The author of “Heartland,” a National Book Award longlisted memoir about growing up poor in rural America, gives her views on politics, identity, and cultural appropriation.
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Ending Depression With a Push of a Button, But Only For a Moment
For people with severe, depression, deep-brain stimulation offers an uncertain but potentially life-altering solution.
Why Populism Will Not Make America Great: The Making of a Mexican-American Dream
Sarah Menkedick suggests that America has everything to lose if it can’t reject the resurgence of nativist (white) populism to embrace this generation of smart, ambitious, second-generation Mexican Americans.
‘The Ocean Is Boiling’: The Complete Oral History of the 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill
On January 28th, 1969, crude oil erupted from a rig off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, triggering a worldwide alarm that energized the nascent environmental movement.
Behind the Writing: On Research
Sarah Menkedick speaks with Leslie Jamison, Carina Chocano, and Elena Passarello on the art of research.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re featuring stories from Richard Beck, Rebecca Mead, Sarah Barker, Dylan Matthews, and Sarah Scoles.
A Reading List for Mother’s Day
There is no grand unified theory of motherhood. Within every paradigm, mothering may vary a million times over.
The Battle Over Teaching Chicago’s Schools About Police Torture and Reparations
A little-known city law has educators figuring out how to talk to eighth and tenth grade students about the history of Chicago police abuse.
Burning Out
Search and rescue teams train for the worst conditions. But the worst conditions are getting worse. Are they ready for the next big disaster?
How A Simple Mistake Can Put You on the Street: Why Grandpa is Homeless
At Pacific Standard, Rachel Nuwer reports on the aging homeless population of California and how something seemingly innocuous — like forgetting to renew your driver’s licence on time — can instigate a downward spiral into poverty and homelessness that skyrocketing rent and street-inflicted trauma can extend, sometimes indefinitely.

