(longer backgrounders, 1,500–3,000 words)
Some stories deserve more than a headline.
Understand the news by going beneath the surface of major topics dominating the news cycle — unpacking the facts, history, and implications that shape them. Each article 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.
Electricity and gas prices are climbing sharply in New Jersey, and the reasons go far beyond any single policy or industry. Rising demand from data centers, volatile natural gas markets, aging infrastructure, and costly grid upgrades are converging to push household bills upward—revealing deeper challenges in how the region powers itself.
Public media is facing its most severe crisis in decades as federal funding disappears and local stations risk shutting down. The loss of these broadcasters could leave millions without reliable local news, emergency alerts, and vital community information.
Israel and Hamas are living in a ceasefire that looks nothing like peace. One month after President Trump declared the war “over,” Gaza is still being hit by airstrikes, Israeli troops are digging in deeper, and the ambitious 20-point plan meant to reshape the territory has stalled at its very first step. Half of Gaza is now under Israeli military control, the other half is ruled by Hamas, and two million Palestinians remain trapped in a landscape of rubble, hunger, and uncertainty as winter approaches. What began as a pledge to usher in a “new era of peace” has instead exposed how fragile the agreement is—and how far the region still is from a real resolution.
Beneath America’s heartland, aging nuclear weapons still stand ready—and Washington is talking about testing them again. As silos crumble and costs soar, the Cold War’s deadliest legacy is quietly waking up.
Over the past decade, U.S. abortion policy has shifted from a federally protected right to a patchwork of state-by-state regimes. This Deep Dive traces the timeline, key legal and political shifts, and the human and system-level consequences — and looks ahead to where things may go next.
A weeks-long government shutdown has thrown America’s health coverage into turmoil. At the center of the fight: enhanced ACA subsidies that keep premiums affordable for 24 million people. With open enrollment already underway and no deal in sight, millions could soon face skyrocketing costs—and a crisis that reaches far beyond Washington.
Cryptocurrency promised a revolution—money without banks, code without borders, freedom from middlemen. Instead, it delivered one of the most dramatic boom-and-bust cycles in modern finance. From billion-dollar collapses like FTX and Terra to new global regulations reshaping how tokens work, crypto’s story has evolved from wild speculation to cautious rebuilding.
Deferred Prosecution Agreements—known as DPAs—were meant to help small, first-time offenders get a second chance. Instead, they’ve become the corporate world’s ultimate loophole. From GM’s deadly ignition switches to HSBC’s cartel money laundering and Boeing’s fatal aircraft failures, this investigation explores how billion-dollar companies repeatedly avoid prosecution, pay manageable fines, and move on—while victims are left without justice.
Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled Israel longer than anyone in its history — but his relentless grip on power has come at a staggering cost. From corruption scandals and alliances with extremists to the devastating Gaza war that’s left tens of thousands dead, this in-depth report traces how one man’s pursuit of survival has reshaped Israel’s democracy, its global standing, and the future of the Middle East.
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.
