Journalism that unpacks the global authoritarian toolkit
Current
Rewriting History
In this current, stories on how those in power shape our future by weaponized the past and manipulating our memories
How Democracies Die: The Script for a Three-Act Play
In Trump’s America, the plot is starting to seem all too familiar
Erasing August: How Russia Rewrites Georgia’s Story
On the anniversary of Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia, an increasingly autocratic Georgian government toes the Kremlin line, blaming its predecessors for “instigating” war
THE THINKERS
“The Gloves Are Off”
THE THINKERS from Coda Media: bold ideas, urgent questions, and the people behind them.
Recorded at ZEG Storytelling Festival.
From playing a 9/11 hijacker to portraying Dodi Fayed in the Crown, Khalid Abdalla has spent his career confronting uncomfortable truths. For the British-Egyptian actor, every role is political. He doesn’t just perform – he provokes. Whether filming in revolutionary Cairo or facing police for Gaza protests, Abdalla believes artists have no choice but to pick a side. Here, he reveals what resistance movements get wrong and why this dark moment might be cause for hope.
Current
Authoritarian Tech
In this current, stories on how technology has captured every aspect of our lives from intimacy to politics.
Captured: how Silicon Valley is building a future we never chose
AI’s prophets speak of the technology with religious fervor. And they expect us all to become believers.
The AI Therapist Epidemic: When Bots Replace Humans
They promise judgment-free therapy at your fingertips. What they deliver is an algorithmic echo chamber that validates your worst impulses, isolates you from human connection, and even coaches you toward self-destruction
Current
Polarization
Who you are and what you believe have been weaponized in new ways in the power struggles of the 21st century. We track what price individuals and societies pay for these identity battles.
The end of consensus
In Europe, members of the Trump administration sent out a clear message: America’s going solo
Shattering the Overton Window
Donald Trump’s superpower is making the once unthinkable and unsayable seem inevitable
I’m trans, and in 2016 I voted for Donald Trump. Now I want to leave the country
As Donald Trump tries to effectively prevent trans people from participating in public life – most recently asking the Supreme Court to reinstate a ban on trans troops – it’s difficult to imagine that he might have any supporters at all who identify as trans. But they exist. In March 2018, as a graduate student
The Big Idea
The Playbook
History doesn’t repeat, but it sure does rhyme. In this special series, we expose the tactics that powerful leaders use to change societies—tactics that follow surprisingly similar patterns wherever they appear
coda story + stranger’s guide collaboration
Our photo story ‘The New Aztecs’ wins National Magazine Award
Our visual narrative has just won the prestigious National Magazine Award for Best Service and Lifestyle Photography. Read more about the award and our collaboration with Stranger’s Guide.
Current
Armed Conflict
In this current, we take a deep dive into how digital technology is re-defining armed conflicts
The Exodus of Hope
As Israel invades Gaza City, even those who have committed themselves to staying to help their people are being forced out, perhaps never to return
How autocrats manipulate history to hold on to power
The cynical framing of narratives about war to score patriotic points is a tactic we should guard against, even in democracies
