Millions of Americans struggle to afford rising energy bills as the government shutdown delays federal aid. Conor Harrison and colleagues warn that cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) threaten lives, forcing vulnerable households to choose between heat, food, and medicine amid growing energy insecurity.
Daniel Radcliffe returns to Broadway in Every Brilliant Thing, a heartfelt one-person play about joy, love, and resilience, opening February 2026.
Sylvie Magerstaedt explores how Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms reflects a growing trend of darker fairy tale retellings. From Snow White and the Huntsman to The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, these modern adaptations reveal how timeless myths evolve to mirror today’s fears, complexities, and hopes.
Glenn Fosbraey highlights ten songs under one minute that prove brevity can be brilliant – from The Beach Boys’ tender Meant for You to Tierra Whack’s playful Black Nails and Eminem’s intense Trouble. Each track shows how even the shortest pieces of music can leave a lasting impact.
aylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do marks a dark rebirth, shedding her “nice girl” image to embrace power and vengeance. Eleanor Spencer-Regan explores how Swift mirrors Sylvia Plath’s themes of death, rebirth, and self-reinvention – turning media scrutiny into art and reclaiming control of her narrative.
Lily Allen’s West End Girl turns heartbreak into powerful storytelling, blending reality and fiction as she processes the end of her marriage. Elaine Gregersen explores how Allen’s confessional album mirrors autoethnography – using personal experience to reveal deeper truths while questioning the ethics of sharing intimate stories.
The Supreme Court’s tariff case tests the balance between executive power and democratic accountability in shaping US and global trade policy.
Control over rare earth metals is now central to the US-China trade battle, shaping the future of global clean energy and technology supply chains.
Hara hachi bu – Japan’s “80% full” philosophy – emphasizes awareness and moderation over restriction, blending mindfulness with modern eating habits.
Ukraine’s rewilding projects are healing both land and people – restoring wetlands, reviving wildlife, and offering recovery for veterans amid ongoing war.