China’s New Cultural Export to US? 90 Second Microdramas

Short-form soap operas for smartphones are having their moment. By Christopher Beam 

The Enchanted, Steamy, Booming Romantasy Business

The new genre has transformed the book business, unleashed a cottage industry and promised Hollywood its next big franchise. By Hannah Miller and Madison Muller   

The Next Spotify—Or an AI Music Slop Machine?

Investors are betting Suno is the app that turns everyone into a rock star. Its detractors could fill an arena. By Lucas Shaw and Ashley Carman  

Candy Crush's Sweet Success

Fifteen years in, the ubiquitous mobile game is still crushing it. By Alanna Okun

India’s Long-Shot Attempt to Become an iPhone Manufacturing Powerhouse Is Paying Off.

A yearslong partnership between Narendra Modi’s government and Apple has established the country as a serious rival to China. By Sankalp Phartiyal

TikTok Withheld a Safety Feature From Millions. One Died by Suicide

A confidential document says an algorithm adjustment was kept from many users “by design,” as part of an experiment to measure engagement. By Olivia Carville

The Company That Wanted to Make Exactly 10,011 Pairs of Jeans

Hiut Denim’s production cap was meant to inspire a degrowth movement in business. But first it needed to grow. By JB MacKinnon

What Florida’s Ultra-Right Campaign Means for the Future of MAGA

James Fishback isn’t likely to be governing the sunshine state next year, but his strong showing portends difficult choices for Republicans this fall and in 2028. By Max Chafkin

Curing Concrete

Concrete makes up half of all man-made stuff on our planet. And its use will double, in part to battle climate threats created by the production of concrete itself. Industry can deliver cleaner versions, but how soon? The answer might lie with four Indonesians from a tiny, disappearing island. By …

Department of Cerberus

Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg wants America’s war machine to get cozier with companies. The private equity firm he co-founded is building a constellation of next-generation businesses to answer the call. By Caleb Melby