How AT&T created the most iconic phone ever

How AT&T created the most iconic phone ever

For years, even decades, virtually everyone in the United States had the same phone. Nobody really thought about it, it didn’t even matter what it was called – it was just The Phone. Well, The Phone was called the Western Electric 500, and when landline...
The AI code wars are heating up

The AI code wars are heating up

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on the AI coding and vibe-coding booms, follow David Pierce. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How...
Hope vs. optimism, explained

Hope vs. optimism, explained

On Explain It Me, we try to give you useful information to help you navigate and understand the world around you. But lately there’s been an elephant in the room: Life feels kind of…bad.  Polling suggests that Americans are unsatisfied with their lives now, and...
Am I too poor to have a baby?

Am I too poor to have a baby?

Your Mileage May Vary is an advice column offering you a unique framework for thinking through your moral dilemmas. It’s based on value pluralism — the idea that each of us has multiple values that are equally valid but that often conflict with each...