Opinion Today: The race to build A.I. drones
Here’s what we’re focusing on.
Opinion Today
July 20, 2026
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Abraham Lule

Notable

The Eight tribes of American politics. “The divisions among these groups are both roiling today’s Democratic Party and exposing potential fault lines in what is very likely to be a competitive G.O.P. presidential primary battle ahead of 2028.”

— Kristen Soltis Anderson, contributing Opinion writer

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An answer for how Democrats win: Be boring. “His campaign slogan is so prosaic, so blunt, so gruff that every time I see it, I do a double take, wondering if it’s some parody or I’m hallucinating.”

— Frank Bruni, contributing Opinion writer

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The second home tax is a win for New York. “Whenever the federal government raises taxes on the wealthy, opponents claim that the economy will tank. They are usually wrong.”

— The Editorial Board

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Spotlight

Aleksey Kondratyev for The New York Times

A.I. Drones Are Coming. We Are Not Ready.

World leaders are marching us toward an uncertain era of new warfare — fast.

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ICYMI

The “Little House” of my childhood. “Laura was proof to me, as a child, that it was possible to contain multitudes.”

— Glynnis MacNicol, contributing Opinion writer

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More in Opinion

Guest Essay

This Is Not the Answer to Soaring Health Care Costs

A government bureaucrat doesn’t know how much your medicine or doctor’s visit should cost.

By Lorens Helmchen and Tony LoSasso

An illustration of a person trapped within a smart phone.

Guest Essay

I’ve Struggled With Addiction. I’m Staying Away From A.I. Chatbots.

A.I. plays on our heartstrings, manipulating the systems in our brains that bond us to other people.

By Maia Szalavitz

A photo illustration featuring “The Boys” character known as Homelander.

Guest Essay

The Emmy Awards Are Afraid of This Vulgar, Gory, Brilliant Show

“The Boys” was supersnubbed.

By David Colman

An illustration of people playing American football. One player in a red uniform is running with the ball, while two players in blue uniforms tussle with each other.

Guest Essay

Don’t Let This Useless Debate Distract You, Democrats

A battle over idealized economic systems doesn’t help Democratic candidates.

By E.J. Dionne Jr.

An illustration of people, some wearing red hats, standing inside the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. The pool is a rich shade of green.

Guest Essay

It’s No Longer So Much Fun to Be MAGA in Washington

It’s a vibe shift.

By Sally Quinn

Jamelle Bouie

Ketanji Brown Jackson Knows What 1776 Meant

The revolutionary meaning of the Declaration of Independence did not elude her.

By Jamelle Bouie

A purple-and-blue image of a desktop computer with a giant eye on the screen.

Jessica Grose

The Hunt for a Job Has Never Been Worse. These Applicants Are Fighting Back.

A.I. is destroying the application process for employers and potential employees. We need to fix it.

By Jessica Grose

Maureen Dowd

Low-T, High Chair

Where are Hegseth’s hormones when Trump needs them?

By Maureen Dowd

In Your Words

Re: Zoomers Are Going to the Movies. This Is Great News for Everyone.

Read more Opinion comments here, and check out our Letters to the Editor.

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