Opinion Today: Have more sex, please!

America is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. Here’s one solution. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP4QoAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPVRZJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1cmk9bnl0JTNBJTJGJTJGbmV3c2xldHRlciUyRjU0MmNmNmU1LTVhZmMtNWFlMS04OWY4LTc5ZTVjNGE0YzYyNiZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0SwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NzAzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) [Marquee Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDIxOCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMThXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Read more from Opinion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NzAzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) February 18, 2023 The loneliness epidemic may be a societal issue, but it can be solved, at least partly, at the level of individual bedrooms. Sun Bai By Magdalene J. Taylor Sex became one of my beats as a staff writer at the now-defunct Mel magazine, where I primarily wrote human-interest stories about online sexual subcultures. Like my readers, I was drawn toward the unique and often bizarre ways people engaged in one of our most basic human acts. For example, I wrote about people who prefer to consume only pixelated and censored pornography, people who fantasize about being swallowed whole by their partners and whatever myth or supposed sex hack was trending on TikTok during any given week. Though they initially seemed unrelated, I found that all of these stories pointed to a much deeper problem afflicting our culture: an unmet longing for connection. Sex just happened to be the means through which that longing was being expressed. In my interviews, it became apparent that many of these online sexual communities and trends were taking shape in the absence of real-world intimacy. I heard sources speak of feeling lonely, just as [studies](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzcm9vbS5jaWduYS5jb20vbG9uZWxpbmVzcy1lcGlkZW1pYy1wZXJzaXN0cy1wb3N0LXBhbmRlbWljLWxvb2s_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) and [headlines](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wNC8yMC9ueXJlZ2lvbi9sb25lbGluZXNzLWVwaWRlbWljLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) began to put that loneliness into numbers after the height of Covid-19. The connection was obvious: People not having sex, people not having friends and people experiencing loneliness were all part of the same problem. What frightened me most about it, though, was that among the general public, there seemed to be a broad sense of indifference toward sex and sexlessness. While I can’t exactly get people to have more sex, I can at least assert the importance of considering the issue as a cultural problem worthy of our attention. Simply saying that we ought to have more sex, as I do [in my guest essay](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xMy9vcGluaW9uL2hhdmUtbW9yZS1zZXgtcGxlYXNlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) for Times Opinion this week, is one provocative way of doing that. READ MAGDALENE J. TAYLOR’S FULL ESSAY HERE [GUEST ESSAY Have More Sex, Please! America is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. One solution: People should have more sex — as often as they can, as pleasurably as they can. By Magdalene J. Taylor](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xMy9vcGluaW9uL2hhdmUtbW9yZS1zZXgtcGxlYXNlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xMy9vcGluaW9uL2hhdmUtbW9yZS1zZXgtcGxlYXNlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0SXaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjMwMjE4JnRlPTEmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOFcDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) THE WEEK IN BIG IDEAS [[Article Image] Shane Kato/iStock, via Getty Images](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2RydWctc2FmZXR5LWhvcnNlaG9lLWNyYWIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [GUEST ESSAY When the Horseshoe Crabs Are Gone, We’ll Be in Trouble Their blood is used in a critical test to detect toxins in injectable medicines. We need a synthetic version of that test. By Deborah Cramer](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2RydWctc2FmZXR5LWhvcnNlaG9lLWNyYWIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [[Article Image] Erik S. Lesser/EPA, via Shutterstock](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLWdlb3JnaWEtZ3JhbmQtanVyeS1yZXBvcnQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [GUEST ESSAY It’s Time to Prepare for a Possible Trump Indictment We need to prepare for a first in our history as a nation: the possible criminal prosecution of a former president. By Norman L. Eisen, E. Danya Perry and Amy Lee Copeland](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLWdlb3JnaWEtZ3JhbmQtanVyeS1yZXBvcnQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [[Article Image] Photo illustration by Billie Carter-Rankin; photograph via Library of Congress](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL2Rlc2FudGlzLWZsb3JpZGEtYWZyaWNhbi1hbWVyaWNhbi1zdHVkaWVzLWJsYWNrLWhpc3RvcnkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [GUEST ESSAY Who’s Afraid of Black History? Ron DeSantis should be careful of the company he keeps. By Henry Louis Gates Jr.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL2Rlc2FudGlzLWZsb3JpZGEtYWZyaWNhbi1hbWVyaWNhbi1zdHVkaWVzLWJsYWNrLWhpc3RvcnkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL29oaW8tdHJhaW4tZGVyYWlsbWVudC1zYWZldHktcmVndWxhdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NzAzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Over 1,000 Trains Derail Every Year in America. Let’s Bring That Number Down. The Ohio train derailment and chemical fire are emblematic of a rail industry that does not take safety seriously enough. By David Sirota, Rebecca Burns, Julia Rock and Matthew Cunningham-Cook](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL29oaW8tdHJhaW4tZGVyYWlsbWVudC1zYWZldHktcmVndWxhdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NzAzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAxODEyJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDIxOCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMThXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Subscribe Today New York Times Opinion curates a wide range of views, inviting rich discussion and debate that help readers analyze the world. This work is made possible with the support of subscribers. [Please consider subscribing to The Times with this special offer](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TMaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9zdWJzY3JpcHRpb24_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD05S1hGVSZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Games Here is [today’s Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), [Wordle](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0THaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXMvd29yZGxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) and [Spelling Bee](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). If you’re in the mood to play more, find [all our games here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0S1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXM_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can [sign up here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvb3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheW5sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NzAzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Do you have feedback? Email us at [opiniontoday@nytimes.com](mailto:opiniontoday@nytimes.com?subject=Opinion%20Today%20Newsletter%20Feedback). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-2) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI2NTM3JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDIxOCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMThXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our [Help Page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) or [contact The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LVVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NzAzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-tracking_unit-3) Need help? Review our [newsletter help page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) or [contact us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LXVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NzAzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, [unsubscribe](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvb3B0b3V0P2VtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcHJvZHVjdD1UWSZzZW5kX2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnRva2VuPTdhYTdlYmNjMTIxNTgxNjJhYjc2MzFlNTM4NWEzZDUyZTA1ODc0NzQ4ZWU3ZWJmMmViZGIzNTQ5OTg1YjNlMTQ4MzFlNTRlZmY0MjkyYzQ2MzA3OWJlN2MwYzhjMWUyYVcDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, [manage your email preferences](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvbWFuYWdlP2VtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmc2VuZF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ0b2tlbj0xM2U5MjQwMWYwMGM2ZjEyNzI2YTIzY2Q2ZDRkOWIwYzEyODZmZjM3MzRjNDJkODA2ZDYzMDcyZGYwZjYwZmZjMmU1MjRkNDQ0MGIxODRjMWUzYjdiZTY0MDc0OGZhYzZXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). [Subscribe to The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9OVJYNzgmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Get The New York Times app](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VydmljZXMvbW9iaWxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Connect with us on: [facebook](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0S8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL255dG9waW5pb24vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NzAzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [twitter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ueXRvcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NzAzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTcwNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [instagram](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0S9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9ueXRvcGluaW9uLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Change Your Email](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TEaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtL2VtYWlsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Privacy Policy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TlaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9jb250ZW50L2hlbHAvcmlnaHRzL3ByaXZhY3kvcG9saWN5L3ByaXZhY3ktcG9saWN5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU3MDMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NzA3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4SzM8GM6oFDHUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[Contact Us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TMaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtYmVyY2VudGVyL2hlbHAuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)[California Notices](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0TJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHJpdmFjeS9jYWxpZm9ybmlhLW5vdGljZT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTcwMyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU3MDcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhLMzwYzqgUMdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [LiveIntent Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vcG93ZXJlZC1ieT90ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMThXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)[AdChoices Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl01EsP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vYWQtY2hvaWNlcz90ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMThXA255dEIKY-EszPBjOqBQx1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018