How Madonna changed pop culture for ever

The hush-money trial ended with a historic verdict against a former president. Can Joe Biden capitalise on it? David Smith and Alice Herman report. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus 

We know more about extending our lifespans than ever before. Afterdecades spent drinking, eating and laughing at people with exercise regimes, what will it take for Phil Daoust to join the ranks of centenarians?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus 

Culture critics Peter Bradshaw, Tshepo Mokoena and Gwilym Mumford look ahead to the best of the year in film, TV and music. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus 

I'm sure you've heard it: For the past few months, the U.S. news media has been following the saga of pop star Britney Spears and the unusual conservatorship arrangement which prevents her from controlling her own finances or life decisions, put in place more than a decade ago af ... Show More

<p>Il y a plusieurs façons de voir Madonna. Et avant tout, ce doit être une question d’âge. En entendant son nom, certains penseront d’abord à Like a virgin, ce morceau explosif qu’elle chantait en simulant une masturbation sur scène. D’autres, nés dans les années 80, se souviend ... Show More

<p>Madonna released her first single in 1982, and in one guise or another she has been with us ever since — ubiquitous but also astonishing, when you consider the usual fleeting arc of pop stardom. How has she done it, and how have her various personae shaped or reflected the cul ... Show More

The debate among journalists over how to regain the public’s trust is increasingly centered around the idea of objectivity. In this episode, Audie turns the spotlight on herself and the media. She invites journalists to help her reckon with the idea of objectivity: what it is? Do ... Show More

<p>Madonna is once again facing controversy. At Sunday's Grammy Awards, the Queen of Pop introduced Sam Smith and Kim Petras for a performance of their hit song "Unholy." But even though Sam and Kim slayed their time on stage, it was Madge's face that stole the show. Social media ... Show More

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, we're hashing out the big questions about Madonna's new Warner Music Group deal. Is new music on the way? Could we hear any songs that have been locked in the Madonna vault? Could this spell a collaboration with Warner's current pop princess ... Show More

This week was the first time Britney Spears ever personally addressed the court — and in doing so, the public — about wanting to terminate the conservatorship, controlled by her father, that she has been under since 2008. But the New York Times recently reported that her lawyer f ... Show More

How did Rupert Murdoch build one of the most successful and politically influential media empires in the world? David Folkenflik, media correspondent for NPR News, tells the story of Murdoch's astonishing rise, the growth of Fox News, how world leaders flew around the globe in ho ... Show More