These 5 Places Tried Bold Political Experiments. Did They Work?

Five authors share takeaways from recent political experiments in five different countries: high government salaries in Singapore, gender quotas in Rwanda, compulsory voting in Australia, citizens’ assemblies in Ireland, and ranked-choice voting in the United States.

Source: Politico
Published: Sep 21, 2019
Length: 27 minutes (6,796 words)

Cash/Consent

Lorelei Lee reflects on her career in sex work and pornography, the gradations of consent in the industry, and the ways in which radical feminists and the religious right fight to keep sex work criminalized.

Source: n+1
Published: Sep 24, 2019
Length: 40 minutes (10,037 words)

All Hail Veruca Salt: The Oral History of American Thighs

With unprecedented speed after forming, the Chicago band recorded and released an album whose sound helped define the early 90s alternative era. This is the album’s story, timed to the album’s 25th anniversary.

Source: The AV Club
Published: Sep 25, 2019
Length: 42 minutes (10,651 words)

In the Ring With India’s Most Powerful Woman

“With the exception of cricketing victories, India has a terrible sporting record. It has the lowest number of Olympic medals per head of any nation, and has only ever won one gold in an individual sport, the men’s ten-metre air rifle. In recent years this has begun to change, partly owing to the changing role of women.”

Source: The Economist
Published: Sep 20, 2019
Length: 15 minutes (3,796 words)

The Bread Thread

Emily Weitzman condemns the persistence of slut shaming over different stages in her life, and combats it with humor and…bread.

Source: Longreads
Published: Sep 25, 2019
Length: 13 minutes (3,335 words)

Dark Crystals: The Brutal Reality Behind a Booming Wellness Craze

The wellness industry has turned cheap stones into #healingcrystals, and the growing demand is damaging Madagascar, one of the Earth’s most biological diverse and fragile ecosystems, and putting its laborers into dangerous mines, many of them children. Is this how you heal yourself?

Source: The Guardian
Published: Sep 17, 2019
Length: 19 minutes (4,925 words)

I Went to Wyoming to Get My MFA and It Gave My Life Back to Me

Her tech job gave her security and stability, but she craved the creativity, stimulation, and literary connection that would make her whole.

Source: Catapult
Published: Aug 22, 2019
Length: 10 minutes (2,690 words)

Heel Turns

An examination of celebrity culture, in all its indulgent, enduring, addictively hollow glory.

Published: Sep 17, 2019
Length: 12 minutes (3,224 words)

Breathe

One Black father with an ailing son has to routinely calm himself to survive in this white town.

Published: Sep 20, 2019
Length: 8 minutes (2,098 words)

All Along the Waterfront

Offshore from Lagos, Africa’s largest city, fishing villages house poor working families whose homes are being bulldozed to build luxury housing. Is this the human cost of Lagos’ ambitions?

Source: Off Assignment
Published: Oct 15, 2018
Length: 5 minutes (1,364 words)