Takeaways From The Times’s Inside Look at the C.D.C.

Many current and former employees say the actions of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are undermining the agency’s role in safeguarding public health.

By Jeneen Interlandi

The Interview

What Is YouTube’s Dominance Doing to Us? We Asked Its C.E.O.

Neal Mohan on A.I. slop, parental controls and his platform’s impact on our lives.

Ideas

The Iran War is Revealing the Messy Middle of Our Renewable Energy Transition

When the world map of literal power changes, the political hierarchy shifts, too

By David Wallace-Wells

On Language

Every Pentagon Has Its Buzzword. For Hegseth’s, It’s ‘Lethality.’

It’s blunt instead of vague, brash instead of evasive, bold instead of cautious. And yet the word obfuscates as much as old defense jargon.

By Nitsuh Abebe

Screenland

The Epstein Scandal Has Reached the Far-Right Meme Stage

Once the Epstein files transitioned from an abstract concept to a real-world event, it became more difficult for fringe conspiracy theorists to control the story.

By Brady Brickner-Wood

Letter of recommendation

Yes, Improv Comedy Sucks. And Everyone Should Try It.

What better way to get over my decision paralysis than squaring off with the unknown for three hours a week?

By Nicolaia Rips

the ethicist

Is It OK to Cut Ties With a Friend Because of Her Views on Vaccines?

It really bothers me that she is selfishly choosing to put her children and others at risk.

By Kwame Anthony Appiah

Judge John Hodgman

Can Seniors Order Off the Kids’ Menu?

A dispute over restaurant etiquette.

By John Hodgman