What the last few weeks have taught us

Letter from the editor

Swati Sharma

Vox Editor-in-Chief & Publisher

After the storm of the last several weeks, I've taken a step back to see what feeling has stayed with me. Whatever you think about President Joe Biden's decision to step down and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris — why did it take so long, why wasn't there a primary — I keep returning to Zack Beauchamp's excellent piece reflecting on the president's decision. Beauchamp wrote that there are two reasons to stay hopeful:

"First, it shows that there can still be standards in politics … Second, Biden's departure shows that unexpected things can still happen."

The second notion, that change can happen — that people's opinions matter, that we're living in a democracy — is a sentiment that most people can appreciate, regardless of the candidate you support. And as David Axelrod, President Obama's former adviser, said on Today, Explained, hope is better than despair.

That's what I've been feeling: hope. People are paying attention to the issues, they want to understand where candidates stand, they want to know which policies will make their daily lives better. And delivering this kind of information is where Vox shines.

Here are some stories I urge you to read:

These last few weeks have shown us the importance of something very fundamental: People need to know about their leaders — their ideas, their values, even something as basic as their health — to make informed decisions. At Vox, we are going to help you understand where the candidates stand on major issues, from economic policy, to immigration, foreign policy, criminal justice, and abortion. We're going to highlight shifting coalitions, explore the roots and motivations of the ideologies of those who want to lead us, and we're going to keep answering the questions our readers, viewers, and listeners have.

We want to keep hearing from you. We ask you to share your questions, your worries, your ideas on how we can make our coverage most useful. We are motivated and energized by what's next, and we hope you are, too.

Sincerely,
Swati

In these unprecedented times, your support is crucial. By making a gift or becoming a member, you can help Vox continue its in-depth, reliable coverage of this critical election. Please consider supporting us today.

SUPPORT OUR WORK