The Real Crisis of The Pitt
What the hit show’s approach to Dr. Robby reveals
Culture
What I Saw Inside the Kennedy Center
I spent 10 months working at the institution because I thought I could help protect it. What I observed there is far worse than the public knows.
The Quiet Way Authoritarianism Begins to Crumble
Among the many reasons for Viktor Orbán’s defeat was the rural clubs where citizens relearned democratic habits.
Don’t Just Replace Chavez—Rethink Monuments
It’s time for tributes to leave the great-man theory of history behind.
The Shot That Killed Duke but Saved March Madness
Nostalgists worried that giving players more rights would ruin the game. This year’s NCAA tournament is proving them wrong.
Richard Wagner in the Present Tense
A bold restaging of Tristan und Isolde arrives at a moment of intense concern about the cultural inheritance of Western civilization.
A Boring Video Game I Can’t Put Down
Playing the role of a rental-store owner reveals the thrill in mundanity.
The Real Religious ‘Renewal’ Happening in Gen Z
Some pastors and politicians claim that a Christian revival is afoot among young Americans. Nationwide data tell a different story.
How Long Can You Live Your Ideals?
Stories about revolutionaries seem to entrance readers and moviegoers alike—especially if they don’t end well.
Following
A poem
The Bill Maher Effect
For the past year, Donald Trump has made the Kennedy Center all about him. Last night, the comedian revealed the limits of that approach.
The Surprising Reason for the New Homophobia
Americans are burned-out, frustrated, and hunting for scapegoats.
A Radical Message for a Kids’ Movie
Hoppers offers a surprising take on the typical talking-animal story.
A Novel About Women Who Trade One Kind of Captivity for Another
In Charlotte Wood’s The Natural Way of Things, a group of captive women discover who they might become beyond the control of men.