Bari Weiss+

Journalist Catches Abdul El-Sayed Off Guard

Our Washington correspondent Audrey Fahlberg pressed Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed about a private campaign call in which he said “there are a lot of people in Dearborn who are sad” about Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s assassination. Here’s what she asked him (and his response):

What Cornell Teaches Its Students About Sex

How does Cornell teach its students about sex? Not the way you’d expect. Read Cornell student Jared Lederman’s full essay in our app or at TheFP.com.

Your FYP Without the Ragebaiters

A For You Page that makes sense for you. Only on The Free Press App. Download Today.

How the New Middle East Was Made | Bari Weiss and Simon Sebag Montefiore

Last week I had the privilege of sitting down with one of the foremost historians of our time, Simon Sebag Montefiore. As I write this, his work has never felt more urgent. “We’re in a new world of counterhistory,” he said recently. “A new world of counterhistory where neither historical facts nor present-time facts matter if they don’t fit the ideological orthodoxy.” It is “our responsibility as historians,” he said, “to stand up and be unafraid to contradict conventional wisdom, surging conspiracies, witch hunts, purity tests, pile-ons that are used to crush debate . . . and to say persuas

From Chess Champion to Target of Russian Assassination Plots

Garry Kasparov, the former world chess champion turned leading Russian dissident, has spent years warning the West about Putin. Now, he’s being targeted by an alleged Russian assassination plot. He sat down with Joe Nocera. Read Joe's full interview with Garry here: https://www.thefp.com/p/garry-kasparov-vladimir-putin-dissident-assassination-plot

The Far Left Is Burning France for Votes

Why is France burning? Last week, French police arrested nearly 2,000 people in a single day. You’d be surprised to know that nine out of ten of them were just kids.

Nick Shirley Is a True Patriot

"Nick Shirley is a true patriot." Rising political influencer @Sweeenie talks about his respect, friendship, and collaboration with Nick Shirley who is exposing fraud across America.

Mamdani Is Emboldening the Wrong People

Mayor Mamdani is emboldening all the wrong people with his rhetoric. Rising political influencer @Sweeenie talks about it.

The 60-Second Politics of Joe Sweeny

If you live in New York City and spend any time on social media, there’s a chance @Sweeenie’s videos have come across your feed.The John F. Kennedy Jr.–meets–Christian Bale look-alike delivers no-nonsense, 60-second takes from the streets of New York, expounding on the benefits of capitalism, the follies of the Democratic Socialists of America, or the latest Zohran Mamdani press conference. Joe Sweeny is an attorney who grew up in New Jersey, posted his first video in July of last year. He’s already gained a cult following, with over 200,000 followers across platforms and millions of views e

NY Attorney General Candidate Addresses Concerns About Crime

Could New York elect a Republican attorney general? Saritha Komatireddy hopes that New York City’s dysfunction—from homelessness and subway violence to locked-up store shelves—will help her topple incumbent Letitia James.

I Am an October 8 Jew

The Free Press’s Olivia Reingold is an October 8 Jew. Earlier this year, she wrote about how the attack on Israel and rising antisemitism ignited her religious identity. Read her full essay in our app or at TheFP.com.

Advice from an Executioner After a Botched Execution

Botched executions are more common than you’d think. So Noah Bernstein called up an executioner to learn why. Read the executioner in his own words at TheFP.com.

I Questioned Transgender Ideology. Now I’m Facing Prison in France.

Feminist activist Dora Moutot went on television to debate what makes a woman a woman. Four years later, she has a criminal conviction and could face new charges that could put her in prison. Read her full essay on TheFp.com.

Is Social Media Making Us Crazy? With Joe Nucci

That’s the question everyone is asking themselves, as it seems like every week there’s something new: moms clad in pink showing up in sympathy for Lindsay Clancy, the latest outrage over a scandalous Sydney Sweeney ad, or even something as ubiquitous as the rise of fashionable therapy terms like gaslighting, narcissism, and trauma. As our screen time has increased, society’s neuroses have increased along with it. Few people have thought about this more than my guest today, Joe Nucci. Joe is a licensed psychotherapist and the author of Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to S

How the World Reported Hijacking

On a FlyDubai flight from the UAE to Israel, an Omani pilot stabbed his co-pilot and put the plane into a nosedive, dropping 17,000 ft in less than 2 minutes. It was only due to the bravery of the ordinary Israelis onboard that stopped this ending horribly.

Will California Ever Change?

California's electing a governor in a little over a month's time, but have you seen Xavier Becerra? The Free Press's Austyn Jeffs reports on how Democrats hope to coast their way to winning in November, without really talking about the state's very real problems.

The Problem with 'Marrying Up'

What does "marrying up" mean today?

Has Sweden Fixed Europe's Immigration Problem

Many Americans think of Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia as a liberal's paradise but could it be a lesson for the West on how to fix the immigration crisis? Esther Krakue on how Sweden's immigration crackdown could be a model for the rest of Europe.

Was That Sermon Written By AI?

One in four pastors use AI to help prepare or outline their sermons.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘The New York Times’ Sued by Shareholders Over Biased Israel Coverage

A New York Times lawsuit gives a window into how the Israel-Hamas War roiled the newsroom, including: - how headlines and photos were chosen, - how staff members who raised concerns about antisemitism and biased reporting were treated, and - dozens of instances of inaccurate reporting that went uncorrected for extended periods.

What's Wrong with NYC's Public Schools?

$43,000 per student sounds like the tuition to a fancy prep school. But that’s how much Brooklyn’s “underserved” public schools get per student in funding. And their students still can’t read or write at grade level. Frannie Block explains.

TikTok Is Censoring Political Speech

TikTok has a double standard when it comes to speech on its platform. Political influencer Xaviaer DuRousseau says his videos have been consistently flagged, removed, or suppressed by the algorithm since May 2026—he breaks it down.

Political Influencer's TikToks Removed Ahead Midterm Elections

Political influencers say they’re being censored by TikTok ahead of this year’s midterm elections. Xaviaer DuRousseau shares his story of how his TikTok videos discussing Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s remarks were removed from the platform and blocked from promotion on the algorithm.

Why Is LA Not Furious?

Why aren’t Angelenos more pissed off? During the city’s last mayoral election, there was a heated debate about what Los Angeles should be. Now, Austyn Jeffs says, nobody seems to care.

Nobody Knows What Blood Libel Is

"Nobody knows what blood libel is. Certainly nobody knows what Zionism is."

The Lie at the Center of Antisemitism, with Dara Horn

"Antisemitism is a lie that people use to gain or maintain power. And the lie is always the same: Jews are destroying what you value most."

Gen Z's Great Retreat from Risk

There’s a social epidemic taking root among young Americans, and it’s not what you’d expect: It’s fear, says professor Arthur Brooks. “The problem isn’t an increase in risk,” he says. “It’s an increase in the aversion to that risk.” Read his full column at TheFP.com.

Why This British Village Has Had Enough

A British village of 350 people with no shop and no school has voted to secede from the United Kingdom. Esther Krakue on how the UK government's plans to house refugees in their village pushed them there.

What Do "Anti-War" Figures Actually Believe?

What makes Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene vulnerable to conspiracy theories? Because “believing the conspiracy is easier than believing the complexity of the truth,” John Spencer tells The Free Press’s Rafaela Siewert.

Confronting Lies Around Gaza

“I believe Gaza is where the truth has gone to die.” John Spencer dives into his experiences visiting Gaza and the difference between the story being told and what was actually happening on the ground.

No Hurricanes, No Headlines

It’s the quietest eastern hurricane season of the satellite era. So why aren’t we hearing more about it in the news? Lucy Biggers weighs in.

The Irony of Feminists Going After Other Women

Sydney Sweeney broke the internet again, but why is she always at the center of controversy?

Inside the 2026 Republican National Convention

This year, @nocapongodfr went to the 2026 RNC for us—and let’s just say, things got pretty spicy.

Inside the 2026 Republican National Convention (Unfiltered Edition)

Lionel McGloin (⁨@nocapongodfr) goes inside the 2026 Republican National Convention for a series of completely unfiltered conversations with some of the biggest names in the Republican Party. Hear directly from Laura Loomer, Rep. Jay Feely (R-AZ), Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), and many more as Lionel gets candid, unscripted conversations from inside the convention. Follow Lionel: IG: https://www.instagram.com/nocapongodfr/ X: https://x.com/Nocapongod_

What New York’s Governor Saw on 9/11

Twenty-five years ago, then-governor George Pataki led New York through the deadliest terrorist attack in American history, one that killed nearly 3,000 people and left the nation’s financial capital in ash and rubble. On September 11, 2001, Pataki closed bridges and tunnels and refused his own security detail’s advice to retreat to an underground bunker in Albany. Later that day, he was sitting across from New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani in a makeshift command center in Lower Manhattan. In the days and years that followed, Pataki saw a level of national unity that offered the only silver l

Travel Won't Guarantee Happiness

Professor Arthur Brooks has traveled 48 weeks a year for 40 years. You might ask him how he does it. But the more important question, he says, is why. Read Arthur Brooks’s column at TheFP.com.

The Biden Administration's Million-Dollar Mac and Cheese

When Secretary Chris Wright joined the Department of Energy, he inherited plans to shut down enough reliable coal-fired generation to power nearly 40 million homes—along with pet projects like “carbon-free” mac and cheese.

California Energy Policy is Negative

California has more people than Florida but produces 20 percent less electricity, and charges more than twice as much for it. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright argues California’s net-zero policies haven’t eliminated oil and gas—they’ve just made energy more expensive.

Inside the Data Center Capital of the World

This D.C. suburb is either the blueprint for the AI economy or a warning about it. In Loudoun County, Virginia, it depends on who you ask.

“Gaza Is Where Truth Goes to Die” | John Spencer

The fear of the forever war has captivated the American mind—and not for entirely wrong reasons. Twenty years in Afghanistan. Nearly nine years in Iraq. In the wake, Americans have turned inward: A 2023 poll showed 53 percent of Republicans now say the United States should stay out of world affairs. Even some of Donald Trump’s most ardent defenders have joined his critics. Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie asked, “Why are we going to war with Iran?” He added, “American families in my district want to know how this is going to help them pay for groceries. How does this make them any safer in

The Case for Energy Abundance With Chris Wright

Chris Wright has one of the most consequential, and least understood, jobs in Washington. As Trump's Secretary of Energy, he oversees the department responsible for shaping America's energy future: directing billions of dollars in research and development, influencing which energy technologies are built and scaled, and helping set the policies that will define the country's energy system for decades to come. Under Wright, the Department of Energy has taken a sharp turn away from the policies of the Biden and Obama administrations. Instead of a major focus on climate change and a renewables-fi

Inside the ‘Data Center Capital of the World’

One of the wealthiest counties in the U.S. bet big on data centers—and is already seeing the results: huge increases in tax revenue, lower property taxes, and a new $102 million recreation center. The D.C. suburb of Loudoun County, Virginia, is now considered the “data center capital of the world,” housing more than 250 of them. The new infrastructure has brought jobs, economic development, and $1.1 billion in tax revenue in 2025 alone, all without raising taxes on residents. But some locals aren’t happy. They have concerns about noise from generators, water usage, and changes to the region’s

Why is your Los Angeles street so dark?

LA's copper theft epidemic has left residents living in the dark—literally. Instead of cracking down on the crime, the city looks to other solutions.

Looksmaxxing Won't Get You A Date

A sharp jawline and well-defined abs might help on the dating scene. But looksmaxxing takes it too far, says professor Arthur Brooks. In fact, he thinks it’s repulsive. Read Arthur Brooks’s column at TheFP.com.

Former Gov. Pataki: There's "Nothing Progressive" About Leftists

Former New York governor George Pataki slammed “radical leftists” for claiming the banner of progressivism in an exclusive sit-down with The Free Press’s Maya Sulkin. “They’re not progressive,” he said. “They’re retrograde.”

The Radicalization of American Women

What the hell is going on with women? We’ve heard plenty about the radicalization of men—but what about women? It seems the radicalization of women has been building for years, with potentially major consequences for America’s future.

Marriage Is Not Hard

“Is marriage harder than remaining single your entire life? No, it is not.” Read the full response from Abigail Shrier at TheFP.com.

Former Gov. Pataki: Piker Is a Disgrace

The United States is still reeling from 9/11, says former New York Governor George Pataki, who held the office during the attacks. And Hasan Piker is part of that problem. “We are a house divided against ourselves right now,” he tells The Free Press’s Maya Sulkin.

My Boyfriend Won't Marry Me

“Jane. Get away from this guy.” Our advice columnist responds to a reader whose boyfriend isn’t ready to marry her yet, but offered to pay for her egg-freezing. Read the full response from Abigail Shrier at the link in our bio or at TheFP.com.

How Mamdani's Socialism Ends

Most young people hear “socialism” and think of “freezing the rent” and Zohran Mamdani jumping into a town pool, but as Marian L. Tupy explains, that’s never where socialism ends. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel or at TheFP.com.

The Political Cost of Socialism

Economist Marian L. Tupy experienced socialism firsthand during his childhood in Czechoslovakia. He explains that under socialism you don’t just lose your economic freedom; you also lose your political liberty: “When socialists fail to deliver on their promises and people become unhappy and revolt, to keep socialism going the revolt has to be suppressed.” Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.

The AI star of RushTok

Earlier this month, a 19-year-old, curly-haired student named Janie went through Bama Rush, the University of Alabama’s annual sorority recruitment. Just like thousands of other girls, she posted about the process and clips fumbling her way through trending dances on social media. There was just one catch. Janie wasn't real.

Editors Killed My Story on Trans Athletes. I Resigned.

Matt Calkins spent 11 years as a sports columnist for The Seattle Times. Last week, he resigned after the paper refused to publish a column with a pretty basic thesis: that supporting the separation of biological males and females in sports doesn’t make you transphobic. But Calkins says the final column wasn’t a one-off but the breaking point in a pattern of silencing dissenting voices. He describes a newsroom that changed dramatically over his tenure, especially after 2016, when what started as small edits to his columns turned into a pattern of spiked stories, sidelined pitches, and pressur

Overpopulation Is a Myth

Overpopulation is a myth, according to economist Marian L. Tupy. The public assumes that adding more people to the world means the resources we share will become scarcer, but the evidence shows the opposite: As the world’s population has grown, resources have become more abundant. He calls this phenomenon “superabundance.” Watch “The ‘Overpopulation’ Myth” at our YouTube channel.

The Psychology of Internet Trolls

What makes someone an online troll? It’s not just a bad habit. Trolls are a specific personality type that blends narcissism, manipulation, psychopathy, and sadism, says professor Arthur Brooks. What should the rest of us do? The answer, he says, is simple: Don’t engage. Read Arthur Brooks’s column at TheFP.com.

The Inevitable Rise of Violence

Former progressive activist Sabrina Joy Stevens warns that years of fear-inducing rhetoric on the left has devastating real-world consequences. Constantly tell people they face an existential threat—in Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, Brian Thompson—and eventually, some will take you seriously: “Voting is not enough for me anymore. I’m going to pick up a gun and solve the problem.” Full interview: https://youtu.be/2noJMZYEQeQ

The Doomers Are Lying To You

You've heard it all before: The world is overcrowded. Resources are running out. Capitalism is failing. The planet is doomed. Or is it? Marian Tupy, author of Superabundance, joins Lucy Biggers to make the data-driven case for optimism—and explain why more people, more freedom, and more innovation may continue to make the world a better place.

My Teenage Daughter Hates My Boyfriend

A reader’s teenage daughter won’t accept her boyfriend, but seems to accept her father’s girlfriend without a problem. Read the full response from Abigail Shrier at the link in our bio or at TheFP.com.

The Moms of TikTok Have Gone Insane

Unlike the “masculinity crisis,” when women perform the exact same thing with public displays of rage, filmed for an audience, monetized by the algorithm, we don't call it a crisis. We call it brave. We call it liberation.

Is "Wokeness" Over?

“This is not over.” Former progressive activist Sabrina Joy Stevens draws a direct line between the “woke” ideology of 2020 and rising political violence today: Once you’ve “purity purged” every moderate from your movement, “the people who are still bought into it are really bought into it…and they are taking that rhetoric to its logical conclusion.” Full interview available on YouTube.

How AI Is Killing Roller Coasters

AI killed the roller coasters. Now Silicon Valley's only amusement park is closing. Read Josh Code's piece on how his childhood amusement park is shutting down after 50 years: https://www.thefp.com/p/the-last-roller-coaster-in-silicon-valley-amusement-park-data-center

Former Bernie Sanders Campaign Staffer Tell Jews to Stand Up

"I worked for the Bernie Sanders campaign. My former boss, and the broader left-wing activist infrastructure that surrounds him are actively fueling antisemitism in this country."

What Does Gen Z Get Wrong About Dating?

What does Gen Z get wrong about dating? Read more advice from Abigail Shrier at TheFP.com.

New Data Undermines Claims of Gaza Famine

In August 2025, Gaza was officially declared famine-stricken. Now, a year later, new rigorous data says that the territory has one of the region’s lowest levels of severe child malnutrition. Olivia Reingold reports on the Unicef-led data that has triggered a debate over whether the original declaration was correct.

Confessions of a Social Justice Warrior

Former progressive activist Sabrina Joy Stevens spent nearly two decades inside the world of left-wing activism—working across education, women’s rights, racial justice, and political advocacy. In this episode of Confessions, she explains how an ideology built around oppressors and victims shaped her worldview, why the contradictions she witnessed during 2020 finally pushed her to question it, and what happened when she walked away. She also reflects on the forces keeping progressive activism alive—from nonprofit incentives and ideological conformity to grievance politics—and why she believes

Is Gambling Ruining Young People's Future?

Gen Z has a new investment strategy: sports betting. This generation is increasingly treating sportsbooks and prediction markets as part of their long-term financial planning. How did we get here?

The UK Tells Asylum Seekers Not To R*pe

The British government has published a guide for asylum seekers about gender equality, domestic abuse, sex and consent, and respect in public.

Fauci Denies He Wanted to Close Schools

Dr. Fauci denies that he wanted to close schools during the Covid-19 pandemic. 1,000 pages of his diary tells a different story.

Why Would Fauci Keep His Diary on a Government Computer?

Why did Dr. Fauci put all his self-obsessed thoughts to paper...on a government computer, no less?

Women Are Identifying with the Mom Who Killed Her 3 Children

Lindsay Clancy killed her three children. She's admitted that she did, it's not in dispute. Instead, her trial centers on the question of whether she's not just guilty but culpable, or whether she was so deranged by postpartum psychosis that she can't be held criminally responsible for the murders.

A City's War on Surveillance Cameras

Flock Safety's 100,000+ license plate cameras are supposed to fight crime—but from Troy, NY to cities nationwide, people are pushing back hard, and River Page went to find out why.

I Read 1000 pages of Fauci Diaries. It's Bad. | Dr. Vinay Prasad

It’s not every day that the diary of one of the most polarizing figures of a global pandemic gets released to the public. But that’s exactly what happened last month to Dr. Anthony Fauci. In late July, Senator Rand Paul publicly released over 1,000 pages of notes that Fauci had kept—on a government server—during his time as Covid-19 czar, between 2019 and 2022. Shortly thereafter, Fauci was forced to testify before the Senate, on July 29. Then in early August, Paul and fellow Republican senator Ron Johnson released a set of texts, obtained from Fauci’s government-issued cell phone, between hi

I'm Gay and My Mom Doesn't Think I Can Raise Kids

This reader’s mother had always been supportive of his homosexuality. But she had concerns about two gay men raising a family. What should he do? Read the full response from Abigail Shrier at TheFP.com.

My Daughter Is Having Premarital Sex. What Should I Do?

“Numberless women of every faith sleep with their college boyfriends. Most of us don’t call them ‘unmarriageable sluts.’ Most of us call these women ‘mom.’” Read the full response from Abigail Shrier here: https://www.thefp.com/p/tough-love-my-catholic-daughter-is

Why Dems Don't Want to Tax Billionaires

Should California tax its billionaires, or could this blow up in the state’s face? Of all the demographics you could tax, billionaires are the one group with a lot of funds to move out of state and avoid a one-time tax. @austynjeffs reports.

Would Taxing Billionaires Ruin California?

Should California tax its billionaires, or could this blow up in the state's face? Of all the demographics you could tax, billionaires are the one group with a lot of funds to move out of state and avoid a one-time tax. Austyn Jeffs reports.

Is AOC Wrong to Freeze Her Eggs?

Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez simply talking openly about something that’s already happening—or is she normalizing putting off motherhood? Dr. Debra Soh tells The Free Press's Rafaela Siewert: “What I noticed actually in the comments on those posts is the number of women who would say, ‘I don't feel so alone now.’” Watch the full interview at TheFP.com.

AOC and the Harsh Reality of Egg Freezing at 36

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's decision to freeze her eggs at 36 sparked debate. Debra Soh gives her credit for being candid about the process—and says more women should know what they’re getting into. “There are women who go into egg freezing, and they may not fully understand what the drugs are, what they're doing to their body, why they're taking them, and what the true rate of success is," she tells The Free Press's Rafaela Siewert. "Not only is it really expensive and extremely painful," she adds, "but there are all these side effects that you have, and then you also don't know: Is it actu

The High School Not Tackling Antisemitism

When Jewish students at an Arlington, Virginia, high school were mocked, threatened, and chased, their desperate requests for help were met with indifference by school officials. Rupa Subramanya reports.

AOC and the Harsh Reality of Egg Freezing at 36

Over the weekend, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted a viral video to Instagram, sitting alone with a table of medication in front of her, talking followers through the first steps of her egg-freezing process. She was upfront about why she was sharing it, saying she hoped “to show more depictions of women having full lives in every context and every choice.” The announcement was met with a firestorm—critics accusing her of putting career, and even an alleged presidential run, ahead of starting a family. On the one hand, women are better off than ever before—58 percent of college students i

Meet the nuns suing New York

A group of nuns that provide care to the terminally ill are suing the state of New York. On Friday, the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne filed a complaint over the state’s new assisted dying law, arguing it forces religious workers to compromise their faith. Madeleine Long got the exclusive on their lawsuit.

California's OTHER failed train line

California’s struggle to build high-speed rail has been well-publicized, but did you know there’s a second train line that's also not getting built? Austyn Jeffs investigates Brightline West, a rail project that’s supposed to link Las Vegas to California in three years’ time, but not a single foot of track has been laid.

If Mamdani froze the rent, why did NYC rent hit an all-time high?

Mamdani “froze the rent.” So why did NYC rent just hit an all-time high? We break down exactly why your rent keeps climbing.

America's politicians are using Israelis as props

“They’re using us as props… It’s disgusting.” Haviv Rettig Gur argues American politicians like Ro Khanna and Rahm Emanuel have turned Israelis and Palestinians into stage props for their own, self-serving political theater.

Ro Khanna is a liar

“It’s an extremely irrelevant event… The congressman is a lying liar.” Haviv Rettig Gur says Representative Ro Khanna grossly exaggerated what happened during his West Bank visit for his own political purposes.

Haviv Rettig Gur: Ro Khanna Is LYING About His Israel Detainment

Representative Ro Khanna's recent visit to the West Bank ignited a political firestorm after he alleged that Israeli settlers detained his delegation while Israeli security forces stood by. But did events unfold the way they were initially described? Journalist Haviv Rettig Gur joins Rafaela Siewert to examine the facts of the incident, the competing narratives that emerged online, and what the controversy reveals about the growing role of Israel in American politics. Their conversation explores the incentives driving political messaging, the information war surrounding the Israeli-Palestinia