Stories
A solid-gold Rolex and prisoners as props
The Homeland Security secretary stages a photo op in a notorious mega-prison with men “stacked up like cordwood behind her.”
Stories
Trump's meme state media
A new era of propaganda, built on meme accounts and friendly influencers, is supercharging the president's power to drown out dissent.
Stories
Elon the gamer
Why does the world's richest man care so much about beating nobodies in digital caves?
Stories
TikTok's age of chaos
“It was all a game. It was like a competition: What’s a creative way to suck up to Trump?”
Stories
Trump's tech enemies pay up
Silicon Valley executives are hoping million-dollar gifts and Mar-a-Lago dinners will mend bridges with the president-elect.
Stories
The influencer administration
“I said, ‘Who is the biggest of all the influencers?’” Trump said. “Sir, that’s the easiest question you’ve ever asked me. … You, sir.”
Stories
A busted bet on a Trump-win fortune
Retirees who bet their pension money on Trump Media's stock are getting a reality check.
Stories
"Shoot him dead and figure it out later"
Four years after "Stop the Steal" mobilized to subvert the 2020 election, the movement is more organized and has Elon Musk on its side.
Stories
How Elon Musk's X made Democrats disappear
Republicans are posting more, getting followed more and going viral more now that the world’s richest Trump supporter is running the show.
Stories
Kamala Harris' "feral 25-year-olds"
How the vice president's team of Gen-Z obsessives built her an internet fandom.
Stories
The age scanner "nightmare"
A popular new idea for safeguarding the web ranges from "'somewhat privacy violating' to 'authoritarian nightmare.'"
Stories
"Chosen to bring salvation"
Trump's true believers have cast him as a messiah who will save a troubled nation.
Stories
An angry Trump truths on
We analyzed years of Trump's online posts and found a changing persona: aggrieved, isolated and out for revenge.
Stories
When God says to invest in Trump
Trump Media's small-time investors are seeing its plunging stock price as a test of faith: "I know good and well it’s in Trump’s hands, and he’s got plans."
Stories
A kooky TikTok takeover plan
Steven Mnuchin's big idea: Rebuild the video app from scratch.
Stories
Truth Social's civil war
A legal battle royale involving Trump Media's co-founders and ex-financier could threaten one of the former president's financial lifelines.