Vanity Fair
COVER STORY
The Legend of Zohran
NYC’s mayoral candidate has Kennedy-like charisma, a global profile, and nepo baby instincts. He is also a proud democratic socialist who has both Donald Trump and the left-wing establishment in a lather. Is Zohran Mamdani the future of American politics—or a fantasy?
By James Pogue
September 30, 2025
lost in a film scene
Taylor Swift Reframes Her Legacy in The Official Release Party of a Showgirl
In the film released Friday, the Grammy Award winner steps out of the framework laid for female artists.
a boy’s best friend is his mother
Beyond Monster: 6 Grisly Films Inspired by Serial Killer Ed Gein
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LATEST STORIES
O, what a noble mind!
O, what a noble mind!
A Breakdown of Taylor Swift’s Shakespeare References
The new song from The Life of a Showgirl has plenty of references to the Bard—but no empowerment for Hamlet’s tragic heroine.
Most Popular
Royals
Kate Middleton Sweetly Apologizes to Young Admirers for Not Wearing a Gown to RAF Base
The royal wore a checked suit to RAF Coningsby Air Base Thursday, only to be met with little girls decked out in their own best dresses.
Movies
The 25 Best Movies on Netflix to Watch in October 2025
From comedy classics to recent Oscar winners, these are the titles you don’t want to miss.
Movies
Beyond Monster: 6 Grisly Films Inspired by Serial Killer Ed Gein
As Ryan Murphy brings a new series about the murderer to Netflix, here’s a guide to movies that fictionalized his story—from Psycho to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Television
Elon Musk Vows to “Cancel” Netflix Over Transgender Representation
Musk has accused the streaming titan of “grooming” children with “sexualized content” in series such as CoComelon and Strawberry Shortcake.
what fresh hell
Elon Musk Vows to “Cancel” Netflix Over Transgender Representation
Musk has accused the streaming titan of “grooming” children with “sexualized content” in series such as CoComelon and Strawberry Shortcake.
THAT'S SHOWBIZ, BABY
Taylor Swift, on The Life of a Showgirl, Sings of Love, Sex, and Travis Kelce
The joy and satisfaction (sexual and otherwise) oozing from the 12 tracks makes the message clear: Swift built this life, now she’s ready to enjoy it.
girl, so confusing
Did Taylor Swift Diss Charli XCX on The Life of a Showgirl?
On “Actually Romantic,” the seventh track on Swift's 12th studio album, the pop star seems seem to be taking a dig at her former tour opener, Charli XCX.
DADDY ERA
Taylor Swift Is Your New “Father Figure” on The Life of a Showgirl
She interpolates from the George Michael song of the same name, with the blessing of the late performer’s estate.
ROYALS
Prince William on the “Hardest Year” of His Life, Reassuring His Children After Kate Middleton’s Cancer Diagnosis, and Charles and Diana’s Divorce
In a wide-ranging interview with Eugene Levy for The Reluctant Traveler, the future monarch spoke openly about everything from his parents’ divorce to raising his three children with Princess Kate.
MUSIC
Robbie Williams Says He Suffers From “Inside Tourette’s”
While appearing on the podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not, Williams revealed that the condition has contributed to his stage fright: “I have a very complicated relationship with touring and performing live.”
they can do it with a broken heart
From Taylor Swift to Marilyn Monroe: A Brief History of Cinematic Showgirls
As The Life of a Showgirl bows, these are the other bejeweled blondes who may have inspired the new album—and the unexpected song that started this era.
Not So True Crime
The Onion Wants an Oscar for Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile—Coming to a Theater Near You
And Onion CEO Ben Collins knows just how to sell this 20-minute mockumentary to the Academy: “Do you like pedophiles? I don’t think you do. You know what you could do to prove it?”
SUIT YOURSELF
Julia Roberts Loaned Her Legendary 1990 Armani Suit to Her Son
Not only does Roberts still have the suit, it's in wearable (and borrowable) condition—for a few special people.
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Streaming Guide
The 20 Best Movies on Amazon Prime to Watch Now (October 2025)
Whether you’re in the mood for a classic drama or an antic comedy, see our list of the best movies on Amazon Prime Video.
Trump’s YouTube-Insurrection Settlement Will Fund Golden White House Ballroom
The company has agreed to fork over $22 million to Trump, which will be used for the president’s passion project.
ARMANI ABOUT TOWN
Inside Giorgio Armani’s Private Paris
In one of his final interviews, the Milanese fashion master recalled memories of fashion shows, incognito strolls, and bold moves in a long, intimate history with Paris.
Divorce
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s Split Happened This Summer—and It’s “Turning Dramatic”
The actress and the country star are divorcing after 19 years of marriage. Do their legal filings hold clues about the end of their union?
ROYALS
Prince Harry Has to “Pass the Trust Test” to Mend His Relationship With King Charles, Says Source
Although King Charles and Prince Harry recently met for the first time in more than 18 months, Harry isn’t being welcomed back into the royal fold just yet.
what a joke
As Trump Targets Late Night, Jimmy Fallon Just Wants to Keep His “Head Down”
Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert are MAGA targets—but the Tonight Show host is proud that his talk show historically has “never really been political.”
streaming guide
The 20 Best Movies on Hulu to Watch Right Now (October 2025)
The best movies on Hulu are a cornucopia of classics, comedies, dramas, and more.
i do
Selena Gomez, Lana Del Rey, and Charli XCX Embrace the Gradual Wedding Rollout
All three millennial icons have been slowly sharing photos from their nuptials—most recently Gomez, who wed Benny Blanco last weekend.
My Date with the president's son
Barron Trump Reportedly Shut Down Entire Floor of Trump Tower for a Date
According to The Independent, the 19-year-old’s date wreaked havoc on the residents of the Fifth Avenue skyscraper.
Royals
Princess Diana Used to Sneak Contraband Tabloids Into Kensington Palace
According to a royal insider, one of the press’s most persistent targets had a secret gossip habit.
challenge everything
Why Did Jared Kushner and Saudi Investors Take Over EA Games?
The short answer: Entertainment is the new oil.
Donald Trump Shitposts AI Slop Amid Shutdown Impasse
From the war in Gaza to the imagined arrest of Barack Obama, there’s no topic so serious that the president won’t promote a meme about it.
Tick Tock
The Clock Is Ticking on a Lose-Lose Government Shutdown
“Democrats have been resolute that we need a real negotiation,” Chuck Schumer tells VF.
crime
Cassie Ventura Is “Very Much Afraid” of Diddy Taking “Retribution” Against His Victims
The rapper mogul’s ex-girlfriend wrote a letter to the judge who will determine the sentencing for Combs’s conviction on two prostitution charges, saying she fears for her own life if Combs “walks free.”
LESS IS DIOR
Jonathan Anderson's New Dior Logo Is Actually Quite Old
By reintroducing the brand's historic 1946 typographic signature, Anderson signals a return to Dior's roots.
With Adams Out, Wealthy New Yorkers Are All-In on Cuomo (Who Is Polling Double Digits Behind Mamdani)
Cuomo’s chance of winning is still looking like a long shot, but the rich are holding out hope.
Royals
Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Next Move Is Already Annoying Dog Walkers
The prince, princess, and their three children will be settling into their new home at Forest Lodge by Christmas—and their neighbors will have to make a few major changes.
Q&A
Pandemic Expert Michael T. Osterholm Thinks a Future COVID Could Be So Much Worse
In a sobering interview, the respected infectious disease expert expresses concern over our willful deconstruction of parts of our vaccine infrastructure in Donald Trump’s second term—especially because the cause of a future pandemic may already be out there.
Exclusive
Love+War Trailer Turns the Lens on Fearless War Photographer Lynsey Addario
From Oscar-winning directors Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, a powerful new documentary follows Addario as she captures deadly war zones.
expecto a-post-um
J.K. Rowling Thinks Emma Watson Is “Ignorant of How Ignorant She Is"
After Watson said kind words about Rowling on a podcast, the Harry Potter scribe disparaged Watson, claiming the actor sent her a private note of sympathy when Rowling was facing public wrath over her transphobic views.
yer a windsor, harry
Kate Middleton Takes the Royal Children to Visit the Harry Potter Set
Their love for the wizarding world runs deep: back in 2013, Kate visited Warner Bros. Studios with Prince William and Prince Harry.
laugh riot
Why Are Comedians So Fired Up About the Riyadh Comedy Festival?
The Saudi Arabian event is being sold as the “world’s largest comedy” hub—but Pete Davidson, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Aziz Ansari, and more are being criticized by their peers for performing in it.
along came tilly
AI “Actor” Tilly Norwood Is Young, Ambitious—and “the End of the Industry as We Know It”
Two years after AI protections ruled the Hollywood labor strikes, an emerging production studio is introducing a computer-made movie star to rival Scarlett Johansson. And SAG-AFTRA isn’t happy.
Now Streaming
The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch in October
From comedy classics to underseen dramatic gems, your next binge is waiting.
splits
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban Have Separated
One of Hollywood’s longest-running power couples have reportedly split after almost two decades of marriage.
Rule of Law
Meet the Likely Next Targets of Trump’s Revenge Tour
After pressuring the DOJ to charge former FBI director James Comey, the president has suggested that Christopher Wray and Adam Schiff may be next.
money money money money
Trump Doubles Down on International Film Tariff, Just in Time for Oscar Season
The president is still convinced that the “movie making business has been stolen” from America like “candy from a baby.”
Did Prince William and King Charles Meet to Talk About Prince Harry?
Prince William and King Charles III are having a meeting to “to chat as sovereign and heir,” but UK tabloids think a few specific topics may be on their agenda.
This is me... now
Jennifer Lopez Says Ben Affleck Divorce Is “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me"
In an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, the actress and singer said the separation from Affleck had a positive impact on her personal evolution: "It helped me grow in the way I needed to."
CULTURE WAR
Inside the Battle for The Smithsonian
Donald Trump’s unprecedented measures to take control of The Smithsonian Institution have rattled staffers, enraged artists, and even put the future of its vast collection in doubt.
Country Divorce
A Super-Sad True Love Story: Jason Isbell’s and Amanda Shires’s Dueling Breakup Albums
Isbell’s early career was defined by the love songs he wrote to Shires, his ex-band-member and wife. On her new album, Nobody’s Girl, she airs her frustration with being the second fiddle.
Politics
Barron Trump’s Fortune Tops Melania’s, Thanks to Crypto Investments
At 19, the son of Donald Trump and Melania Trump is making a fortune in the cryptocurrency world.
Now Streaming
The 25 Best Movies on Netflix to Watch in October 2025
From comedy classics to recent Oscar winners, these are the titles you don’t want to miss.