by Isaac Cubillos | Apr 20, 2026 | Journal
Marvin Gaye asked “What’s going on?” in 1971. Decades later, the question still fits—and that may be the real problem. There are songs you remember, and then there are songs that come back around and sound like they were written yesterday. What’s Going On is one...
by Isaac Cubillos | Apr 17, 2026 | Journal
There are few things in politics more entertaining than watching a talking point age badly. For years, Republicans dined out on the claim that Barack Obama “gave Iran billions.” You could set your watch by it. Cable hits, campaign rallies, Facebook posts with all-caps...
by Isaac Cubillos | Mar 10, 2026 | Journal
Every generation gets its government horror story. Grandparents worried about black helicopters. Parents worried about bar codes. Now we’re worried that Washington is going to shut off our cars while we’re driving to the supermarket. Progress, I suppose....
by Isaac Cubillos | Mar 6, 2026 | Journal
The folks over at U.S. Customs and Border Protection walked into court on Friday with a number that would make a Texas oilman whistle. One hundred and sixty-six billion dollars. That’s how much money the federal government collected in tariffs under President Donald...
by Isaac Cubillos | Mar 4, 2026 | Journal
War has a way of sneaking into your wallet. It starts somewhere far away—say, a few drones buzzing over the Persian Gulf—and before long, it shows up somewhere close to home, like the number blinking at the gas pump or the total on your electric bill. That road may...
by Isaac Cubillos | Feb 24, 2026 | Journal
I spent this past week cleaning a sailboat. Not one that will ever touch water, but one that carries itself like it could. Four feet long. Five feet tall. A tall mast reaching toward the ceiling. White paneled sails. Long overhangs. A hull that looks fast even sitting...
