Empire of Cotton

Sven Beckert The Atlantic
Cotton is so ubiquitous as to be almost invisible, yet understanding its history is key to understanding the origins of modern capitalism.

The Echo Chamber

Joan Biskupic, Janet Roberts and John Shiffman Reuters
At America’s court of last resort, a handful of lawyers now dominates the docket.

Is It Bad Enough Yet?

Mark Bittman The New York Times
Op-Ed by food journalist and columnist Mark Bittman: "What makes this an exciting time is that we are beginning to see links among issues that we have overlooked for far too long."

The Senate Torture Report: Who Will Be Held Responsible?

Trevor Timm The Guardian
The revelations in the Senate Committee's Torture Report make it the most disturbing scandal in recent U.S. history. The number of different crimes committed by the CIA and documented by Senator Dianne Feinstein’s committee is truly extraordinary. But, for the Obama Administration, the CIA torture scandal can't end fast enough. But torture is a war crime and the architects must be held accountable to ensure this rampant criminality never happens again.

The World Needs Doctors? Cuba Trains Them

Journalist Gail Reed tells the story of Havana’s Latin American Medical School, which trains global physicians to serve the local communities that need them most.

Elizabeth Warren Rips Citibank

Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke on the floor of the Senate on Dec. 12, 2014 about the provision that Citigroup added to the omnibus budget package.

Movie: Selma

One of the decisive battles against segregation took place here, in the heart of the Old South, and in plain view of the whole world. A star cast, and talk of Oscars. Opening soon.

The Avian Tree of Life

This animation illustrates the  major branches of the avian tree of life revealed by the mapping of the complete genomes of 48 bird species -- one of the most ambitious evolutionary investigations yet.