Derek Thompson

Derek Thompson

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How Pickleball Explains American Culture
In 2019, pickleball was half as popular as badminton. Last year, it was more popular than baseball. What does its rise tell us about fads, fitness, and…
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Derek Thompson
8
The Great American Fitness Boom
Pilates is surging. Gyms are packed. Americans are working out more than ever. A graph-by-graph guide to the fitness revolution sweeping the country
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Derek Thompson
16
The Looming Social Crisis of AI Friends and Chatbot Therapists
"I can imagine a future where a lot of people really trust ChatGPT’s advice for their most important decisions," Sam Altman said. "Although that could…
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Derek Thompson
10
1910: The Year the Modern World Lost Its Mind
What one of my favorite history books about my favorite historical period—turn-of-the-century American—tells us about technology, anxiety, and human…
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Derek Thompson
6
How AI Conquered the US Economy: A Visual FAQ
Artificial intelligence is the biggest tech construction project in a century. Here's what that looks like.
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Derek Thompson
5
Trump, the BLS, and Our Age of Choose-Your-Own-Reality Governance
The president's war on economic data will make us dumber, poorer, and less prepared for crisis
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Derek Thompson
5
What’s the Matter With Dallas?
If Texas is so good at building homes, why have housing prices surged in Big D?
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Derek Thompson
115

July 2025

The Anti-Abundance Critique on Housing Is Dead Wrong
Antitrust critics say that homebuilding monopolies are the real culprit of America’s housing woes. I looked into some of their claims. They don’t hold…
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Derek Thompson
194
Why Are Americans So Scared of Talking to Each Other?
An interview with the social psychologist Adam Mastroianni about American aloneness and why the secret to great conversations is ... "doorknobs."
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Derek Thompson
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Adam Mastroianni
16
32:01
The Sunday Morning Post: Whatever Happened to Serial Killers?
One of my favorite social mysteries is deeply relevant in 2025.
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Derek Thompson
100
The US Economy Was Supposed to Be in a Recession By Now. What Happened?
Poisoned by inflation, shot by tariffs, counted out by economists, it just keeps kicking.
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Derek Thompson
76
If GLP-1 Drugs Are Good For Everything, Should We All Be on Them?
Studies show that the obesity and diabetes medication also reduces heart attacks, cancer risk, migraines, and memory loss. How is that even possible…
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Derek Thompson
155
© 2025 Derek Thompson
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