Data went dark this month. The government shutdown is halting the collection and release of statistics tracking the job market, public health and crop production, as well as other economic indicators.
Why it matters: The numbers are critical for understanding what's happening in the U.S., particularly at a moment of rapid change in both government policies and in the job market.
Black and Latino Americans are reporting record levels of alienation and pessimism about the nation's direction, as President Trump tightens his focus on immigration enforcement and civil rights rollbacks, per a new poll.
Why it matters: More Latinos and Black voters supported Trump in 2024 than in his two previous presidential runs, but early into his second term the sense of exclusion has deepened among communities of color.
From budget-friendly Botox to luxury facelifts, America is in its heyday of plastic surgery. The pursuit of youth and thinness has never been more ubiquitous — it's no longer the exception, but the rule.
Why it matters: Beauty has always mirrored culture. Today's standards — skinny, ageless and split between hyper-masculine (sharp jaws) and hyper-feminine (tiny waists) — reveal how Americans see status, success and self.
