Issue No. 01 | State of the Union
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The Nib
The hot white guy summer trend of 2017; being a literal Nazi. Who knew the future would suck so much? Plus: Pizza drones.
Actual Nazis321.94
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Off Topic
The wild story of one lawyer, two men and some very unlikely defenses for espionage against America.
Incognito 332.49
Hypernormal398.2
3 films | 21 min Sometimes, to understand what’s going on in America, you have to go beyond what’s real. Here are three videos, each done in one shot, that explore issues of gender, race, class, life, death, and selfi…
No one loves their pets more than Americans. An essay by Eileen Myles, with photographs from a dog spa in Florida.
Lavish636.7
Reaction Shot
There’s something fascinating about looking at people looking at something out of view. In this case, it’s Old Faithful, one of the most photographed natural wonders in the United …
National Parks917.3
The rise in mass shootings has not gone unnoticed by law enforcement. Hence, new training grounds that are particularly of this time: schools to prepare students, teachers, and pol…
Rage613.69
Range 321.07
In the town of Nucla, Colorado, owning a gun is the law of the land.
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War doesn’t just impact the battlefield. In this essay, we look at seven sites within the U.S. where environmental damage has followed military build-up.
Disaster363.72
Divisions of Labor
Which jobs will be done by our robot friends in the future? Here are six industries on the brink of transformation.
Control629.8
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Don’t miss the best of Topic
Office parks, island nations, private prisons—all immigrant detention centers. Here are six examples of how American government officials have been both metaphorically and literall…
Solitary 365
Our nation’s birthday requires a new song.
Compatriot 810.8
ASAP Fables
In this modern-day take on the old fable, a free-spirited grasshopper must decide if he’s cut out for the grueling life of a worker ant.
Get Ahead650.1
Podcasts
On February 15, 2014, fitness guru Richard Simmons disappeared. What happened? Filmmaker (and friend) Dan Taberski leads us down a winding road to find the star.
Perspiration613.7
Monologue
Where does Tony Award-winning actress and writer Sarah Jones find her characters? From real-life experiences, sure, but also from her imagination.
Spirited372.6
Mixtape
For the second side of curated shorts, we bring the drama: A strange couple travels around the U.S. We meet some black cowboys. A long-married pair weathers Katrina. And more.
Exceptional917.3
Life in Los Angeles means waiting in line, either to serve or be served.
Hollywood979.49
Memorial Day is celebrated across the U.S. but it’s a particularly special day in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In some ways, it seems that the battle never ended.
Still Fighting973.73
The cracked vase. The peering eyes. Edward Gorey’s work is unmistakable. Enjoy five short animations using previously unpublished audio recordings of the late genius.
Spooksville823.08
You’ve heard of Little Italy in Manhattan or Chinatown in San Francisco. But what about Little India in Millbourne, Pennsylvania?
Generational 301.45
Cold Open
Begin this month’s issue with 1960 speech from a Canadian politician about cats, mice and reaching for more than the political hand that you’re dealt.
Vermin335.6
One of the biggest differences between America’s political parties is the role of government. So it’s time to actually meet some public servants.
Civil Service353
Welcome to Topic.
Debut006.6
Think of this weekly podcast as your survival handbook to living in America in 2017. Featuring comedians W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu, it is both hilarious and cathartic.
Duos 220.7
The quintessential summer experience, melting in your hand.
Viscous 813.6
Our Town
In this series, we ask a photographer to turn the lens on her hometown. Visit a Northern California city with a suddenly hot real estate market.
Joneses720
From the genius political cartoonists at The Nib, an animated series attempting to make sense of our crummy times.
Funnies973.91
The city of Syracuse, New York, is divided, and not just metaphorically. Interstate 81 has carved the town in half, and the results are tragic.
Juxtapose625.8
The story of how this now-infamous photo is fascinating. And we’re not even talking about what the bird is doing in the picture.
Radioactive598.2
What do our parents give us? In this essay, writer Namwali Serpell tackles the particular legacy of her white father.
