Welcome to the January issue of The Highlight

America’s political binary — left and right, Democrat and Republican — can feel inescapable. But historically, it’s a relatively new development, and academically, some political scientists argue it’s nonsense: What we think of as immutable political realities are instead artificial alliances of political convenience. In this month’s Highlight cover story, senior correspondent Eric Levitz breaks down the case against “progressivism” and “conservatism” and gets at the heart of our partisan divides. Also in this issue: Catholic opposition to Trump. The ethics of surrogacy. And fighting to banish the flu.

The fiction at the heart of America’s political divide

By Eric Levitz

You want a baby. Is it ethical to choose surrogacy?

By Sigal Samuel

A world without flu is possible

By Bryan Walsh

There’s an underrated (and cheaper) type of therapy

By Eleanor Cummins

Could Catholics be the key to Trump’s opposition?

By Katherine Kelaidis

Coming January 15

Is America turning on birth control?

By Hannah Seo

Coming January 16