In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.

It was the summer of 1986. America’s economy was booming. President Ronald Reagan’s approval sat at 63%, according to Gallup. Patriotism was on display, especially in our movies, with Tom Cruise’s Top Gun being the runaway No. 1 hit of the year.