Rachel Porter

Abstract Thousands of candidates run for the U.S. Congress each election season, yet we lack systematic information on the vast majority of these contenders.

This week, from 2022: I assumed I would be part of the first generation to have full agency over my reproduction – but I was wrongBy Edna Bonhomme. Read by Nerissa Bradley

In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now he might hold the key to who wins the global AI race By Chang Che. Read by Vincent Lai

The public’s frustration with ‘politics as usual’ has led more political newcomers to win office. But amateurs are more likely to view bipartisanship as a concession, not a tool for advancing policy.

(THE CONVERSATION) The ongoing government shutdown shows how hard it has become for Congress to do its most basic job: keeping the government running. Ending the stalemate will require lawmakers from both parties to strike a deal – a reminder that legislative progress depends on bipartisanship.

As the police and courts continue to struggle with the legacy of austerity, many people are seeking alternative routes to justice – but it could be making matters worseBy Hettie O’Brien. Read by Rebecca Trehearn

This week, from 2022: As the world faces the worst debt crisis in decades, the need for a global lender of last resort is clearer than ever. But many nations view the IMF as overbearing, or even neocolonial – and are now looking elsewhere for helpBy Jamie Martin. Read by Kelly Burke

This week, from 2023: Players, pundits and fans complain bitterly that referees are getting worse each season – but is that fair?By William Ralston. Read by Simon Darwen

This week, from 2023: Elvira and her brothers, Ricard and Ramón, were left at a train station in Barcelona aged two, four and five. As an adult, when Elvira decided to look for her parents, she discovered a family history wilder than anything she had imaginedBy Giles Tremlett. Read by Luis Soto

The intersection of environmental breakdown, climate change and economic instability has emerged as a primary threat to the resilience of smallholder