We have become a treatment-resistant Prozac Nation. But the practice of believing in something—anything—can pull us out.The most memorable business pitch I ever attended began with a young man crying. His company was raising a modest amount of capital to build drones that could protect American troops in battle. The pitch was unremarkable in the first few minutes, until the founder mentioned his family and friends who had served in Iraq. He then stopped speaking, was quiet for a few seconds, and started to sob uncontrollably. I was in grad school at the time and had been instructed by...…We have become a treatment-resistant Prozac Nation. But the practice of believing in something—anything—can pull us out.The most memorable business pitch I ever attended began with a young man crying. His company was raising a modest amount of capital to build drones that could protect American troops in battle. The pitch was unremarkable in the first few minutes, until the founder mentioned his family and friends who had served in Iraq. He then stopped speaking, was quiet for a few seconds, and started to sob uncontrollably. I was in grad school at the time and had been instructed by...WW…

Can ten earnest kids playing Bach become the next Kardashians? When I enter the de la Mottes’ home—a three-floor, red brick townhouse in Harlem, around the corner from the Apollo Theater and down the block from a Verizon store—the somber thrum of a double bass echoes upstairs. I’m greeted by Amber, 43, who looks plucked straight out of an old-timey hearth catalog in a pleated emerald skirt and white blouse, her long, red hair pinned back. She leads me to the dining room table on the first floor where five kids are bent over laptops or workbooks. Marc, 45, her husband and the patriarch of...…Can ten earnest kids playing Bach become the next Kardashians? When I enter the de la Mottes’ home—a three-floor, red brick townhouse in Harlem, around the corner from the Apollo Theater and down the block from a Verizon store—the somber thrum of a double bass echoes upstairs. I’m greeted by Amber, 43, who looks plucked straight out of an old-timey hearth catalog in a pleated emerald skirt and white blouse, her long, red hair pinned back. She leads me to the dining room table on the first floor where five kids are bent over laptops or workbooks. Marc, 45, her husband and the patriarch of...WW…

Everyone says networking is the key to success. For me, it’s been notes to perfect strangers. My caller ID read: “Gay Talese.” The byline I had once pinned on my wall was now flashing across my phone. Just one day earlier, I’d emailed his publisher on a whim—I’d been rereading Talese’s iconic 1966 Esquire profile of Joe DiMaggio, the former Yankees star and husband to Marilyn Monroe, on the subway ride home. I’d forgotten how good it was—the way Talese casually drops details that build entire worlds, like that DiMaggio, who still holds the longest hitting streak record in baseball, “used a...…Everyone says networking is the key to success. For me, it’s been notes to perfect strangers. My caller ID read: “Gay Talese.” The byline I had once pinned on my wall was now flashing across my phone. Just one day earlier, I’d emailed his publisher on a whim—I’d been rereading Talese’s iconic 1966 Esquire profile of Joe DiMaggio, the former Yankees star and husband to Marilyn Monroe, on the subway ride home. I’d forgotten how good it was—the way Talese casually drops details that build entire worlds, like that DiMaggio, who still holds the longest hitting streak record in baseball, “used a...WW…

This publication began with a question: do Americans still want real journalism? Nearly 450,000 of you are answering: yes. Get all of our stories delivered straight to your inbox. I want to tell you three stories. Three short stories from these last days of summer that explain better than any pitch deck why The Free Press exists—and why the work that we’re doing matters. The first is about Jamie Reed. Perhaps you’ll remember that name. Six months ago, we published an explosive story by Reed—an insider account about the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s...…This publication began with a question: do Americans still want real journalism? Nearly 450,000 of you are answering: yes. Get all of our stories delivered straight to your inbox. I want to tell you three stories. Three short stories from these last days of summer that explain better than any pitch deck why The Free Press exists—and why the work that we’re doing matters. The first is about Jamie Reed. Perhaps you’ll remember that name. Six months ago, we published an explosive story by Reed—an insider account about the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s...WW…

On the latest episode of Honestly, I spoke to the presidential candidate about why he’s polling at 20 percent among likely Democrats. A few days ago, Joe Rogan offered Dr. Peter Hotez $100,000 to appear on his show to debate RFK Jr. on the subject of vaccines and public health. Not 48 hours later, thanks to Twitter, the ante is now more than $2 million and counting.If this debate happens, it could rival the audience tuning in to the official presidential debates in the 2024 election cycle. Which tells us a tremendous amount about our current political moment.So does the fact that...…On the latest episode of Honestly, I spoke to the presidential candidate about why he’s polling at 20 percent among likely Democrats. A few days ago, Joe Rogan offered Dr. Peter Hotez $100,000 to appear on his show to debate RFK Jr. on the subject of vaccines and public health. Not 48 hours later, thanks to Twitter, the ante is now more than $2 million and counting.If this debate happens, it could rival the audience tuning in to the official presidential debates in the 2024 election cycle. Which tells us a tremendous amount about our current political moment.So does the fact that...WW…

A Free Press roundtable on who won—and lost—the Republican ruckus. On Wednesday night, Fox News and the streaming platform Rumble hosted the first Republican presidential debate with the eight GOP hopefuls who made the cut: North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, former governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, former vice president Mike Pence, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Missing from the stage was Donald Trump, who refused to...…A Free Press roundtable on who won—and lost—the Republican ruckus. On Wednesday night, Fox News and the streaming platform Rumble hosted the first Republican presidential debate with the eight GOP hopefuls who made the cut: North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, former governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, former vice president Mike Pence, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Missing from the stage was Donald Trump, who refused to...WW…

The Canadian prime minister has alienated the largest democracy on Earth and played host to a former Nazi. And that was just this week. OTTAWA — In the span of five days, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has managed to alienate the government of the largest democracy on Earth; anger key allies from Washington, D.C. to Canberra; and outrage Jews around the world. Now, the promise of Trudeau—the young, strapping progressive born into political royalty, with his ostensibly forward-looking ideas about medically assisted suicide, puberty blockers, and the suspension of truckers’ civil...…The Canadian prime minister has alienated the largest democracy on Earth and played host to a former Nazi. And that was just this week. OTTAWA — In the span of five days, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has managed to alienate the government of the largest democracy on Earth; anger key allies from Washington, D.C. to Canberra; and outrage Jews around the world. Now, the promise of Trudeau—the young, strapping progressive born into political royalty, with his ostensibly forward-looking ideas about medically assisted suicide, puberty blockers, and the suspension of truckers’ civil...WW…