Ideas

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Illustration with Donald Trump stretching his arms at his side while protesters raise signs and fists beneath him — Illustration by Matteo Giuseppe Pani / The Atlantic. Source: Nathan Howard / Getty.

Trump Is Betraying Iran’s Pro-Democracy Protesters

He toyed with their hopes, raising expectations he never meant to fulfill.

March 19, 2026

Image of Sewage Spill Into Potomac River Could Be Largest In US History — Heather Diehl / Getty

Washington’s Sewage Apocalypse

This is not a metaphor.

March 18, 2026

An illustration of the top half of Donald Trump's head, wearing a red MAGA hat, with two missiles, a drone, and a fighter jet circling his head. — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Nic Antaya / Getty; Shutterstock.

Trashing American Allies Turns Out to Be Bad for National Security

How “America First” became “America Alone”

March 18, 2026

Illustration of the ChatGPT app icon blurred rightward, as if moving very fast, with a blue background behind it. — Illustration by The Atlantic

The Myspace Dilemma Facing ChatGPT

Inventing a market is less important than perfecting one.

March 18, 2026

Diptych with two black-and-white photographs of Cory Booker and Chris Van Hollen on a royal-blue backdrop. — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Celal Gunes / Anadolu / Getty; Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc / Getty.

Democrats Learned the Wrong Lesson From 2024

The party still refuses to prioritize the most important parts of its agenda and make the case that they’re worth paying for.

March 18, 2026

Illustration of Trump and Joe Kent in black and white photographs, with red sharpie marks under Joe Kent's picture. — Illustration by Akshita Chandra / The Atlantic. Sources: Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc / Getty; Andrew Harnik / Getty.

Joe Kent’s Secret

If Trump can never be wrong, then he can only be wronged.

March 17, 2026

Photograph of Donald Trump walking down a staircase to exit an airplane — Roberto Schmidt / Getty

Everyone but Trump Understands What He’s Done

Allied leaders know that any positive gesture they make will count for nothing.

March 17, 2026

A color photograph of two women dressed in black sitting on a cliff face overlooking the water in Beirut. — Adri Salido / Getty

How Washington Can Help Lebanon

America has a historic opportunity for diplomacy, if Trump is willing to take it.

March 17, 2026

An explosion in Tehran — Atta Kenare / AFP / Getty

One War, Two Mistakes

Those who favor the conflict with Iran and those who oppose it are each making a very large error.

March 17, 2026

Photo of a destroyed building surrounded by rubble — Stringer / Anadolu / Getty

A Failed Test of Leadership

Bad things happen in war. Deflecting blame makes everything worse.

March 16, 2026