Times editors have handpicked 11 stories for you to enjoy. Welcome to The Weekender.
_____
He Was My Role Model. My Mentor. My Supplier.
Decades after I left hustling to become a writer, why did I seek out the man who drew me into that world?
_____
Behind the Scenes at the Dismantling of Roe v. Wade
This is the inside story of how the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion.
_____
Seven Months Inside an Online Scam Labor Camp
A man who was abducted by a Chinese gang and forced to work in a scam operation gathered financial information, photos and videos and shared the material with The Times.
_____
The Fast Rise and Staggering Fall of Jonathan Majors
After an indie-film breakout just four years ago, he was headed to the A list. But a criminal conviction immediately jeopardized his leading-man status.
_____
Just How Rich Were the McCallisters in ‘Home Alone’?
Fans have been debating the McCallister family’s wealth for years. We asked the Federal Reserve for answers.
_____
What’s Ahead in 2024? The Cookie Cutters Tell All.
The baking tools can reveal a lot about what’s on people’s minds, as one American company has learned, to its profit.
_____
Top Social Media Trends of 2023
You may have forgotten — or wanted to forget — what happened on the internet this year. We’re here to refresh your memory.
_____
It Took 10 Years to Grow This Christmas Tree. The Price? $105
Amid wild cost fluctuations and extreme weather conditions, workers toiled for years at a New Jersey Christmas tree farm. Every day since the trees were planted has been a gamble.
_____
It’s My Party and I’ll Read If I Want To
Reading Rhythms bills itself as a series of “reading parties,” where guests read silently and chat with strangers about books. (Just don’t call it a book club.)
_____
Why the Holidays Are a True Test of Your Relationship
Making it through December, with all its festivities, is harder than it seems.
_____
Thanks for reading.
This edition of The Weekender was edited by Justin Porter.