The Conversation - Making sense of Election 2024

These last few days before Election Day have felt like a politically sadistic version of Zeno’s paradox, where we will never be able to actually arrive at the end point, the selection of a new U.S. president.

Of course, we will eventually know who won the presidency. But during this period between not knowing and knowing, there’s a lot you can do to distract yourself. One of my colleagues is baking her traditional Election Day Bake Sale contribution: World Peace Cookies. That’s on top of the two pumpkin chocolate chip loaves and two apple spice cakes she made. Overachiever, I know. I’ve made jam in what I have called “Election Day Stress Canning.” Another staffer took her daughter to a Broadway play.

But in case you can’t turn away from politics, this newsletter highlights eight stories from our almost yearlong coverage of the election. We’ve produced more than 400 stories related to the election during that time, most from the politics desk, but also from all of our other desks, including the science and technology, health, international and education desks.

What you’ll find with these representative stories is that our election coverage stayed far away from polls and the outrage and the “truths” that have so characterized discussion about politics during the past year – and longer. Instead, we’ve tackled the issues, we’ve plumbed the history and we’ve investigated the legal questions – all in an attempt to help you approach the ballot box armed with facts and understanding.

Good luck getting to the other side of Election 2024. And because we’re a nonprofit, dependent on the support of readers, here’s one more productive thing you can do while you’re waiting: Could you please support our postelection coverage? I wish I could promise you cookies in return. But instead, your reward is the awareness that you’ve contributed to deeper understanding of our world. Not quite world peace, but perhaps a stop along the way.