We don't talk anymore
The return of measles, New Caledonia redefines its relationship with France, a setback in AIDS relief, a 48-year search ends, and Sweden seems to change its approach to incarceration
If Charlie Puth’s song came to mind when you read this post’s title, you’re not alone. I haven’t been able to get it out of my head either since I landed on the name. But it’s true: we don’t talk anymore, like we used to.
This past week, while riding the bus to work, I noticed something. Everyone around me, whether sitting or standing, was wearing headphones or glued to their phones. I wasn’t an exception. I took out one earbud and, beyond the low rumble of the engine and the automated “please, hold on” from Muni’s voice, there was silence.
Our screens and headphones have become shields, a quiet but firm signal: “I’m busy,” “I’m reading,” “Don’t bother me.” They’ve made casual conversation feel intrusive. And this isn’t just happening on public transit. It happens while we’re in line somewhere, sitting alone at a bar, or waiting for a workout class to start. We don’t leave room anymore for spontaneous moments. The kind that, as kids, came so naturally. “Can I play with you?” was once a perfectly fine way to start a friendship.
Now, we retreat inward. We order food from an app and avoid even a quick exchange with the delivery person. On planes, we disappear behind noise-canceling headphones and personal entertainment screens. We stay in touch with people far away but say nothing to the stranger sitting next to us. Even our weekend movie nights happen at home now, not at the cinema. We stream, we scroll, we disengage.
A few months ago, The Atlantic called this the “anti-social century.” According to the piece, people in the U.S. today are 30 percent less likely to go out for dinner or drinks with friends than they were 20 years ago. Kids and teens spend more than a third of their waking lives in front of screens. Fewer young people are getting driver’s licenses, going on dates, or even hanging out with close friends.
This isn’t just about the COVID-19 aftermath or our screens, though both have played a major role. We’ve also stopped building and using shared spaces. Libraries, community centers, and public parks don’t bring people together the way they once did. Mass transit ridership still hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. The rise of robotaxis means fewer people even talk to their drivers, and some prefer it that way. Meanwhile, our homes have become hubs for everything: work, shopping, eating, entertainment, and even worship. All things that once brought us out together into the world are now more often solitary.
Even when we are together, we don’t always say much. We stick to the surface. We’ve been taught, wrongly, I think, not to talk about politics or religion. But politics is meant to be discussed. It’s how we shape our shared life. And religion? For many, it provides the foundation of who they are and their core beliefs. If we can’t talk about that, then what are we even talking about? Most of us default to the weather. By Monday afternoon, we’ve told the same “how was your weekend?” story a dozen times.
Nowadays, even the act of conversation is being outsourced. Some people chat with AI characters instead of friends, or do therapy through GPT prompts. In the workplace, we no longer turn to the person next to us for help. We ask our computers.
We don’t talk anymore, and that should worry us. It weakens our sense of connection and our social fabric, makes us lonelier, and keeps us from understanding each other. And in a time when empathy and shared perspective are more important than ever, silence might be costing us more than we think.
With that, let’s dive into what might not have made the headlines this week:
Measles cases hit the highest total in the U.S. in 25 years
There have now been more confirmed measles cases in the United States in 2025 than in any other year since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts worry the country may soon lose its elimination status, a designation reserved for countries that have not had continuous spread for more than a year. So far, 1,288 people have been diagnosed with measles in 2025, 92 percent of whom were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status.
Most cases have been tied to a large outbreak that began in January in a Mennonite community in West Texas and later spread to New Mexico and Oklahoma. But confirmed cases have now been reported in 38 states, raising broader concerns about the country’s increased vulnerability to vaccine-preventable diseases. Because of its contagiousness, measles is often seen as the first sign that illnesses like pertussis or Hib meningitis could also spread next.
Three people have died this year, two unvaccinated children and one adult, the first U.S. measles deaths in a decade. The national MMR vaccination rate fell during the Covid-19 pandemic and remains below the 95 percent threshold needed for herd immunity. Roughly 93 percent of kindergartners received the shot in the 2023–24 school year, but rates vary widely by state and community.
This year’s outbreak also reflects a rising global trend. Large surges in measles have been reported in Mexico and Canada, while Europe is experiencing its highest case numbers in over 25 years, according to the World Health Organization.
Interested in more? NYT - Measles Cases Hit Highest Total Since U.S. Eliminated the Disease
France announces deal creating New Caledonia state
France and New Caledonia have reached a "historic" agreement to redefine the territory’s relationship with Paris. Under the deal, announced Saturday, New Caledonia would remain part of France but gain the status of a “state,” with its own nationality that residents can hold alongside French citizenship.
The agreement comes after violent unrest last year that left 14 people dead and caused an estimated €2 billion in damage, shaving 10% of New Caledonia’s GDP. The unrest was fueled by a proposed electoral reform from Paris that would have extended voting rights to long-term non-indigenous residents, prompting fears among the indigenous Kanak population that they would become a permanent minority.
As part of the new deal, only people who have lived in New Caledonia for at least 10 years will be allowed to vote in local elections. The framework would enshrine New Caledonia’s new status in the French constitution and could allow for recognition by other countries.
The agreement also outlines an economic recovery pact, including investment in the territory’s nickel-processing sector. Both chambers of the French Parliament are expected to vote on the deal later this year. If approved, it will be put to a referendum in New Caledonia in 2026.
Interested in more? Le Monde - 'State of New Caledonia' created in hard-won agreement with the French government
Without additional aid, four million people could die of AIDS-related causes by 2029
The suspension of PEPFAR, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, is putting millions of lives at risk, according to a new warning from UNAIDS. Without alternative funding, the agency estimates that by 2029, an additional four million people could die from AIDS-related causes and six million more could become infected with HIV.
PEPFAR was launched in 2003 under the Bush administration and has been credited with saving 26 million lives by providing HIV prevention, treatment, and community health support in over 50 countries. But this year, a planned $4.3 billion allocation for 2025 was abruptly halted.
UNAIDS says the situation reflects broader instability in global cooperation. Funding cuts from the U.S. and other high-income countries are adding to wars, climate crises, and shifting geopolitical priorities. The impact will be reflected in both the human toll and the undoing of decades of progress in the fight against AIDS.
Globally, nearly 40 million people live with HIV, more than half of them women and girls. In 2023 alone, 630,000 people died from AIDS, with the majority living in sub-Saharan Africa.
Interested in more? El País - Four million more people could die of AIDS-related causes by 2029 if the U.S. aid gap isn’t filled
Baby stolen during Argentina's military dictatorship is reunited with family after 48 years
A man stolen as a newborn during Argentina’s military dictatorship has been identified after 48 years. He is the 140th missing child to be located by the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a human rights group that has spent decades helping families reconnect with children taken during the country’s so-called “Dirty War.”
The man’s sister, who had spent years searching for him, finally spoke with him last week after DNA testing confirmed their relationship. Their parents, both political activists, were among the tens of thousands detained, tortured, and disappeared by the military junta that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983.
He was born in captivity and taken from his mother shortly after birth. Human rights groups estimate that around 500 children were forcibly taken from their families during this period and raised by people connected to the regime.
The identification was made possible by the National Identity Commission (Conadi), a government body that partners with the Grandmothers to trace the origins of those suspected of being stolen as infants. Conadi approached the man earlier this year, and he agreed to a DNA test, which confirmed his identity in early July.
Interested in more? BBC - Baby stolen during Argentina's military rule found after 48 years
Sweden turns to Estonia for prison space as incarceration rises
Sweden is preparing to rent space in Estonian prisons as it struggles to house a rapidly growing inmate population. Under a new agreement signed in June, up to 600 Swedish prisoners could be transferred to jails in Estonia by 2026. This is a move critics say reflects a broader shift toward mass incarceration over rehabilitation.
According to Sweden’s prison and probation agency, the country’s prison population could grow from 7,800 this year to as many as 41,000 by 2034, a result of more punitive policies backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats. The trend marks a significant departure from Sweden’s long-standing focus on rehabilitation and reintegration.
One of the most concerning shifts is the treatment of youth offenders. In recent years, children as young as 15 have received sentences of 10 years or more. The government is now considering lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 14, or even 13, for serious offenses. It also plans to introduce youth prisons to replace the current secure care homes.
The prison agreement with Estonia still requires parliamentary approval in both countries. Swedish officials deny that they are abandoning rehabilitation, pointing to prevention work underway. However, recent policy changes have created concerns about the future of the delivery of justice in the country.
Interested in more? The Guardian - Sweden set to rent cells in Estonian jails as it runs out of room for its prisoners
That’s all for this week. If any of these stories stood out to you, feel free to share them with someone else.
As always, I’d love to hear from you: thoughts, tips, or anything that caught your attention this week. Just a quick note that I’ll be taking a short break next weekend, so The Decanter will return on Sunday, July 27th.
Thanks for reading, and take care.
Any views expressed in this space are solely my own and do not reflect those of my current or former employers, or any institution I’ve been affiliated with.