🎧 KPop Demon Hunters keeps slaying
It took until late August, when Netflix debuted KPop Demon Hunters, for us to get the undeniable song of the summer: “Golden.” How did a story about a K-pop girl band moonlighting as demon hunters become such a phenomenon for kids and adults (with or without kids of their own) — and for people who may not have been familiar with K-pop? That’s what this podcast episode tries to answer.
What to do when every crisis needs your $20
Has it felt like crowdfunding campaigns are everywhere these days? That’s because they are, according to our Future Perfect fellow, Sara Herschander. In fact, more than 2 million people and organizations set up a GoFundMe fundraiser for the first time just last year. With so many people and causes that need our help, how do you go about deciding how to give? This is a great guide that’ll help you funnel your anger and rage toward things that matter to you.
📹 Why Nevada has so many ghost towns
Here are two things I learned from lead video producer Dolly Li’s reporting in Nevada: 1) There are more ghost towns in Nevada than populated towns and 2) the state produces more than 70 percent of our country’s gold. How, and why? Well, that’s the other thing I learned from Dolly (and so much more). Be sure to check out the video to learn what remains of the Wild West in 2025.
📹 Americans are drinking less alcohol
It’s Sober October: Have you cut out drinking this month? Though I know about Dry January, I’m just learning about this October challenge, thanks to senior correspondent Dylan Scott. It makes sense that it exists when you learn that Americans are drinking less overall — and that some of the dudes in the “manosphere” have turned Sober October into a wellness fitness challenge.
Taylor Swift is done pretending she doesn’t absolutely love this life
The Life of a Showgirl was released a week ago, and the conversations around whether Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album is actually good have been fierce (I’m leaning toward good, not that you asked, though it’s certainly not one of her best). But we can all probably agree on one thing: Swift is no longer hiding her ambition, as senior correspondent Constance Grady puts it so astutely. But what do we do with an ambitious showgirl in a time of anti-feminist backlash?
