’s still good reason for hope.

By Zack Beauchamp
What actually matters this week, according to our politics teamWhat actually matters this week, according to our politics team
2024 Elections

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Here’s what our writers are watching.

By Lavanya Ramanathan and Melinda Fakuade
The strange case that the Supreme Court keeps refusing to decideThe strange case that the Supreme Court keeps refusing to decide
Supreme Court

A mysterious Supreme Court case could change everything about criminal punishment.

By Ian Millhiser
Welcome to the Drug Issue of The Highlight
The Highlight
By Vox Staff
How marijuana legalization played itself
The HighlightMember Exclusive

Pricey, legal weed is great news — for the black market.

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Weed is now America’s daily drug of choice. No one’s sure what that means.
The HighlightMember Exclusive

Land of the free, home of the blazed.

By Marin Cogan
It’s not alarmist: A second Trump term really is an extinction-level threat to democracyIt’s not alarmist: A second Trump term really is an extinction-level threat to democracy
Policy

Why a second Trump term is a mortal threat to democracy — though perhaps not in the way you think.

By Zack Beauchamp
The Supreme Court decides not to toss out thousands of Pennsylvania ballotsThe Supreme Court decides not to toss out thousands of Pennsylvania ballots
Supreme Court

One of the worst ideas in US constitutional law will remain dead.

By Ian Millhiser