U.S. Birthrate Declines to an All-Time Low, but There’s a Story of Success
2/27/2026 2:00 AM Open Story
The political class is worried about the historic drop. But the biggest change is among the youngest women, who are the least ready to have children.
4 Takeaways About the U.S. Birthrate Decline
2/27/2026 6:37 AM Open Story
There is good news buried behind the worries about population decline, some experts say.
The Clintons’ Epstein Testimony, and the Pentagon’s New Laser Strike
2/27/2026 3:00 AM Open Story
Plus, the company that just cut 4,000 jobs because of A.I.
Trump’s Foreign Policy: Resurrecting Empire
2/27/2026 6:55 AM Open Story
President Trump’s approach is a revival of the mission of empire — acquiring the territories and resources of sovereign peoples.
Fact-check: In Trump’s Case for an Attack on Iran, False or Unproven Claims
2/26/2026 6:15 PM Open Story
Key elements of the Trump administration’s arguments this week for another military campaign against Iran do not hold up.
With Possible Iran Strike Looming, U.S. Says Staff Can Leave Israel, and Urges Speed
2/27/2026 4:41 AM Open Story
In an email to embassy workers Friday morning, Ambassador Mike Huckabee warned them that if they wanted to leave Israel, they “should do so TODAY.”
Israel Facing Prospect of War With a Depleted Missile Defense
2/27/2026 6:17 AM Open Story
The June 2025 conflict with Iran depleted Israeli and U.S. stocks of antiballistic missiles. If there is another war, the pressure will be on to destroy Iranian missiles before they can be launched.
Netflix Backs Out of Bid for Warner Bros., Paving Way for Paramount Takeover
2/26/2026 7:36 PM Open Story
The move was a stunning development in the long-running corporate battle for the storied media giant.
What Larry and David Ellison Would Own After Warner Bros. Takeover
2/27/2026 2:04 AM Open Story
If Paramount can close its deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, Larry and David Ellison will influence nearly every corner of news, entertainment and tech.
For CNN, a Takeover by Paramount Means a Suddenly Uncertain Future
2/27/2026 2:04 AM Open Story
Paramount’s apparent victory over Netflix in securing Warner Bros. Discovery has led to concerns within the CNN newsroom.
Pakistan Strikes Afghanistan in ‘Open War’ Against Taliban Regime
2/27/2026 6:45 AM Open Story
The airstrikes came hours after Afghan troops had attacked Pakistani border positions and follow months of worsening relations between the neighboring countries.
Why Are Pakistan and Afghanistan Fighting?
2/27/2026 6:23 AM Open Story
The renewed violence between the neighboring countries stems from Pakistan’s accusations that Afghanistan’s Taliban government has harbored a militant group.
‘Fast Car’ Changed Luke Combs’s Life. He’s Back for More Hits.
2/26/2026 6:17 AM Open Story
The country singer helped to usher the genre into the streaming era before taking a step back. On his new album, he wants to go for broke.
Elon Musk’s Secret Web of Companies in Texas
2/27/2026 2:00 AM Open Story
The megabillionaire was tied to about 90 companies in the state, which he uses for everything from paying nannies to buying land to supporting Donald Trump’s re-election, according to a Times examination.
A World Where All Is Free? That’s Elon Musk’s Theory of ‘Sustainable Abundance.’
2/27/2026 2:02 AM Open Story
The Tesla and SpaceX chief has told his followers that they will live in a world where robots will take care of every need and people do not have to work, in what has become his latest slogan.
OpenAI Raises $110 Billion to Fuel Growth, Extending A.I. Boom
2/27/2026 6:46 AM Open Story
Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank led the investment, valuing the parent of ChatGPT at $730 billion.
Anthropic Says It Cannot ‘Accede’ to Pentagon in Talks Over A.I.
2/27/2026 5:15 AM Open Story
Anthropic said it was standing firm on not having its A.I. used in certain scenarios by the Pentagon, which has imposed a Friday deadline on the company to give unfettered access to its technology.
Pentagon Fires Another Laser at a Drone, Prompting a New Air Closure
2/27/2026 6:12 AM Open Story
After the downing of a Customs and Border Protection drone, the F.A.A. closed the airspace above Fort Hancock, Texas.
Trump Declared Victory in Minneapolis. But What Did He Accomplish?
2/26/2026 1:39 PM Open Story
The Trump administration came under fire for an operation that turned lethal and politically toxic. But the show of force may also have had a bigger purpose: to serve as a warning.
Federal Judge Accuses Trump Administration of Repeatedly Disobeying Orders
2/26/2026 5:38 PM Open Story
The federal judge identified 210 orders issued in 143 cases in Minnesota in which he said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had not complied with court orders.
Hillary Clinton Denies Knowing Epstein or His Crimes in a Tense Deposition
2/27/2026 5:56 AM Open Story
After resisting testifying for months, the former secretary of state entered the session defiant, and grew irate after a Republican leaked a photo from inside the room.
Justice Department Exposed Cooperating Witnesses in Epstein Files
2/26/2026 1:03 PM Open Story
The disclosure is the latest example of how the urgent push to release the files led to the government publicizing information it would normally keep under wraps.
India Built the World’s Back Office. A.I. Is Starting to Shrink It.
2/26/2026 9:01 PM Open Story
Artificial intelligence promises to automate the white-collar work that made India a tech powerhouse. The country is racing to adapt before it’s too late.
How India Became One of the World’s Biggest Economies
2/27/2026 6:43 AM Open Story
India has grown rapidly despite its slow industrialization, and its economy is now nearly as big as Japan’s.
The Many Shades of Complicity in the Epstein Files Fallout
2/27/2026 7:04 AM Open Story
Philosophers have long wrestled with what to do about the onlookers and profiteers surrounding those who have done terrible things.
Chris Fleming Uses Dance to Make Us Laugh in His HBO Special
2/27/2026 2:04 AM Open Story
The kind of performer other stand-ups rave about, Chris Fleming turns to choreography to land jokes in his new HBO special.
What Both Anthropic and the Pentagon Get Wrong
2/27/2026 6:27 AM Open Story
Neither Anthropic nor the Pentagon are thinking about this issue in a meaningful way.
Trump’s Shields Are Down
2/26/2026 10:39 PM Open Story
Personnel once meant policy; now it means flattery.
The Plunging Birthrate
2/27/2026 5:06 AM Open Story
We asked women about their views on having kids.
Late Night Lampoons Trump’s State of the Union Ratings
2/26/2026 11:43 PM Open Story
Stephen Colbert joked that the president “is really dragging down broadcast television” with lower ratings for Tuesday’s State of the Union than last year’s address.
Green Party Defeats Labour in U.K. Special Election, in Blow to Starmer
2/27/2026 4:32 AM Open Story
The result marks the first time the Greens have won a British parliamentary by-election and signals the frustration of left-leaning voters with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
E.U. Pushes Ahead With South American Trade Deal Despite Legal Challenge
2/27/2026 6:59 AM Open Story
The provisional application of the agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay is intended to diversify Europe’s trading relationships.
Why Estrogen Patches For Menopause Are So Hard to Find
2/26/2026 11:35 AM Open Story
Changing attitudes around menopause treatment have driven up demand for hormone therapy.
Hungary Plays the Spoiler in Europe, as Orban Seeks Votes at Home
2/27/2026 2:06 AM Open Story
Facing a serious election challenge, Prime Minister Viktor Orban is holding up a big E.U. loan for Ukraine. Analysts say the timing is no coincidence.