10-Minute Challenge: ‘The Starry Night’ by van Gogh

We’d like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, May 3, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

When Taxpayers Fund Shows Like ‘Blue Bloods’ and ‘S.N.L.,’ Does It Pay Off?

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York has proposed an increase in the film tax credit to stay competitive with New Jersey and other states.

Are Trump’s Actions Truly Unprecedented? We Asked 35 Historians.

We categorized 22 of Mr. Trump’s actions, ranging from those that have no comparable historical example to those that do.

Trump’s Astonishing 100 Days, in 8 Charts

By many measures, the opening months of President Trump’s second term stand apart from those of essentially any modern president.

Four Perspectives on Trump’s Weak Poll Numbers

It’s not easy to burn this much good will so fast, and it doesn’t usually get any easier from here.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, April 26, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, April 19, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Why Elon Musk Hasn’t Come Close to Finding $1 Trillion in Cuts

He seems to be realizing something that budget nerds have long known.

Why Is It So Hard to Stop a Measles Outbreak?

An 8-year-old girl recently became the second confirmed fatality in a Texas measles outbreak. Aatish Bhatia, who creates interactive articles for The Upshot, describes how a high rate of vaccination is needed to protect a community from a highly contagious disease like measles.

Can You Stop an Outbreak of a Contagious Disease?

An interactive explanation of outbreaks, vaccines and herd immunity.

Musk’s Latest Fraud Finding Isn’t What It Seems

His team found cases of seemingly fake people receiving unemployment benefits. But that fake data exists for a reason.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, April 12, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

House Republicans Passed a New Budget. Here’s What’s in It.

It calls for more tax cuts and fewer reductions in spending. It would increase the federal debt by a lot more.

Why I.R.S. Audits, Already at Their Lowest Levels, May Fall Further

President Trump is reversing the Biden plan to increase tax revenue through more enforcement.

10-Minute Challenge: ‘The Seasons’ by Lee Krasner

We’d like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

For Republicans, Tariffs Pose a Risk Like No Other

Trump’s political strength is built on the economy. If it sinks, he could drag his party down with him.

The Unlikely Republicans Who Could Save Medicaid

If congressional Republicans go through with some of the deep Medicaid cuts they are considering, three states would be left in an especially tight bind. Margot Sanger-Katz, a reporter for The New York Times who covers health care policy and public health, describes how the Republican senators from those states could become an unlikely part of the firewall against big cuts to Medicaid.

The Three States That Are Especially Stuck if Congress Cuts Medicaid

States that were once reluctant to expand Medicaid now have their state budgets tied to the fate of the program by constitutional amendments.

The Hidden Decisions Behind Trump’s Tariff Formula

Small changes in the math can mean big differences: Switzerland’s tariffs could be much lower. Bermuda’s could be way higher. And Australia could have no tariffs at all.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, April 5, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Democrats Have Problems. Turning Out for Special Elections Isn’t One of Them.

They have come out in strong numbers in smaller races so far this year, and in the early voting for today’s elections.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 29, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

On Trump, Democrats and a New Era of Politics: A Look at the Year Ahead

Special elections are already pointing to a familiar pattern.

In a Shift, More Republicans Want Government Investment in Children

The evolution reflects a growing bipartisan agreement that American families are struggling and something has to change.

The Online Casinos That Can Operate as Long as They Say They Aren’t Actually Casinos

Policing loopholes in gambling law can be challenging, and most states have been slow to adapt.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 22, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The Budget Trick the G.O.P. Might Use to Make a $4 Trillion Tax Cut Look Free

A maneuver so wonky that it might be best explained with sports cars and anime streaming.

The Women Most Affected by Abortion Bans

After the Dobbs decision, births rose in states with bans, but more for some women than others.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 15, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

See How Elon Musk’s Team Inflated, Deleted and Rewrote Its Savings Claims

The cost-cutting group removed hundreds of contracts from its “wall of receipts,” added back many of them, and inflated savings values.

Teenagers Say Girls Are Equal to Boys in School, or Are Ahead

Reflecting a generational change, two Pew surveys show boys tend to feel discouraged in the classroom, and are less likely than girls to pursue college.

What Does a Shutdown Have to Do With the Budget or Elon Musk? Here’s a Guide.

A short-term spending bill, a 10-year budget plan and Musk’s cost-cutting team are all progressing at once.

15 Lessons Scientists Learned About Us When the World Stood Still

The pandemic gave researchers a rare opportunity to study human behavior. Their work offers lessons about loneliness, remote work, high heels and more.

30 Charts That Show How Covid Changed Everything in March 2020

It can be easy to forget, or look away from, the pain and disruption of the pandemic. The numbers will be there to remind us.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 8, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

To Stop Tariffs, Trump Demands Opioid Data That Doesn’t Yet Exist

A top administration official said that, without new declines in overdose deaths, tariffs on Canada and Mexico were appropriate. But the kind of real-time data he demanded doesn’t exist.

The Big Government Contracts DOGE Hasn’t Touched

By not targeting major sources of spending like defense, the group has had a minimal impact on the federal budget so far but a big effect on many small companies.

10-Minute Challenge: A ‘Decisive Moment’ in Street Photography

We’d like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

What Republican Men Think About Trump and Masculinity

The election seemed to mark a backlash to changing gender roles. But Trump-voting men say that’s not necessarily what they want, a survey and interviews suggest.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 1, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

What Can House Republicans Cut Instead of Medicaid? Not Much.

The math of the G.O.P.’s goals makes the move almost unavoidable.

Trump Returns to a Favorite Issue: Health Care Price Transparency

The president signed an executive order in another push to make the prices of medical services more transparent. Efforts to do so in his first term were largely ignored.

DOGE Quietly Deletes the 5 Biggest Spending Cuts It Celebrated Last Week

The cuts, highlighted on an earlier version of the “wall of receipts” posted by Elon Musk’s team, contained mistakes that vastly inflated the amount of money saved.

The Red Card Fighting Trump’s Deportation Agenda

The “red card” lists practical tips and legal rights for immigrants who might find themselves targeted by federal agents. It has received nine million orders since Donald Trump was elected. Miriam Jordan, a national immigration correspondent for The New York Times, describes this “extraordinary moment” of anxiety for immigrants and what the card has meant to immigrants, rights groups and the Trump administration.

DOGE’s Only Public Ledger Is Riddled With Mistakes

The figures from Elon Musk’s team of outsiders represent billions in government cuts. They are also full of accounting errors, outdated data and other miscalculations.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Feb. 22, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The House Wants to Pass Trump’s Agenda in One Big Bill. Here’s What’s in It.

The G.O.P. bill would extend tax cuts and almost certainly make big reductions to programs serving the poor. Passing it may be hard, though.

Is That Legal? A Guide to Trump’s Big Moves So Far.

Examining the legality of 38 major actions the president has taken in his first month.

Nearly One in 10 U.S. Adults Identifies as L.G.B.T.Q., Survey Finds

New data shows a rapid increase in recent years, driven by the young. The Trump administration has recently been rolling back L.G.B.T.Q. initiatives.

So, You Want to Get Rid of the Penny. Do You Have a Plan for the Nickel?

President Trump’s plan to eliminate the penny could save the government money, but there’s no guarantee.

Trump Says Medicaid Won’t Be ‘Touched.’ House Republicans Want It Cut by Hundreds of Billions.

The president’s record shows a consistent openness to Medicaid cuts, which would seem required for his big goal of extending tax cuts.

Millions of Dead People on Social Security? The Agency’s Own Data Says Otherwise.

The database includes millions of Americans who are probably dead but who have no death records. But they generally don’t collect checks, as Musk and Trump suggest.

DOGE Claimed It Saved $8 Billion in One Contract. It Was Actually $8 Million.

The biggest single line item on the website of Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team included a big error.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Feb. 15, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

How Trump’s Medical Research Cuts Would Hit Colleges and Hospitals in Every State

Changes to a key funding formula will reduce research grants at hospitals and universities by billions — and may discourage future research.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Feb. 8, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

How Many Federal Worker Resignations Would Be a Lot?

Sixty-five thousand have submitted resignations as part of Elon Musk’s “fork in the road” offer. But 150,000 voluntarily leave every year anyway.

Have You Seen Changes to Federal Buildings? Send Us Photos.

We’re documenting how federal buildings are changing during the transition to the new government.

The U.S. Is Having Its Mildest Covid Winter Yet

But there have been plenty of other illnesses to go around.

10-Minute Challenge: Bruegel’s ‘Hunters in the Snow’

We’d like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

Thousands of U.S. Government Web Pages Have Been Taken Down Since Friday

Federal agencies moved to satisfy Trump’s orders to remove topics like diversity initiatives and “gender ideology.”

Why Banks May Be Hoping You’re Not Paying Attention

They have no fiduciary duty in many cases and can profit from customers’ confusion. But where’s the line between unsavory and illegal?

Trump Raises New Threat to Sanctuary Cities: Blocking Transportation Dollars

A new order revives an old battle about how much an administration is allowed to coerce cities and states by withholding money.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Feb. 1, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Office of Management and Budget Spreadsheet of 2,600 Federal Programs Under Review

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget sent this document to government agencies listing about 2,600 programs that were under review.

Which Federal Programs Are Under Scrutiny? The Budget Office Named 2,600 of Them.

The Trump administration ordered temporary freezes in funding for programs spanning virtually every part of the government. Here’s the full list.

Cutting Medicaid, Taxing Scholarships and Killing Invasive Plants: A Guide to the G.O.P. Wishlist

208 policies that could become part of the congressional agenda this year.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Jan. 25, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

What Los Angeles Could Learn From Great Fires of the Past

Rebuilding can be a chance to rethink things.

The One Thing Americans Remember About Biden

A survey of more than 2,000 people offers an early look at his legacy.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Jan. 18, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

What Happened to Enrollment at Top Colleges After Affirmative Action Ended

Three findings from the first class to enter college without race-conscious admissions.

Childhood Vaccination Rates Were Falling Even Before the Rise of R.F.K. Jr.

The declines began with the pandemic, well before routine vaccines became part of the national political conversation.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Jan. 11, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Jan. 4, 2025

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Week 18 N.F.L. Playoff Picture: Mapping the Paths for Each Team

With a week to go in the N.F.L. season, these detailed trees and scenarios explain every contender’s paths to the playoffs — and to better seeding.

11 Data Points and Discoveries That Surprised Us in 2024

Upshot staff members share a selection of their favorite charts, documents, queries and calculations from the past year.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 28, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Week 17 N.F.L. Playoff Picture: A Team-by-Team Guide

With two weeks to go in the N.F.L. season, these detailed tables and scenarios explain every team’s paths to the playoffs — and to better seeding.

Trump’s Re-election Defines a New Era of American Politics

The Obama-Romney race in 2012 was the last in a familiar pattern in U.S. politics, which has since become defined by Donald Trump’s conservative populism.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 21, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

How Drug Overdose Deaths Have Plagued One Generation of Black Men for Decades

In dozens of cities, the recent rise of fentanyl has put older Black men in particular jeopardy.

Postmortems Are Bad at Predictions: Democrats May Just Need a ‘Change’ Election

An opening will probably emerge for Democrats in four years, but it may not be what the party and pundits expect today.

Week 16 N.F.L. Playoff Picture: A Team-by-Team Guide

With three weeks to go in the N.F.L. season, these detailed tables and scenarios explain every team’s paths to the playoffs — and to better seeding.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 14, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

2024 Review: A Few Misses, but the Polls Got the Big Stories Right

They told us a lot about the major demographic and political trends, well before the election.

How Some Voters Moved From Bernie Sanders to Donald Trump

For some young men in particular, the populist pitches from Mr. Sanders and Mr. Trump aligned with their attitudes about the ruling class.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 7, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Is the Urban Shift Toward Trump Really About Democratic Cities in Disarray?

Big cities have faced serious problems lately. But there’s little evidence those problems are what drove voters to the right in November.

It Can’t Be Assumed That Higher Turnout Would Have Helped Harris

Voting records suggest Democrats who stayed home were less likely to support her, with no equivalent drop-off in Trump support among Republicans.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Nov. 30, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Airlines Are Padding Flight Times. It’s Not Your Imagination.

Flying in America has become slower even as official statistics have shown improvement.

Obesity Drugs Would Be Covered by Medicare and Medicaid Under Biden Proposal

The proposed rule could give millions of Americans access to the new drugs; it will also put pressure on the incoming Trump administration.

How Democrats Lost Their Base and Their Message

Donald Trump’s populist pitch bumped Democrats off their traditional place in American politics.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Nov. 23, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The New Chip Shot in the N.F.L.: 50-Yarders

Kickers are better than ever, but the record pace of long attempts this season has been remarkable.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Nov. 16, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Trump Talked Twice as Much as Harris on the Campaign Trail

A detailed analysis shows the gap in speaking times across various platforms.

On Midterms’ Hints, Down-Ballot Republicans and the Race for the House

What 2022 was telling us all along. And Trump has advantages that don’t seem transferable to his MAGA allies.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Nov. 9, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

How Trump Won, Again

He made gains in every corner of the country and with nearly every demographic group.

What We’ll Know and When We’ll Know It: A Guide to Election Night

The vote count will still feature “blue mirages” and “red mirages,” but they won’t be as extreme as in 2020.

How the Election Could Unfold: Four Scenarios

A look at plausible outcomes that might wind up seeming obvious in hindsight.

10-Minute Challenge: Edward Hopper’s ‘Manhattan Bridge Loop’

We’d like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

How Red and Blue America Shop, Eat and Live

Politics map onto our everyday life in surprising ways, a data set of millions of places shows.

Some Late Shifts, but Polls Remain Closest They’ve Ever Been

The polls tend to err as a group in one direction or the other, so a fairly decisive win by either candidate is still possible.

Some Surprises in Last Battleground Polls, but Still a Deadlock

A rise for Kamala Harris in the Sun Belt, and a dip in the Northern swing states.

Why Are Democrats Having Such a Hard Time Beating Trump?

The national political environment just isn’t as conducive to a Harris victory as many might imagine.

Murders Surged in the Pandemic. Now in Many Cities That Surge Is Gone.

A huge drop in 2023 has been followed by an even greater improvement so far this year.

Squirrels, Soda and Tractors: 12 Emergencies You Never Thought About but Election Officials Are Prepared For

Local election workers share how they would respond to a range of scenarios, using a 52-card game.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Nov. 2, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

So, Can We Trust the Polls?

Recent changes add up to a case for cautious optimism on better accuracy, but that’s far from a guarantee.

How the Washington Commanders Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Commanders now have a less than 1% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Buccaneers now have an 83% chance to make the playoffs.

How the Tennessee Titans Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Titans have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the San Francisco 49ers Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The 49ers have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Pittsburgh Steelers Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Steelers have a less than 1% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Seattle Seahawks Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Seahawks have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the New Orleans Saints Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Saints have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Minnesota Vikings Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Vikings have a 39% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the New York Giants Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the New York Jets Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Los Angeles Rams Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Rams now have a less than 1% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Miami Dolphins Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Dolphins now have a 36% chance to make the playoffs.

How the Las Vegas Raiders Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Raiders have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Los Angeles Chargers Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Chargers now have a less than 1% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Indianapolis Colts Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Colts have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Kansas City Chiefs Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Chiefs have a greater than 99% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Jacksonville Jaguars Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Jaguars have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Houston Texans Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Texans have a less than 1% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Green Bay Packers Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Packers have a less than 1% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Denver Broncos Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Broncos now have only a 47% chance to make the playoffs.

How the Dallas Cowboys Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Cowboys have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Detroit Lions Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Lions have a 61% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Cleveland Browns Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Browns have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Cincinnati Bengals Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Bengals now have a 17% chance to make the playoffs.

2024 N.F.L. Playoff Picture: Each Team’s Path to the Postseason

An interactive calculator that lets you explore every team’s path to the N.F.L. playoffs.

How the Carolina Panthers Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Panthers have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Buffalo Bills Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Bills have a less than 1% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Baltimore Ravens Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Ravens have a less than 1% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Chicago Bears Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Bears have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Atlanta Falcons Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Falcons now have only a 17% chance to make the playoffs.

How the New England Patriots Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Patriots have been eliminated from playoff contention.

How the Philadelphia Eagles Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Eagles have a less than 1% chance to get a first-round bye.

How the Arizona Cardinals Can Make the Playoffs: Through Week 17

The Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention.

What We Can (and Cannot) Learn From the Early Votes So Far

A final reader mailbag includes a look at a news cycle that seems unfavorable to Donald Trump.

Millions of Movers Reveal American Polarization in Action

A detailed look at how — and why — voters who move are widening the gap between blue neighborhoods and red ones.

This Time, It May Actually Come Down to Turnout

Democrats have gained among high-turnout voters, while Donald Trump has made gains among groups that tend to show up only for presidential races, or not at all.

State of the Race: National Polls Tighten With 8 Days to Go

State polls remain steady, and two new polls in Texas and Nebraska show Senate control may still be in play.

Trump’s Changing Messages on Abortion, in 660 Quotes

Donald Trump has softened his rhetoric, contradicted himself and nearly dropped “pro-life” from his vocabulary. Yet there is no evidence that his views on abortion have changed.

Trump’s Gains in New York City Offer Clues to a Shifting Electoral Map

A new poll adds to evidence of post-pandemic divergences and a smaller Trump edge in the Electoral College.

They Used to Be Ahead in the American Economy. Now They’ve Fallen Behind.

One economic question that really matters in an election year: Are others doing better than you?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Oct. 26, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The New York Times Is Looking for Flashback Contributors

The best clues for the weekly history quiz are tiny stories that combine the familiar with the surprising.

What a Giant Hole Says About a Broad Parking Problem

There’s a powerful but obscure force operating in New York and elsewhere: the parking minimum.

Could Trump Win the Popular Vote but Lose the Electoral College?

It’s not likely, but it’s not something that can be dismissed either, recent polling suggests.

How Polls Have Changed to Try to Avoid a 2020 Repeat

Pollsters are constantly tinkering, but they have also made some substantial adjustments.

Abortions Have Increased, Even for Women in States With Rigid Bans, Study Says

A new analysis shows how many women in states with bans are seeking procedures or pills from out-of-state providers.

Two Theories for Why the Polls Failed in 2020, and What It Means for 2024

To make polling better, you have to figure out what went wrong in the first place.

State of the Race: A Slight Shift Toward Trump but Still No Clear Favorite

The polls are not precise enough for a 0.2-point edge to convey meaningful information.

Why Does This Building by the Subway Need 193 Parking Spots? (Yes, Exactly 193.)

New York and cities across the country reconsider decades-old parking rules.

Harris Has Championed Family Policies. Now Trump Likes Them, Too.

It’s unclear whether the longtime Democratic goals are a priority for Donald Trump. Yet the fact that he’s talking about them at all is part of a recent shift on the right.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Oct. 19, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The Evidence for a Big Youth Gender Gap and a Right Turn for Young Men

Young men are much more Republican than young women, the best data suggests, and may wind up backing Donald Trump.

State of the Race: A Close Race Gets Closer

There’s no sign that a deluge of surveys from Republican-aligned firms is meaningfully affecting the polling averages.

Why Is Trump Gaining With Black and Hispanic Voters?

Five possible explanations for the increases in support, particularly among young men.

A Mystery Repeats: Harris Up 4 in Pennsylvania, and Trump Up 6 in Arizona

Being uncertain about our earlier poll results but finding almost the same numbers the next time around.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Oct. 12, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Why Democratic Senate Control Seems to Be Slipping Away

A Times/Siena poll shows Jon Tester behind by seven points in Montana, while Colin Allred trails Ted Cruz by four in Texas.

A Florida Poll That Should Change the Way You Look at the Election

A big Trump lead in the state paradoxically adds to evidence of a smaller Electoral College edge for him. And a choice by pollsters may be causing them to miss state shifts.

State of the Race: A Big Week in News, but a Quiet One in Polling

The polls are still so close that neither candidate has a significant advantage.

How One Polling Decision Is Leading to Two Distinct Stories of the Election

A methodological choice has created divergent paths of polling results. Is this election more like 2020 or 2022?

The Problem With the Hurricane Category Rating

After Helene, it may be time to rethink how to communicate the risks posed by storms, especially extreme rain.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Oct. 5, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Every Election Has Big Swings, Even in a Polarized Country. This One Will Too.

In just the last few years, any number of issues might have led people to reconsider their loyalties.

10-Minute Challenge: A Finished, Unfinished Portrait by Alice Neel

We’d like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

Trump Did Not ‘Save’ Obamacare. He Just Failed to Kill It.

By trying to repeal and replace the law while president, he wound up making it popular.

Another Way Jimmy Carter Bested His Fellow Presidents

The longest-lived president also wrote more best-selling books than any modern president — and had the fewest written about him.

State of the Race: A Calm Week and Perhaps the Clearest Picture Yet

It’s getting easier to trust that the news isn’t driving the numbers, and we take a closer look at the Hispanic vote.

Millions Could Lose Insurance Subsidies, Depending on the Election

The issue is getting less attention than a possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but it’s much more likely to happen.

Could We See a 270-268 Election? The Polls Are Tighter Than Ever.

The latest Times/Siena polls show Harris slightly ahead in Michigan and Wisconsin, with a healthy lead in Nebraska’s Second District.

The Surprising Place Analysts Look to for Election Forecasting

Washington State’s primaries have a record of predicting the national mood, making it a bellwether of sorts.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Sept. 28, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The Problem With a Crowd of New Online Polls

They’ve become cheap to produce but they underperform the competition, falling short of their original promise.

Colleges Are Reporting Post-Affirmative Action Data. Be Careful Interpreting It.

Many use different formulas to calculate racial makeup, and it’s not obvious there’s a “right” way.

10-Minute Challenge: Hiroshige’s ‘Sudden Rain’

We’d like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

Republicans’ Electoral College Edge, Once Seen as Ironclad, Looks to Be Fading

A review of the evidence that Donald Trump’s advantage relative to the national popular vote has declined significantly.

State of the Race: A Small Debate Bounce for Harris, but It’s Still Deadlocked

She gained a point in the polls after widely being seen as the debate winner.

What’s Behind Trump’s Best Poll Results in Weeks

In a shift from a Times/Siena survey last month, he leads in three Sun Belt battleground states.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Sept. 21, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

10-Minute Challenge: ‘Canopy’

We’d like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

Harris Ahead in Pennsylvania and Tied Nationally? Unpacking an Unexpected Result.

Although it could simply reflect the normal variation of polling results, it may also point to a declining Trump edge in the Electoral College.

State of the Race: Early Signs of a Post-Debate Bounce for Harris

It could be another week until the full scope of possible gains is evident.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Sept. 14, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The Campaign Issue That Isn’t: Health Care Reform

The topic has been a major concern in presidential elections for decades. Its absence as a top issue now is notable.

10-Minute Challenge: ‘The Unicorn Rests in a Garden’

We’d like you to look at one piece of art for 10 minutes, uninterrupted.

Will Taylor Swift’s Endorsement Actually Affect the Election?

What the research says about celebrity endorsements — and what might make this one different.

The Debate Was About Trump. That Was Good for Harris.

It can be hard to tell when a debate bounce will last, but there are rough parameters that can guide us.

State of the Race: A Dead Heat With 8 Weeks to Go

Each Monday morning for the next two months, we’ll take an in-depth look at what the polls can tell us.

New Poll Suggests Harris’s Support Has Stalled After a Euphoric August

Almost 30 percent of voters said they needed to learn more about her.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Sept. 7, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Boredom Almost Killed the N.F.L. Kickoff. New Rules Are Trying to Save It.

The league wants to bring excitement back but keep an emphasis on safety.

As Groups Have Shifted, Has It Become a ‘Normal’ Election?

Unusual demographic patterns are fading, but there are still some differences from the 2020 race.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Aug. 31, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The State That Chose to Cover Obesity Drugs for Its Poor, but Not Its Own Employees

The widespread use and enormous expense of blockbuster drugs like Wegovy are forcing state governments to make painful choices.

Connections Bot F.A.Q.

Introducing a daily, personalized analysis tool for Connections fans.

Connections Bot: Your Daily, Personalized Connections Analysis

See how you stacked up against other Connections players today.

Will Harris’s Lead Last? A Few Questions That Will Shape the Answer.

A certain kind of change candidate that is proving tough for Donald Trump to attack.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Aug. 24, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Where Harris Has Gained and Lost Support Compared With Biden

Gains among women are one example of her distinctive mark on the race.

Harris Gains in Sun Belt as Demographic Patterns Start to Look ‘Normal’

Gains among Black, Hispanic and young voters lift her into a tie across four swing states, new Times/Siena polls show.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Aug. 17, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

How Air-Conditioning Made Us Expect Arizona to Feel the Same as Maine

It’s a quiet force that contributes to a sameness across the country and to climate change.

The Polls Have Shifted Toward Harris. Is It Real, or Something Else?

A review of the Trump team’s critique of our surveys, and the surprising fact that a lot of people don’t seem to remember how they voted.

Recent Voter Registration Data Offers Hint of Enthusiasm for Democrats

Two swing states have seen a boost in Democratic sign-ups since Kamala Harris entered the race.

New Battleground Polls Show Harris Has Fundamentally Changed the Race

On question after question, at least for now, most voters don’t seem to have major reservations about her.

Who Won the Olympics? All the Ways We Could Think Of to Track the Medal Count.

Which country won the most events involving nets, balls or weapons? We (over) analyzed the medal standings in Paris.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Aug. 10, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Vibes and Polls and Positioning of the Harris Candidacy

Trump campaign staffers may be able to define her if she doesn’t beat them to the punch.

With Walz, Harris Passes on a Chance to Redefine Herself

There will be other opportunities to move to the center, if that’s a goal.

Traffic Stop Data Can Shape Policy. It’s Often Missing.

Areas with good data often have policy debates that are not possible in places with poor data.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Aug. 3, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Can Kamala Harris Rebuild the Democratic Coalition?

Early polling suggests she has made some progress since President Biden’s exit.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, July 27, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Americans May Not Agree on Much, but They Agree Biden Made the Right Choice

The president’s decision to exit the race received overwhelming support. Only a few other things have drawn as much consensus in polling.

Major Shifts Beneath the Surface in a New Trump-Harris Poll

The changes among groups cancel out for now, and Trump leads narrowly, but there’s a tie when candidates like Kennedy Jr. are considered.

How Kamala Harris Changes the Race

In some ways, the new matchup figures to be strangely familiar.

If Harris Is the Nominee, It Still Won’t Be Easy to Beat Trump

Biden’s age hasn’t been the only concern voters have been telling pollsters about recently.

Test Your Focus: Can You Spend 10 Minutes With One Painting?

It’s very hard to slow down and look closely at something. You may find it’s worth it.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, July 20, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

How Will Vance Affect the Race? Look at 2028, Not 2024.

The possibility that Trumpism outlasts Donald Trump just went up.

Harris Outdoes Biden in 2 State Polls but Has Her Own Weaknesses

The polls in Pennsylvania and Virginia were conducted before the Trump rally shooting.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, July 13, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Polls May Shape Biden’s Future. Are They Up to the Job?

The president’s chances increasingly rely on the possibility that the polls are misfiring.

This May Be a Turning Point for Biden. But in Which Direction?

The race against Trump doesn’t seem as if it will get easier.

In Manhattan Real Estate, Cash Is Everything

All-cash purchases shot up to 64 percent of home sales in the borough. Here’s who’s buying.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, July 6, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The Debate Hurt Biden, but the Real Shift Has Been Happening for Years

A 3-point move toward Trump in a new Times/Siena poll is not a fundamental change in the race, but it adds to longstanding concerns.

We Counted 22,252 Cars to See How Much Congestion Pricing Might Have Made in One Morning

A year’s worth of tolls is hard to picture. But what about an hour’s worth?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, June 29, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Outlier Poll Results Are Inevitable. They’re Also Sometimes Right.

The latest Times/Siena survey shows Trump up by six points among registered voters and three among likely voters.

Introducing Our 2024 Poll Tracker

It starts by showing a very close race nationally and in critical battleground states.

Methodology: How The Times Calculates Polling Averages

An average of surveys may sound straightforward, but even a simple approach faces a series of choices.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, June 22, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The Momentous Decision New York Almost Made

Chicago reversed the flow of a river. Boston put a highway underground. And New York, well, came close to enacting congestion pricing.

If Everyone Voted, Would Biden Benefit? Not Anymore.

Inside the unusual dynamic shaping the 2024 campaign.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, June 15, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, June 8, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, May 1, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Will It Matter? Searching for Clues in the Polls About a Trump Conviction.

He may not lose support at all, but recent backing from young and nonwhite voters might be likelier to fade.

How ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Tips Turned Into $50,000 in Prizes

The Upshot’s guide helped a New Jersey man, who has some good tips of his own.

Perhaps Lost in the Polling: The Race for President Is Still Close

Though he trails in the polls, President Biden has mostly held his support among white voters. Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin probably offer his clearest path to victory.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, May 25, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Did You Recently Choose Between Renting and Buying? We Want to Hear About It.

The New York Times is telling the stories of people who made this difficult choice. Maybe we can tell yours.

The Shaky Foundation of Trump’s Lead: Disengaged Voters

The Biden team faces questions of its own: Why have these voters backed away from him, and can his campaign find a way to reach them?

Renting or Buying Is Often Personal, but It’s Also Helpful to Look at the Numbers

The Upshot’s financial calculator has been updated with new features.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, May 18, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

R.F.K. Jr. Isn’t a Spoiler Now, Poll Suggests, but He Could Be in November

Kennedy draws disproportionately from voters who usually back Democrats but have defected to Trump.

Battleground Polling Shows Ticket-Splitting Pattern

In four states where Biden trails among likely voters, Democratic Senate candidates are leading.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, May 11, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Just What Kind of a Third-Party Candidate Is R.F.K. Jr.?

Categorizing previous third-party bids helps us understand where he fits in and where he might wind up.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, May 4, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, April 27, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

How the N.F.L. Draft Became a Trading Floor

Picks are likelier to be dealt than kept, as a “very strong inertia” has been replaced by complex models and frenzied swapping.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, April 20, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Was Trump Benefiting From Being Out of the News?

His liabilities weren’t dominating the conversation the way they once did, perhaps helping his polling, but the trial could change things.

A Huge Number of Homeowners Have Mortgage Rates Too Good to Give Up

On a scale not seen in decades, many Americans are stuck in homes they would rather leave.

A Closer Look at a Slight Shift in the Polls

An average of recent surveys, including the Times/Siena poll, finds President Biden inching closer to Donald Trump.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, April 13, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, April 6, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Eclipse’s Path Is Also Leaving a Trail of High Hotel Prices

One Super 8 in Illinois advertised $949 a night. Its normal rate is $95.

Revisiting Florida 2000 and the Butterfly Effect

The evidence is strong that, all else being equal, Al Gore would have won if not for an infamous ballot design in Palm Beach County.

How Much Would You Pay to Make Sure You Never Sawed Off a Finger?

Even in the world of woodworking, there are trade-offs at the intersection of policy, public safety, patents and profit.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 30, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

New Georgia Data Gives Insight on Primaries, Polls and Possibly November

The vote history data supports the polling that’s showing Biden doing well among highly engaged voters but lagging overall.

Are We in the Midst of a Political Realignment?

Assessing the level of change in partisan allegiance in recent years, as well as the president’s numbers since the State of the Union.

Republicans Who Do Not Regularly Watch Fox Are Less Likely to Back Trump

Survey data shows more of them believe he acted criminally.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 23, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Share of Democratic Registrations Is Declining, but What Does It Mean?

Virtually every group of voters under 70 has become less likely to register as Democrats compared with Republicans since 2019.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 16, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 9, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Where Nikki Haley Won and What It Means

Some affluent and highly educated Republicans could be in play for Biden as Haley steps aside.

The 2020 Election Is Back

Donald J. Trump begins the 2024 general election campaign in the lead.

When Caitlin Clark Comes to Town

Measures of her star power include huge jumps in attendance at road games, and the logistical planning required.

The Big Change Between the 2020 and 2024 Races: Biden Is Unpopular

Donald Trump has the largest national lead in an NYT poll since first running for president in 2015.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, March 2, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

A Change in Our Poll: We’re Keeping Respondents Who Drop Off the Call

Why the latest NYT/Siena College survey on Saturday will include those who started the survey but didn’t finish it.

What Does the Uncommitted Vote in Michigan Mean for 2024?

The share of Arab American and Muslim voters is small but could be decisive in a close race.

Three Theories for Why Trump’s Primary Results Are Not Matching Expectations

He has underperformed the polls in each of the first three contests.

Delegate Math and the Futility of Haley’s Challenge to Trump

It’s not the final vote count in South Carolina that explains why the race might end so quickly. It’s the delegate count.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Feb. 24, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Feb. 17, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Wordle Bot F.A.Q.

How to understand the daily Wordle companion, which can assess your skill and help improve your results.

Not an Ordinary Special Election, and Yet a Typical Result

Democrats claim another victory, although it doesn’t necessarily add more clarity about November.

A Trump-Clinton Analogy That Could Give Biden Comfort

Democrats who aren’t fans of the president could come home when faced with a Trump presidency, just as Republicans returned to their party in the final days of the 2016 race.

Is Taylor Swift Actually Increasing N.F.L. Ratings?

We looked into whether such a claim was merely a romantic notion.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Feb. 10, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

For Voters, When Does Old Become Too Old?

Polling shows it’s a broad concern expressed about President Biden, not just one person’s opinion.

Biden Has Openings for a Comeback on Two Weak Points

He now has a clear line of defense on the border issue and a strong argument about the economy.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Feb. 3, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Turnout Data Reveals the Core of Democrats’ Success in Special Elections

It’s strictly about turnout among the highly engaged, not about winning over Republican-leaning voters, but still suggests a slight edge heading into November.

Suggest Events for Flashback, Our Weekly History Quiz

Every week, we test your knowledge. Now we want to tap your brainpower to compile events.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Jan. 27, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

It’s Fair to Ask: Is the Republican Race Over?

New Hampshire was just about the ideal state for Nikki Haley. It doesn’t get better from here.

The Lost DeSantis Moment

For months, he routinely led Donald Trump in head-to-head polls and gave a possible glimpse at a post-Trump Republican future.

Last Exit Before Trump: New Hampshire

Tuesday’s primary election will probably decide whether there will be a race at all.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Jan. 20, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Even the Battle for Second Turned Out Well for Trump in Iowa

A dominant victory and little momentum for his rivals.

A Big Reason to Pay Attention to Iowa? New Hampshire.

Second place could mean a lot to Nikki Haley tonight as a showdown with Donald Trump looms in the next primary contest.

The Rise of the N.F.L.’s 2-Point Conversion: A Guide to Strategy

A look at the trends, the data and how to sound like an analyst wherever you watch the playoffs.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Jan. 14, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Christie’s Exit Should Give Haley a Chance in New Hampshire. Will It Be Enough?

A group of moderate voters is now available, but it may not put her over the top against Trump.

WordleBot’s New Preferred Opening Word: Trace

We’re adding words to the bot’s dictionary, and wiping the slate to make way for a new starter.

We Are in a Big Covid Wave. But Just How Big?

Wastewater data has become perhaps the best metric to track the spread of the virus in the U.S., but it’s an imperfect tool.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Jan. 7, 2024

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Want to Understand 2024? Look at 1948.

Americans were angry with Truman because of high prices in the aftermath of World War II, even as other economic signals looked promising.

Looking Ahead to 5 Things That Will Shape the 2024 Election

Trials, a Kennedy and the economy are among the variables to consider.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 31, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Primaries, Polls and Party Shares: It’s Time for the Mailbag.

Readers have questions, including on switching over to another side’s primary, and a quick comment on Swift.

Serious Medical Errors Rose After Private Equity Firms Bought Hospitals

A new study shows an increase in the rate of inpatient complications, including infections and falls, though patients were no more likely to die.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 24, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Will Haley or a Trial Bring Trump Down? For Now, Our Poll Says No.

Republican primary voters seem unbothered by a coming trial, but a new obstacle looms.

How Much Is Biden’s Support of Israel Hurting Him With Young Voters?

Donald Trump leads him among those 18 to 29, a new poll shows.

Seven Things We Learned Analyzing 515 Million Wordles

Maybe it’s time to say goodbye to ADIEU?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 17, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Vibes, the Economy and the Election

Recent positive news may put two theories on economic disenchantment to the test.

More Theories on Rising Pedestrian Deaths at Night

Readers share concerns like headlight glare, streetlight design and the aging of American motorists.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 10, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

We Made a Detailed Interactive Map of N.Y.C. Neighborhoods

We asked New Yorkers themselves to map their neighborhoods and to tell us what they call them. The result is probably the most detailed map of the city’s neighborhoods ever compiled.

Why Haley Is Rising Among the Rivals to Trump

She has gained with educated and relatively moderate Republicans and independents, but that is also a big liability in today’s G.O.P.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Dec. 3, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Why Biden’s Weakness Among Young Voters Should Be Taken Seriously

Almost all the polling shows the same pattern. Could the coming campaign restore Democrats’ usual advantage?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Nov. 26, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

We Did an Experiment to See How Much Democracy and Abortion Matter to Voters

Yes, the economy is important, but we found that election subversion attempts appear to matter more to voters than polling suggests.

The Crisis in Issue Polling, and What We’re Doing About It

A poll can be very close to the actual result but miss the key story line. We’ll try new question forms; we might even try an experiment or two.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Nov. 11-17

“Quit” is easy, but being a word scholar is hard.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Nov. 19, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Why Trump Seems Less Vulnerable on Abortion Than Other Republicans

He appointed judges who overturned Roe, but his vague statements on the issue may give him some leeway with voters.

Can’t Think, Can’t Remember: More Americans Say They’re in a Cognitive Fog

Adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s are driving the trend. Researchers point to long Covid as a major cause.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Nov. 4-10

A European stroll might have helped you find this week’s hardest word.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Nov. 12, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Tuesday Was Great for Democrats. It Doesn’t Change the Outlook for 2024.

A pattern continued with success in low-turnout elections, which favors highly engaged voters. Presidential years tend to be different.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Oct. 28-Nov. 3

Some are so tough that you probably shouldn’t stew over them.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Nov. 4, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Oct. 31, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Why Less Engaged Voters Are Biden’s Biggest Problem

His weakness is concentrated among those who stayed home in the midterms but who may show up in 2024.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Oct. 21-27

This week’s toughest challenge may have been a little bombastic.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Oct. 29, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Fight for Speaker Reveals Four Types of House Republicans

Jim Jordan’s bid showed the power of the ultraconservative faction in Congress.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Oct. 14-20

A lot of players had nonanswers for this week’s toughest word.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Oct. 22, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Cities Foster Serendipity. But Can They Do It When Workers Are at Home?

Revisiting a theory about chance collisions and innovation.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Oct. 7-13

Don’t be distracted by shiny objects. It seems like good advice, but one was the answer to the toughest challenge this week.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Oct. 15, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The New Republican Establishment

An alternative Trumpist governing elite gets closer to ruling the party.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Sept. 30-Oct. 6

If you’re not one for big hullabaloos, you might have missed this week’s toughest word.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Oct. 8, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Some Key Facts About Fentanyl

It’s lowering American life expectancy and influencing the nation’s politics.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Sept. 23-29

Bad luck came in threes (and a seven) in this week’s toughest tests.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Sept. 1, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

What Polling After the First Debate Tells Us About Round 2

Nikki Haley received a small lift, but another good performance Wednesday may simply splinter the opposition to Donald Trump.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Sept. 16-22

A certain monomania, the No. 2 word in this week’s list, can help get you to the top in this game.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Sept. 24, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

It’s Not a Race, Yet, in the Republican Primary

Donald Trump is polling about as well as any candidate in the modern history of contested presidential primaries.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Sept. 9-15

This week featured the toughest word since this feature started in April.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Sept. 17, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Why Are Democrats Losing Ground Among Nonwhite Voters? 5 Theories.

There’s no shortage of solid hypotheses, and the best explanation may be a combination of them.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Sept. 2-8

The cream rose in finding this week’s most challenging word.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Sept. 10, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

The Plight of the N.F.L. Running Back

A combination of factors has devalued one of the marquee positions in all of American sports.

How to Interpret Polling Showing Biden’s Loss of Nonwhite Support

Yes, there’s reason for skepticism, but also reason for concern for Democrats, particularly over turnout.

Consistent Signs of Erosion in Black and Hispanic Support for Biden

It’s a weakness that could manifest itself as low Democratic turnout even if Trump and Republicans don’t gain among those groups.

The Ground-Floor Window Into What’s Ailing Downtowns

City centers may have to be reimagined to solve the problem of vacant storefronts.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Sept. 3, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Aug. 26-Sept. 1

“Honey” easily attracted Bee adherents, but players had only isolated success with “abbacy.”

Visualizing the Latest Wave of N.C.A.A. Conference Realignment

In a chase for TV revenue, colleges have undertaken another wave of conference realignment, effectively ending the Pac-12.

A New Trial Date. A New Primary Season.

A March trial could become the center of gravity of the G.O.P. primary, structuring the campaigns of Donald Trump and his rivals.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Aug. 27, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Aug. 19-25

There’s nothing tragic about missing this week’s toughest word, other than the word itself.

The Race for Second Place: Making Sense of the G.O.P. Debate

Ron DeSantis’s performance can be interpreted as akin to a front-runner’s — in the race for No. 2 behind Donald J. Trump.

The First Debate and the Race for Second Place

Being No. 2 could be especially important next year, and Ramaswamy has been gaining on DeSantis.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Aug. 20, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

These Voters Share Almost No Political Beliefs, but They Agree on One Thing: We’re Failing as a Nation

In a recent poll, some Democrats and most Republicans share a sense of doom.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Aug. 12-18

To play this game, you can’t have a thin skin, but this week it helped to be familiar with one.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, Aug. 5-11

This week, Spelling Bee players chose to quit to get ahead.

It’s Not Reagan’s Party Anymore

Ronald Reagan’s “three-legged stool” coalition supported the G.O.P. for decades. Our latest poll leaves little doubt that Donald J. Trump has put an end to that era.

Flashback: Your Weekly History Quiz, Aug. 13, 2023

Can you sort 8 historical events?

Studying the Limits of Human Perfection, Through Darts

Why do athletes always seem to get better, generation by generation? It’s not always for the reasons you might think.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, July 29-Aug. 4

To reach Genius, you had to milk this week’s toughest word for all it was worth.

Is Trump Leaving an Opening in Iowa?

The former president’s poll numbers are still strong. But the caucuses could be his rivals’ best chance to make him look vulnerable.

Can the Race Really Be That Close? Yes, Biden and Trump Are Tied.

A Times/Siena poll suggests a slight Biden edge among voters who don’t like either candidate.

Why Trump Is So Hard to Beat

The first Times/Siena poll of the G.O.P. primary shows he still commands a seemingly unshakable base of loyal supporters.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, July 22-28

At minimum, you needed to be familiar with what a quorum was.

How Did We Do? A Review of 2022 Before Our First Poll of 2023.

Trying to learn from a strong midterm run as we start surveying the G.O.P. primary.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, July 15-21

If you succeeded in getting this week’s toughest word, don’t be shy — feel free to trumpet it.

Hard Questions if Biden’s Approval Doesn’t Follow Economy’s Rise

This is about the time when many presidents see their standing turn around, including Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, July 8-14

No amount of exhortation could help with this week’s toughest word.

What Really Happened in the Midterms?

A segment of swing voters decided to back Democratic candidates in many critical races.

Who Employs Your Doctor? Increasingly, a Private Equity Firm.

A new study finds that private equity firms own more than half of all specialists in certain U.S. markets.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, July 1-7

Another example of how an excellent vocabulary is the currency of this realm.

Kennedy, Christie and the Supreme Court: Are They Changing the Race?

A painful ruling from the court can sometimes free a party from an unpopular stance.

American Cities Have a Conversion Problem, and It’s Not Just Offices

Piles of regulations, or “kludge,” and a culture of “no” are limiting the ability to turn building blocks into something new.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, June 24-30

Cornered, many players had to face the music with “plena.”

Are Democrats Actually Winning Older Voters?

Some intriguing signs that the party may be doing better among seniors than is commonly thought.

New Features for an Updated WordleBot

We’ve added a 14-day average of your scores, a 90-day window to review past games and more information on players’ guesses.

F.D.A. Wants to Regulate Prenatal Tests That Have Misled Parents

A booming industry has recently come under scrutiny for some of its testing, including a high rate of false positive results.

The Uneven Effect of Remote Work, in One List

This ranking of jobs by percentage of remote work also helps explain why the pandemic has left more scars in certain areas.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, June 17-23

In pursuit of Queen Bee, it was good to find “king” and hard to find “nankeen.”

Mailbag: Does Trump Represent Half the Country?

Settling a marital dispute, and a question that gets at a tension within today’s conservatism — in this month’s reader mailbag.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, June 10-16

One of the words was so tough you could say it was radioactive.

Fox, Trump and Millennial Movement

To follow the impact of the indictment, it may be best to watch Fox News and not the polls.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, June 3-June 9

Most players cracked the code, but there was one tough bird.

Do Christie and Pence Make It 2016 Again? Not Yet.

A bigger field in the G.O.P. primary could chip away at DeSantis’s chances of overtaking Trump.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, May 27-June 2

Did you reach the highest level, or were you at sea?

Millennials Are Not an Exception. They’ve Moved to the Right.

Over the last decade, almost every cohort of voters under 50 has shifted rightward.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, May 20-26

Were you “blocked” from reaching Queen Bee?

Why It’s Far Too Soon to Say DeSantis Is Done

Despite his struggles, fortunes can change very quickly in presidential primaries.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, May 13-19

Readers struggled to identify a host for a machine.

Two Theories for Beating Trump in the Primary

A successful campaign will probably need the traits of both Trumpism and an alternative to Trumpism.

A U.S. Experiment on Single-Payer Care Just Ended

The system for one disease, Covid, had similarities to “Medicare for all.”

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, May 6-12

A difficult dance for those seeking to rise to the week's toughest challenge.

Little-Noticed Part of G.O.P. Bill Could ‘Make It Impossible to Regulate’

House Republicans want every major rule to come up for a vote. That could be a recipe for no regulations at all.

Two Schools of Polling Are Converging: Reflecting on a Tumultuous Decade

Should polling change or stay the same? It doesn’t seem a hard call.

An Outlier Poll on Trump vs. Biden That Still Informs

A seven-point Trump lead in an ABC/Post survey is an aberration but points to some Biden weaknesses.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, April 29-May 5

A word related to milk was hard to draw out. On the other side of the spectrum, many saw the “light.”

Why Ron DeSantis Is Struggling

After a promising start, he has become bogged down in issues that have divided and hurt Republicans in the past.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, April 22-28

No spoilers: “Balding” and “time” were easiest to find in recent puzzles, while “libidinal” was lacking.

An Early, Early Look at Biden’s 2024 Prospects

Almost every recent poll shows a highly competitive presidential race.

Top 10 Hardest and Easiest Spelling Bee Words, April 15-21

There was little mercy, or “lenity,” if you were seeking to rise to genius level.

Is a 6-Week Abortion Ban a Disaster for DeSantis? Two Theories.

There were plenty of midterm elections where Republicans didn’t seem to pay a price over new abortion restrictions.

Spelling Bee Buddy: Personalized Hints That Update as You Play

Customized hints that update based on your progress in today’s puzzle.

Three Takeaways From a Tumultuous Day in Politics

A blowout in Wisconsin, an indictment in New York and a progressive victory in Chicago.

This Wisconsin Court Race Is Highly Partisan. It Wasn’t Always That Way.

Supreme Court races were once more swayed by endorsements from legal and law enforcement officials. Now they’re indistinguishable from other elections.

What We Haven’t Learned From the First Chapter of the Republican Primary

It’s premature to reach any meaningful conclusion about DeSantis’s chances to defeat Trump.

Could This Be New York City’s Least Snowy Winter in Recorded History?

Just two inches so far, and a tie for the second-mildest winter.

What’s ‘Woke’ and Why It Matters

A marker of just how much American politics has changed over the last eight years.

A Rough Guide of the Electoral Fallout if Trump Is Indicted

It would be uncharted territory, but the F.B.I. search of Mar-a-Lago offers at least some precedent.

DeSantis, on Defense, Shows Signs of Slipping in Polls

For now, the Florida governor isn’t firing back at Trump.

Why Fox’s Call on Arizona, Which Was Right, Was Still Wrong

It was more a risky guess than a sound decision, and easily could have led to a missed call.

Wait, the Campaign Is Halfway Done?

In the so-called invisible primary, there’s often a clear relationship between early polling and the eventual outcome.

What Nikki Haley Can Teach Us About the Republican Party

A presidential bid and a measure of how far Reaganism has fallen.

Ron DeSantis Is Not Scott Walker

His support among Republicans at this early stage of the primary cycle puts him in rare company.

Is Trump Way Up or Way Down?

The polls are surprisingly divided, but higher-quality surveys point to an answer.

New Medicare Rule Aims to Take Back $4.7 Billion From Insurers

The government plans to aggressively audit Medicare Advantage plans for overbilling but may face lawsuits.

To Understand Why Republicans Are Divided on the Debt Ceiling, Consider Dr. Seuss

The Tea Party is over. Cultural issues seem to animate G.O.P. voters.

The December Omnibus Bill’s Little Secret: It Was Also a Giant Health Bill

Congress passed legislation on mental health, drugs, pandemic preparedness, new Medicare benefits and Medicaid expansion — all before the arrival of the new House.

The Coming Year of Republican Drama

G.O.P. infighting figures to be the political story line of 2023.

It’s Boom Times for Santa

Like other in-person workers, Santa took a hit the first two years of the pandemic. But he’s back in a big way.

2022 Review: How Republicans Lost Despite Winning the Popular Vote

There were several reasons Republicans struggled to translate votes into seats, including candidate quality and strength in the wrong places.

Turnout by Republicans Was Great. It’s Just That Many of Them Didn’t Vote for Republicans.

They sometimes found Democratic candidates more palatable at the top of the ticket.

Georgia Runoff: What a Walker or Warnock Victory Would Look Like

Surprises are always possible, but there seem to be few reasons to think Herschel Walker can improve upon his showing last month.

Black Turnout in Midterms Was One of the Low Points for Democrats

But the effects of the decrease wound up being muted.

Trump’s Drag on Republicans Quantified: A Five-Point Penalty

An analysis based on House districts shows a pattern in the results of his preferred primary candidates.

Republicans Appear on Track to Take the House

Democrats are falling short of their targets in key races in California and Arizona.

Tracking the Mail Vote in the Uncalled House Districts

Republicans lead in the race for House control, but Democrats still have hope, thanks to mail ballot trends in California. We’ll provide updates.

Mail Ballots Around Las Vegas Are Likely to Put Democrats Ahead

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is within 1,000 votes of overtaking her Republican opponent, Adam Laxalt, and the ballots remaining in Clark County are expected to favor her.

Why Some States Went in Different Directions in Midterms

Abortion rights and antidemocratic stances were more relevant or pressing in some places than others.

When We’ll Know: The Remaining Key Factors in Georgia, Nevada, Arizona

Who will control the Senate and the House? Settle in for a long wait.

Are the Polls Still Missing ‘Hidden’ Republicans? Here’s What We’re Doing to Find Out.

There’s no breakthrough in our experiment yet, but the differences are intriguing.

Who Will Win the Battle for Congress? Four Scenarios.

A wide range of outcomes is still possible. Here are signs to look for on election night.

A Key Polling Warning Sign Has Dimmed Since September

The emergence of Republican-leaning pollsters has reduced the risk that polling averages will overestimate Democrats.

Polling Averages Can Be Useful, but What’s Underneath Has Changed

This year, a wave of polls from Republican-leaning firms is driving the averages.

Most Candidates Running on Crime Don’t Have Much Power to Solve It

Your congressman doesn’t control the police budget. Your senator probably doesn’t know where the worst hot spots are.

Private Medicare Plans Misled Customers Into Signing Up, Senate Report Says

The report by Senate Democrats points to widespread misbehavior by the plans and the marketing firms they hire.

Will One Small Shift Fix the Polls in 2022? (Wonkiness: 8/10)

The potential improvement is based on the idea that voters are less likely to recall voting for a losing candidate.

A worrisome pattern is re-emerging for pollsters.

A Worrisome Pattern Re-emerges in Seeking Response From Republicans

A big challenge for some pollsters, nonresponse bias, appears to be back.

Times/Siena Polls Show Democrats Slightly Ahead in Key Senate Races

Respondents said they preferred Republicans to control the Senate, but individual matchups showed a different story.

Times/Siena Polls in Four House Races Offer Democrats Some Hope

Class, ethnicity and incumbency matter in these swing districts.

Why the Price of Gas Has Such Power Over Us

“When prices go up, we have this feeling of oppression that we can’t do everything we want.”

If These Poll Results Keep Up, Expect Anything on Election Night

The current range of numbers could translate to a Democratic hold in the Senate, or an overall Republican rout.

Threat to Democracy? Start With Corruption, Many Voters Say

In a Times/Siena survey, respondents’ concerns about democracy often diverged from typical expert analysis.

NYT/Siena Poll Is Latest to Show Republican Gains

Is four points the real margin nationally? That’s a good question.

Who in the World Is Still Answering Pollsters’ Phone Calls?

Response rates suggest the “death of telephone polling” is getting closer.

Why Republicans Could Prevail in the Popular Vote but Lose in the House

In a potential reversal of recent structural trends, there’s a small chance of something we haven’t seen since 1952.

If America Needs Starter Homes, Why Are Perfectly Good Ones Being Torn Down?

Many communities effectively ensure the only viable replacement for a starter home is a new one that’s much larger and more expensive.

‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions

By next year, half of Medicare beneficiaries will have a private Medicare Advantage plan. Most large insurers in the program have been accused in court of fraud.

Will the Herschel Walker Allegations Actually Matter?

The scandal could be decisive even if one in 50 would-be Walker voters change their minds.

Poll Update: Republicans Gain in the Senate

A closer look at Pennsylvania and Nevada, and some Democratic leads that seem vulnerable.

It’s Time to Take Democrats’ Chances in the House Seriously

No, they are not favored. But the notion of retaining the chamber is not as far-fetched as it once was.

Gerrymandering Isn’t Giving Republicans the Advantage You Might Expect

Yes, the G.O.P. has a structural edge in the House, but it isn’t anything near insurmountable for Democrats.

What Can History Tell Us About the Roe Effect on the Midterms?

Finding analogies for big successes by the party out of power.

Are Political Winds Blowing in Republicans’ Favor Again?

There are some signs of a drift toward issues where the party has an advantage, like the economy and immigration.

Lost Hope of Lasting Democratic Majority

Revisiting an influential book and the notion that demographics are destiny.

Trump Support Remains Unmoved by Investigations, Poll Finds

Even during peak crises during his presidency, views of him were static. Post-presidency polls have continued the trend.

Perfectly Reasonable Question: Can We Trust the Polls?

Polling error is not inevitable, and there are signs that 2022 may be different.

Previewing the Next NYT/Siena Poll

In our July survey, the president’s approval rating was 33 percent. A lot has changed in the last two months, so will it show up in this week’s survey?

Why Things May Really Be Different for This Midterm Election

This cycle, the arguments for Democratic strength cut against the conventional wisdom that the party in power struggles in midterms.

Yes, the Polling Warning Signs Are Flashing Again

Democrats are polling well in exactly the places where surveys missed most in 2020.

Introducing ‘The Tilt,’ a Newsletter About Elections and Polling

Political analysis in your inbox, twice a week or more, for Times subscribers.

WordleBot’s Word Switch: ‘Slate’ Is Out, and ‘Crane’ Is Back In

An update on the bot’s preferred opening guess, and some small changes.

Growing Evidence Against a Republican Wave

Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, it has been increasingly hard to see the once-clear signs of a G.O.P. advantage.

Introducing WordleBot 2.0

The bot has new features, a cleaner design and a revamped approach to solving Wordles and analyzing your performances.

Kansas Result Suggests 4 Out of 5 States Would Back Abortion Rights in Similar Vote

The referendum in a reliably Republican state shows which party has the most energy on the issue.

The Key Insights From Our First Poll of the 2022 Midterms

A summary of the findings includes deep dissatisfaction among voters and potential fertile ground for new candidates in 2024.

Build Back Better Is a Health Care Bill Now

Only two provisions in a once-sprawling social spending package have survived; they would lower prescription drug prices in Medicare and insurance premiums for millions of Americans.

The Housing Shortage Isn’t Just a Coastal Crisis Anymore

An increasingly national problem has consequences for the quality of American family life, the economy and the future of housing politics.

Voters Say They Want Gun Control. Their Votes Say Something Different.

Broad public support on the issue may not be as broad as polling shows or as Democrats hope.

When the Best Available Home Is the One You Already Have

The housing market has altered the math of moving for nearly everyone.