News Above the Noise—Week of July 21, 2024

1. 9 Ways to Make American Politics Saner, Kinder and More Substantive

Most of us, no matter what our political affiliation, agree on one thing: Our country’s political tenor and culture has become toxic. That’s why The Washington Post asked readers to share the concrete changes they think might improve both the personal experience of political participation as well as the national outcomes of the political process. Here’s what they said.

2. The New Age of Endless Parenting

Once upon a time, leaving home for college meant saying good-bye to your parents and making a perfunctory call to them once a week. These days, young people are in touch with their parents all the time—and many experts are saying it’s not just because our technology has changed, but rather the parent-child relationship. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, more than 70 percent of respondents with kids ages 18 to 34 said they talk with their kids on the phone at least a few times a week, and nearly 60 percent helped their kids financially. So, what’s behind this trend and what does it mean for parents and kids? This insightful piece has the answers.

RADICALLY REFRAMING AGING

3. A New Study Found Talking at This Speed May Be an Early Sign of Dementia

Do you struggle to find the right words within a reasonable time? It could be a sign that you’re experiencing changes in your brain that are linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study published in the journal Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition. In fact, your “verbal ration time” could be an important factor for you and your healthcare practitioners to track as you get older. For more on this new research, click here.