In the U.S., GDP, unemployment, and even inflation look a lot like the prepandemic economy. The big changes are beneath the surface. The Wall Street Journal has details.

Which country’s economy did best in 2023? The Economist has the surprising answer.

Instead of a white Christmas, record warmth is set to blanket the Midwest. The Washington Post explains why Santa may want iced tea instead of hot chocolate this year.

The Ringer looks at the 84 sentences that explain 2023.

This episode contains a segment about suicide.

The Los Angeles Times reports from Bethlehem, the West Bank town revered as Jesus’s birthplace. Christmas there is all but canceled, in solidarity with Palestinians suffering in Gaza.

The Trace examines the gun industry’s suicide problem.

More men have paid parental leave but many still don’t take a lot of it. The Wall Street Journal discusses the implications for their families and workplaces.

The Atlantic looks at what really happens when you return something you bought online.

Trump has been disqualified from Colorado’s 2024 primary ballot by the state’s Supreme Court. The Washington Post has details.

Who are Yemen’s Houthis and why are they attacking ships? CNN explains.

The Los Angeles Times investigates the calamitous fall of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.

The Minnesota Reformer has the story of the state’s new flag.

This episode contains a segment about pregnancy loss.

Israel is using an AI system to find targets in Gaza. Critics see a host of problems. NPR finds out what experts are saying.

Allie Phillips was denied an abortion. Now she’s running for office. Elle has the story.

The Wall Street Journal reports on how kids are now using slide decks to avoid the holiday dread of unwanted gifts.

The Wall Street Journal reports on how the death of three hostages in Gaza at the hands of IDF soldiers are raising questions about Israel’s war strategy.

As the 2024 campaign revs up, a CNN investigation warns that a surge in violent threats against public officials could disrupt the democratic process.

NPR reports on data showing that a third of American adults go into debt to pay for holiday shopping. And USA Today has tips on avoiding overspending on gifts.

Biden is talking tougher about Israel’s tactics in Gaza, but his administration continues to aid its war effort. NBC has the story.

ProPublica finds that states across the U.S. require more training to prepare students and teachers for mass shootings than for law enforcement expected to protect them. The differences were clear in Uvalde, where children and officers waited on opposite sides of the door.

On In Conversation, an expert recommends interviewing your elders about the life experiences that shaped them and your family.

NBC speaks with a child whose life was upended by the war in Gaza about what it’s like to go without food.

The Washington Post reports that Puerto Rico’s death toll has surged as the island’s health-care system deteriorates. 

Scientific American looks at research showing that domestic cats kill a staggering number of species across the world.

A global climate agreement makes an unprecedented call for a transition away from fossil fuels, but with major loopholes. CNN has details.

Israel is detaining civilians in Gaza. Many have disappeared, families say. The Washington Post has the story.

People are more likely to pick a meat-free option if it's not labeled vegan, a study suggests. Sky News reports.

Several state-level abortion cases are taking place this week. NPR previews them.

The lives of Palestinian journalists reporting from Gaza are at risk as Israeli airstrikes continue. Time speaks to some about the challenges they face.

CNN has the story of how a fresh tomato was lost — and found — in space.

As IDF forces press ahead in southern Gaza, the U.S. has been making moves to support Israel and its military strategy. Reuters reports.

Medical studies don’t include enough participants of color, and the imbalance has serious medical consequences. The Wall Street Journal explains how science is working to do better.

The Ringer looks at why animation legend Hayao Miyazaki is a hero to so many different corners of culture, and how he finally became a hit in the American market.