'Retail therapy is real'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'It's Amazon Prime Day! And what the world needs now is a little retail therapy.'
Marla Bautista at USA Today
In the "midst of a tumultuous election year," Amazon Prime Day offers a "welcome reprieve," says Marla Bautista. The "anticipation of receiving a package can inject a bit of joy into daily life," and everybody can "use some digital redirection in these uncertain times." While social media is "usually rife with political commentary," Amazon Prime Day "creates a more positive online environment, even if only temporarily." These "moments of diversion can play a crucial role in maintaining our sanity."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Judge Cannon brushes aside decades of special counsel rulings'
Ruth Marcus at The Washington Post
Judge Aileen Cannon "has slow-walked the Trump prosecution since the case landed in her lap more than a year ago," and "now she has dismissed it altogether — five months after Trump's lawyers asked her to do so," says Ruth Marcus. Justice for Trump is "once again delayed" and the "likelihood that he will be held to account for this behavior diminishes by the day." In all, Cannon's ruling was "93 pages of bending over backward for Trump."
'The US itself could be the biggest loser in this election'
Ivan Krastev at the Financial Times
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
There is a "growing sense that American democracy is in peril, regardless of who wins in November," says Ivan Krastev. People outside America "used to want to vote in U.S. elections," but this year "might be the one in which the U.S. election finally loses its magic." There is an "emerging consensus that, as occurred towards the end of the Soviet Union, American society is in crisis and American power is in decline."
''The big one' disaster could happen in our lifetime. Can we even be ready?'
Jeff Schlegelmilch at CNN
In the event of a megadisaster, there is "little that your emergency managers can do about it once it happens," says Jeff Schlegelmilch. A megadisaster "could strike a catastrophic blow at the outset or could cause widespread death and destruction" and "overtake the very systems we rely upon to manage disasters." To "reduce the risk of megadisasters" it is important to "understand the consequences of our decisions" while implementing "stronger and more robust emergency management agencies."
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
October 19 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's editorial cartoons include Pete Hegseth and the press, an absence of government, and George Washington crossing the Delaware
-
A little-visited Indian Ocean archipelago
The Week Recommends The paradise of the Union of the Comoros features beautiful beaches, colourful coral reefs and lush forests
-
AI: is the bubble about to burst?
In the Spotlight Stock market ever-more reliant on tech stocks whose value relies on assumptions of continued growth and easy financing
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
‘The illusion of wealth can encourage people to take on more debt’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Western Alaska reels as storm aftermath prompts mass evacuations
UNDER THE RADAR Alaskan lawmakers point to climate change as airlifts relocate hundreds from coastal communities devastated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong
-
‘An exercise of the Republicans justifying their racist positions’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
Are inflatable costumes and naked bike rides helping or hurting ICE protests?
Talking Points Trump administration efforts to portray Portland and Chicago as dystopian war zones have been met with dancing frogs, bare butts and a growing movement to mock MAGA doomsaying
-
‘Are we just going to stand in passive witness to the degradation of our democracy?’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day