Across the Country
National News
Top headlines from national outlets, refreshed every 15 minutes. Each story opens on the original publisher’s site.
An AI model’s false tip to Philadelphia police reveals how digital agents can do as they’re told and still cause trouble
An expert on AI governance explains why these rare mistakes may soon be common, and with much higher stakes.
The Conversation
Offering cash for votes is quite common – but here’s why it doesn’t work
Money or other material benefits are often not enough to override a voter’s preferences and partisanship.
The Conversation
El Niño is threatening California’s fragile coast again – the 1982-83 El Niño opened eyes to the serious erosion risks
The destructive 1982-83 El Niño, then the strongest on record, eroded cliffs, leaving homes hanging precariously over the edges. A coastal scientist explains the escalating risks.
The Conversation
Human rights could improve – or worsen – based on how nations use the UN treaty against cybercrime
If the treaty enters into force, responsible nations will have to carefully monitor how other countries use it.
The Conversation
Horror’s monsters find new meaning with queer and trans audiences – how ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma’ dissects identity
Horror as a genre has traditionally been rife with transphobia and homophobia. But LGBTQ+ fans love it anyway.
The Conversation
What the failed attack on an Illinois temple reveals about anti-Hindu hate in the United States
Hostility toward Hindu worship practices draws on a long history of prejudice portraying the faith’s followers as idolaters, argues a scholar of Hindu studies.
The Conversation
Japan’s expensive funerals and declining birth rates are transforming ancestral traditions
With fewer people to care for their ancestors’ graves, many in Japan are looking for innovative solutions.
The Conversation
Why the political ambition gap between men and women persists even at the local level
Women are less ambitious for local office than men, mirroring an ambition gap that exists at the state and federal level, too. A group of scholars documented this gap and investigated why it exists.
The Conversation
Horror films exploit how human vision works to deliver movies’ best scares
Scary movies create tension in that space between perception and recognition, as your brain tries to determine what, exactly, you’re seeing.
The Conversation
US inequality is getting worse in ways you might not expect
From tax policy to gas prices and tariffs, a mix of new factors is making inequality in the US more extreme.
The Conversation
How governments worldwide are shaping what AI can say about politics
Some governments use legitimate AI concerns as a pretext to control political discussion, particularly chatbot responses about those in power.
The Conversation
Are partisan politics even changing up our accents? They just might be, y’all
Vowels have become the latest players in partisan politics, a barometer of how beliefs and values fit within the old vs. new South.
The Conversation
Are transgender sports bans really about protecting women? Survey data tells a different story
In a recent national survey, Americans with the most negative views of women were the biggest proponents of transgender sports bans.
The Conversation
State takeovers of struggling Texas school districts come at a high cost, with little evidence of success
The number of uncertified teachers rose, while enrolled student numbers dropped, following a state takeover of Houston. Data shows other uneven results across districts.
The Conversation
I’m a Philly forensic psychologist who has conducted dozens of psychopathic evaluations – here’s why an evaluation of R.C. Horsch in the ‘80s didn’t identify him as a possible psychopath
Philadelphia police and FBI are conducting a massive investigation into the home where the late R.C. Horsch and his son lived, along with several women who’ve gone missing.
The Conversation
Who should have a say in which species are saved? The California condor offers lessons for a global biodiversity treaty
When conservation affects local people, the question of who pays and who has a voice in decisions can make or break species recovery.
The Conversation
A scuff on your bag, a dent in your mug – and suddenly it feels like time for a new one
While perfectionists hold themselves to high or even impossible standards, people who want perfect stuff hold what they buy and own to lofty standards.
The Conversation
Palestinian citizens face a painful choice in Israel’s election: To vote or not
More than a third of Israel’s Palestinian citizens are expected to sit out the election.
The Conversation
Many vapes and e-cigarettes are now banned in Pennsylvania – here’s what Philly consumers and businesses need to know
Vape products from only six manufacturers can now be sold in Pennsylvania.
The Conversation
Federal spending on climate change before 2024 election boosted incumbents of both parties
Incumbents can still reap electoral rewards when federal money reaches their districts, even if they opposed the bill that provided it.
The Conversation
A pregnant mom let her 5-year-old stay outside to collect goose feathers – and was placed on the child abuse and neglect registry
Child neglect statutes are intended to protect children. But some of them are so broadly written that they can end up harming families seeking to instill independence in their kids.
The Conversation
The science and politics behind the panic over ultraprocessed foods
There’s no doubt that the modern food environment needs to be healthier. But are ultraprocessed foods as evil as their reputation suggests?
The Conversation
Why and how US and Canadian energy markets are so deeply intertwined
The two countries’ energy systems and markets are so intertwined that tariffs on electricity, oil and gas would devastate both economies.
The Conversation
How candidates are (quietly) talking about climate change – 3 election strategies you’ll see across the US
Voters have a lot of weighty issues on their minds, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worried about climate change.
The Conversation
Students take up to 88 standardized tests before high school, but more testing doesn’t improve learning
Students’ scores on standardized tests can affect schools’ ratings, adding to the pressure teachers experience in preparing their students for the assessments.
The Conversation
Maine Sen. Collins’ success bringing home federal funds is a perfect example of the thin line between political favoritism and effective representation
The line between political favoritism and effective representation is remarkably thin. Why is access to public money so dependent on the political influence of individual legislators?
The Conversation
40 days to arrive, 40 days to leave: How Armenian culture honors life’s most important moments
Armenian culture marks major events such as birth and death with a special period of 40 days, called ‘karasunk,’ as people transition from one state to another.
The Conversation
Why haven’t farm animals evolved against humans? A biologist explains why there won’t be a chicken uprising anytime soon
From domesticated foxes to tuskless elephants, humans have directly and indirectly influenced the evolution of a wide range of animals.
The Conversation
NASA’s Mars orbiter fleet is getting old – here’s how that could affect future exploration
NASA lost contact with its Maven spacecraft – the youngest of its Mars orbiters – at the end of 2025. The others in its fleet are over two decades old.
The Conversation
Why calling for a ‘kill switch’ is the wrong way to think about reining in AI
A kill switch to shut down dangerous AI systems is a seductive concept, but the metaphor hides how the models work – and how they get out of control in the first place.
The Conversation