America’s Earliest Sports Stars Were … Professional Walkers?

Before Fitness Influencers Made Getting Your Steps in a Trend, Pedestrianism Took the Nation By Foot

Walking needs no publicist. The simplest, most accessible form of exercise has been around since humans first foraged and traveled on the ground.

But today, walking seems to have entered its influencer era.

It’s the subject of countless viral videos, of people doing it silently, collectively, for their mental health, for their physical health, for “hot girl” reasons (lawsuit pending), and yes, even for their gastro needs.

There’s something more to these micro trends than fitness personalities looking to make a quick buck off of brand-name water bottles or $30 socks. A new …

More In: Ideas

How the Shared Heritage of Harris, Haley, and Khanna Shapes Their Politics

These Indian American Leaders Live the Legacy of a Historic Struggle for Independence

On August 15, 1947, my father George Mayer celebrated India’s freedom from 300 years of British colonial rule by flying kites with his friends off Howrah Bridge, over the Hooghly …

Why California Should Let Pandas Vote | Zocalo Public Square • Arizona State University • Smithsonian

Why California Should Let Pandas Vote

Two Immigrants From China Have Taken Up Residence at the San Diego Zoo, and They Have Thoughts on Golden State Governance

Nǐ hǎo, jiāzhōu!

Hello, California!

We are the Golden State’s two giant pandas, the first to enter the United States in two decades. And while it’s only been a few months since …

For Trans People, a Doctor’s Visit Can Be a Dilemma

Quality Care Requires Understanding Our Biological Needs—But Not Defining Us By Them

Nine years ago, when I spotted blood in my ejaculate, I made an appointment to see my urologist. I quickly found myself to be the only woman in the waiting …

Let the Nation-State Die So That Democracy May Thrive

Self-Governance Is Growing Locally as National Elections Are Foundering—And That’s a Good Thing

Democracy is not in decline. The nation-state is.

Making that distinction—between democracy and the nation—is crucial to understanding what’s really going on when it comes to self-government on this planet.

It’s a …