Amanda Ripley

Washington, D.C.

Contributing columnist
Amanda Ripley is a New York Times bestselling author who combines storytelling with data to help illuminate hard problems — and solutions. Her books include High Conflict and The Smartest Kids in the World. Ripley is also co-host of the Slate podcast "How To!" and co-founder of "Good Conflict," a company that helps people fight more intelligently. Previously, Ripley spent a decade at Time magazine. She is a trained conflict mediator and a less well-trained youth soccer coach in D.C., where she lives with her family.
Latest from Amanda Ripley

This element is critical to human flourishing — yet missing from the news

If hope is critical to human flourishing, then why can’t journalists make it part of their job?

March 30, 2023

These radically simple changes helped lawmakers actually get things done

Want to make Congress more effective? Start by moving the furniture.

February 9, 2023

We keep moving from one wrong fight to another. Here’s how to stop.

False fears and divides threaten American democracy. We can end that.

December 8, 2022

America must step out of this self-destructive zombie dance

We need to take basic steps to lower the temperature in the United States.

October 31, 2022

Dejé de leer noticias. ¿El problema soy yo o son los productos?

Hace años las noticias comenzaron a irritarme profundamente. Después de leerlas por las mañanas, me sentía tan agotada que no podía escribir ni hacer nada creativo. Me di cuenta que no era la única que había dejado de leerlas.

July 22, 2022

I stopped reading the news. Is the problem me — or the product?

Today’s news, even high-quality print news, is not designed for humans. How do we fix it?

July 8, 2022

A disaster expert died two days before he was set to be vaccinated. Here’s how to honor him.

We’ll never know how many people could have been saved if authorities had followed the disaster communication guidance that Mileti helped develop.

February 17, 2021

We’ve created cartoonish narratives about people in the opposite party. They’re not true.

We make cartoons out of our rivals. No wonder everyone expects the worst.

November 2, 2020

Five ways to conquer your covid-19 fears

Many Americans say they are worried both about their family's health and an economic depression. This represents a secondary pandemic.

April 6, 2020