Climate change is intensifying, which means reducing carbon emissions is an urgent priority. As illustrated by some of the stories we highlight below, that is going to require some pretty significant changes in how we define “normal.” For one thing, we will have to reimagine travel, and our expectation of how long it takes to get places. We will also need to reimagine where exactly our population centers should be, so that they are nearer to natural resources that are more insulated from the most extreme climate conditions. And we will need to reimagine Democratic Party politics — and demand that blue states use their power to lead the climate battle.

Also In Today’s Weekend Reader:

  • A compelling argument that one of the biggest problems in today’s world is concentrated power.
  • A powerful and thought-provoking case against zoos.
  • Interstellar space travel might come sooner than we’ve expected.