The Chicken Thigh Is the Current Darling of the American Table. But Its Popularity Is Costing Us More Than We...
Chicken thighs have become the dominant protein cut in American kitchens, overtaking the once‑favored chicken breast. Advances in processing automation and the rise of multicultural cuisines have driven year‑over‑year growth in thigh consumption since the late 2010s. While thighs offer flavor and ease of cooking, experts note that preparing a juicy breast still requires techniques like brining or pounding, highlighting a skill gap. The shift reshapes restaurant menus and home‑cook habits, but may also narrow the culinary use of lean meat.
I Saved $800 on My Medical Bills With a Little-Known Trick. You Can Do It Too.
A freelance health‑policy writer saved roughly $862 in 2025 by negotiating hospital and lab bills, turning typical out‑of‑pocket charges into discounted amounts. By calling billing departments, requesting supervisor approval, and offering immediate partial payment, she reduced an OB‑GYN bill by...
Hegseth Just Sent an Alarming Message to the Rest of the World
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Estonia that delivery of six HIMARS launchers and their munitions will be delayed until the war with Iran ends. The postponement follows a 39‑day bombing campaign that consumed a large share of U.S. key...
My Dad Was Murdered. When People Find Out, They All Ask the Same Question. They Don’t Like My Answer.
Kate Crane’s father, Eddy Crane, disappeared in Baltimore in 1987, leaving her with a lingering, volcanic anger that lasted nearly four decades. After years of silence and societal pressure to be constantly furious, she turned that fury into an investigative...
The World’s Most Expensive Standoff, and Nobody Can Quit
The podcast highlights President Trump’s last‑minute extension of a cease‑fire with Iran, averting a costly escalation in the Strait of Hormuz as the Pentagon warns mine clearance could take six months. It also covers FBI Director Kash Patel’s defamation lawsuit...
Why Clarence Thomas Just Handed a Major Legal Victory to Wounded Veterans
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 decision in Hencely v. Fluor Corp., allowing veteran Spc. Winston Hencely to sue the defense contractor under South Carolina state law. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion, joined by both conservative and...
So, Are We All Going to Get Refunded for Those Illegal Trump Tariffs?
On April 22, 2026, the U.S. Treasury announced it will begin issuing refunds for the Trump administration’s illegal tariffs, but only to businesses that paid the duties directly. An estimated $1,745 per American household was spent on those tariffs, yet...
Slate SoundBites for April 21, 2026
Slate introduced SoundBites, a daily word‑puzzle that drops each weekday at 6 a.m. The game presents four clue groups—each yielding a two‑letter reveal—to build a final answer. Users must sign in to track streaks, save progress, and compete for daily completion....
The Surprisingly Anticlimactic End to America’s War Against Al-Qaida
The United States has largely neutralized al‑Qaida, with the group described as “severely degraded” in recent National Security and Defense Strategies. Leadership remains ambiguous—Sayf al‑Adl, a $10 million bounty target, is still at large, while other potential leaders are similarly elusive....
It Was a Bold, Multimillion-Dollar Experiment. They Wanted to Change Cable News Forever. What They Actually Did Was Far More...
NewsNation debuted in March 2021 as a centrist, fact‑based cable news channel under Nexstar’s “Project Neutral,” promising unbiased coverage for Middle America. After five years, the network’s ratings have trailed rivals, and its programming has shifted from local newscasts to...
They Were Once Essential to So Many Writers. Now They’re Quietly Vanishing Across the Internet.
The article chronicles the rapid disappearance of niche online writing communities as AI‑generated content floods platforms, eroding the professional purpose that once kept freelancers connected. Once‑vibrant Slack and Zoom rooms now host complaints about low‑quality AI output, mirroring the 12%...
What the Hell Happened to Wendy’s?
Wendy’s announced it will close roughly 300 restaurants – about 5‑6% of its total locations – after an 11.3% drop in same‑store sales at the end of 2025. The decline follows a turbulent leadership period, including the surprise hiring of...
It’s Bizarre, Unnatural, and the Size of a Football Field. It Might Be the Thing to Save Ski Resorts.
Ski resorts Bogus Basin in Idaho and Sun Peaks in British Columbia deployed a new snow‑farming technique that piles winter snow into football‑field‑sized mounds and covers them with insulated Snow Secure blankets. The blankets, costing $120,000 at Bogus Basin and...
There’s a Critical Issue Facing the Movie Industry, Says Steven Soderbergh
Steven Soderbergh told Slate that the movie industry’s most pressing problem is getting audiences back into theaters, especially for mid‑budget, adult‑oriented films. He discussed his latest trio of releases—Presence, Black Box and the newly released The Christophers—and noted the disappointing...
SchadenFriday: Washington Gets TMZ’d
Slate released a member‑exclusive "SchadenFriday" podcast episode titled "Washington Gets TMZ’d" on April 10, 2026. The show features Harvey Levin, founder of TMZ, who critiques Congress’s recess, the looming partial government shutdown, and the president’s controversial remarks. Produced by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn,...