A Former Morning Show TV Host Will Be Secretary of Defense David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson
Pete Hegseth fails at the Capitol but Republicans will graduate him to the Pentagon
In L.A., We’re Breathing the Ashes of Other People’s Homes. It’s Tragic—and Toxic. Isabelle Kohn
The flames may be dying out, but for many people in L.A. the burn is only just beginning.
My Kid Suddenly Refuses to Fly Zak Rosen, Lucy Lopez, and Elizabeth Newcamp
Plus: join the internal rage club.
TikTok Users Are Flocking to a Chinese Social Media App. Here’s Why They Might Stick Around. Steffi Cao
Banning TikTok might not curb China’s tech influence—it might just make it trendier.
Uh, Should I Be Worried About That Study That Links Fluoride to Lower IQs? Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz
Let’s take a close look at the science.
Severance Deserves Better Than Apple TV+ Alex Kirshner
The best sci-fi show on TV returns, but it’s trapped on a platform no one’s watching. <img src="https://compote.slate.com/images/788e03d9-f13d-4973-9a79-dc13b4b5f276.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=1920" title="Severance Deserves Better Than Apple TV+” />
Restaurants Are Charging Top-Shelf Prices for Nonalcoholic Drinks. That’s Not a Bad Thing. Morgan Hines
Because “Let’s grab a drink” is about more than the alcohol.
Help! My 60-Year-Old Brother Wants Me to Help Him Find a Girlfriend. But I Don’t Think I Can in Good Conscience. Delia Cai
I wouldn’t wish his fatal flaw on anyone.
Which Quantity Is Defined by the Equation “Work Done Divided by Time”? Ray Hamel
Test your wits on the Slate Quiz for Jan. 16, 2025.