'This growing lack of social exposure is terrible for us and terrible for democracy'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'Why a 'third life' is the answer to America's loneliness epidemic'
Adam Chandler at Time
The "role of coffee shops and bars, libraries and community centers, civic clubs and houses of worship, have faded as the creep of work and domestic obligation in American life have become all but inescapable," says Adam Chandler. If "third places once represented readymade outlets for community," then "we should look to create what I'd call 'third lives'" by "creating a framework that is safe from the reach of obligation or the temptation of performative busyness."
Subscribe to 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.
'Congress — yes, even the members you dislike — should get a pay raise'
The Washington Post editorial board
The "arguments against boosting Congress' pay seem overwhelming," but the "majority of members, especially those with postgraduate degrees in medicine or law, could make vastly more in the private sector than they do now," says The Washington Post editorial board, and many "forgo public service for the same reason." If Americans "want a Congress that draws on the best of America, in which anyone can afford to serve, they should want their representatives to be more competitively compensated."
'Cold comfort: The latest attacks on America follow a familiar playbook'
Brian Michael Jenkins and Bruce R. Butterworth at The Hill
The "pickup truck ramming in New Orleans and the subsequent explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck in Las Vegas remind us that terrorist threats remain a deadly reality in the U.S.," say Brian Michael Jenkins and Bruce R. Butterworth. Almost "all of the elements of the New Orleans attack have been seen before," and "uncertainty prevails." That "we have been here before and persevered is a source of cold comfort to those fearful today."
'2025 is the year to bust the billionaires'
John Nichols at The Nation
Republican clashes will "become a dominant political story of 2025," says John Nichols. Donald Trump "has a long history of playing up to billionaire-class oligarchs, and during his first term he made a point of giving them massive tax cuts." There is "little doubt that Trump will seek to do so again," which is "further confirmation of the late former president Jimmy Carter's observations from almost a decade ago about the damage done by billionaire-guided governance."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
Test driving the Rolls-Royce Spectre Black Badge
The Week Recommends We take the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built for a spin in Barcelona
By Fergus Scholes Published
-
Tuberculosis is seeing a resurgence, and it's only going to get worse
Under the radar The spread of the deadly infection is buoyed by global unrest
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: April 3, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
'People first. Then money. Then things'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Democrats win costly Wisconsin court seat
Speed Read Democrats prevailed in an election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court despite Elon Musk's robust financial support of the Republican candidate
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'What is this Hungarian model they so admire?'
Instant Opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'We should end this betrayal of man's best friend'
Instant Opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Why is Musk targeting a Wisconsin Supreme Court race?
Today's Big Question His money could help conservatives, but it could also produce a Democratic backlash
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'How quickly misogynistic videos show up in users' TikTok and YouTube feeds'
instant opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
'Americans deserve immigration officials who are transparent about what they do and why'
instant opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
'Even authoritarian regimes need a measure of public support — the consent of at least some of the governed'
instant opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published