How Student Debt Dragged A Generation Down — And What We Can Do About It

“A social and financial divide is forming — between those who have student debt, and those who do not — that will have ramifications for decades to come.”

Source: BuzzFeed
Published: Feb 9, 2019
Length: 32 minutes (8,145 words)

The Priest of Abu Ghraib

“I wish to end the delusion that good is gained by evil means, or that even maintaining my own economic and physical security is something to be defended by means of violence. I believe that idea to be a lie.”

Source: Smithsonian
Published: Jan 2, 2019
Length: 31 minutes (7,785 words)

Why Does It Feel Like Everyone Has More Money Than You?

Jen Doll considers the value of millennials owning whatever privilege and generational wealth they’ve benefitted from as a step toward acknowledging that the path to success isn’t a level playing field, and income inequality is a major obstacle for many.

Author: Jen Doll
Published: Feb 12, 2019
Length: 15 minutes (3,997 words)

You’re Just Too Good to Be True

In this personal essay, Kavita Das writes about her childhood infatuation, young adult disillusionment, and later-in-life acceptance of Englebert Humperdink.

Author: Kavita Das
Source: Longreads
Published: Feb 14, 2019
Length: 26 minutes (6,688 words)

Feelings, Rendered Material

A sweetly nostalgic essay about queer teenage feelings: if you can’t say them out loud, say them with a super-personal, emotion-laden gift.

Source: Autostraddle
Published: Feb 11, 2019
Length: 7 minutes (1,995 words)

Why Does It Feel Like Everyone Has More Money Than You?

The notion of the “self-made success” is so deeply encoaded in the American ideals of equality and meritocracy that many young successful people hesitate to talk about the financial help that let them get a leg up. But talking about privilege doesn’t discount work hard or struggle.

Author: Jen Doll
Published: Feb 12, 2019
Length: 15 minutes (3,793 words)

The Ethical Dilemma Facing Silicon Valley’s Next Generation

At Stanford University, a farm system for tech giants, “students are reconsidering whether working at Google or Facebook is landing a dream job or selling out to craven corporate interests.”

Source: The Ringer
Published: Feb 6, 2019
Length: 21 minutes (5,462 words)

Where Not to Travel in 2019, or Ever

Who’s really footing the bill for your amazing vacation to an untouched destination? You’re buying the plane tickets, but locals are paying the price.

Source: The Walrus
Published: Feb 12, 2019
Length: 7 minutes (1,755 words)

Private Mossad for Hire

Social media and poor governmental supervision have made American elections a target for a new aggressive breed of private Israeli intelligence firm, whose job is to manipulate reality.

Source: The New Yorker
Published: Feb 18, 2019
Length: 34 minutes (8,629 words)

Abuse of Faith

Debbie Vasquez was molested by her pastor at 14. In her 40s, she asked leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention to take action against sexual abuse. They didn’t, and hundreds more have suffered.

Published: Feb 10, 2019
Length: 24 minutes (6,145 words)