A new breed of self-care companies has a salve for fragile masculinity: lavender- and tapioca-scented deodorants and moisturizers for the nutsack.
longreads
A Tiny Blog Took on Big Surveillance in China—and Won
Digging through manuals for security cameras, a group of gearheads found sinister details and ignited a new battle in the US-China tech war.
When a Vintage RV Is Your Home, Repair Is a Way of Life
Six years ago, I moved my family into a 50-year-old RV—not just to see America, but to test my belief that anything worth fixing can be fixed.
The Hunt for the Kingpin Behind AlphaBay, Part 6: Endgame
With AlphaBay shuttered, Operation Bayonet enters its final phase: driving the site’s refugees into a giant trap. But one refugee hatched his own plan.
The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 5: Takedown
After months of meticulous planning, investigators finally move in to catch AlphaBay’s mastermind red-handed. Then the case takes a tragic turn.
The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 4: Face to Face
The team uses a secret technique to locate AlphaBay’s server. But just as the operation heats up, the agents have an unexpected run-in with their target.
The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 1: The Shadow
AlphaBay was the largest online drug bazaar in history, run by a technological mastermind who seemed untouchable—until his tech was turned against him.
When the Big One Hits Portland, Cargo Bikers Will Save You
The Pacific Northwest is due for a massive quake. I trained to help rescue efforts in the aftermath—by racing around the city on an electric kid hauler.
Inside the Shadow Evacuation of Kabul
In the last two weeks of the war, an ad hoc team armed with group chats, QR codes, and satellite maps launched a mad dash to save imperiled Afghan allies.
The Family That Mined the Pentagon’s Data for Profit
The Freedom of Information Act helps Americans learn what the government is up to. The Poseys exploited it—and became unlikely defenders of transparency.