(longer backgrounders, 1,500–3,000 words)
Some stories deserve more than a headline.
Our Deep Dives take readers beneath the surface of major topics dominating the news cycle — unpacking the facts, history, and implications that shape them. Each Deep Dive is carefully researched, clearly written, and entirely nonpartisan, designed to help readers understand why an issue matters and how it affects their world.
By exploring these topics in depth, we give readers the knowledge they need to think critically, engage confidently, and make truly informed decisions.
America’s skies are safe—but barely. Behind every flight is a shrinking, overworked force of air traffic controllers using outdated equipment, crumbling towers, and even parts bought on eBay to keep planes from colliding. This story exposes how chronic understaffing, decades of neglect, and stalled modernization have pushed the nation’s air traffic control system to its breaking point.
Medicare Advantage promises more benefits for less money—but behind the glossy ads lies a system costing taxpayers billions more while often denying care, trapping patients in narrow networks, and leaving the sickest Americans struggling to get treatment when they need it most.
Protest—the act of expressing dissent—has existed as long as human societies have had systems of power. While not all protests result in immediate policy changes, their cumulative impact is significant.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest federal food assistance initiative in the United States. As of 2024, over 41 million Americans rely on SNAP, from single-parent households to seniors, across every state and U.S. territory.
Explore Israel’s history, politics, and identity—from its founding and conflicts to the debate over whether it can be both Jewish and democratic.
In the United States, the federal government’s money comes chiefly from taxes paid by households and businesses, along with smaller non-tax receipts; when that isn’t enough, the Treasury borrows. Congress writes — and the President signs — annual laws that authorize and appropriate spending. Most outlays support longstanding benefit programs, a smaller share funds annually approved agencies and defense, and a growing slice services the debt.
The U.S. formally adopted classification systems during the World War II era. Executive Order 8381 in 1938 introduced initial categories like “Restricted.” EO 10290 in 1951 under Truman created a more unified system, including “Top Secret.” Later updates came from EO 12065 (Carter, 1978) and EO 13526 (Obama, 2009), now the guiding framework.
An indictment is a cornerstone of the criminal justice process, representing the formal accusation that a person has committed a serious crime. While the concept is simple—charging someone officially—it has deep historical, constitutional, and procedural significance. This deep dive explores the evolution, process, and impact of indictments in both state and federal systems.
The Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 is a landmark civil rights law that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It combines broad prohibitions (Section 2) with special oversight of jurisdictions with historic discrimination (Sections 4 & 5). Over time, key provisions have been narrowed—especially after Shelby County v. Holder (2013). Today, its role is contested in court, particularly in redistricting cases.
