The Wyoming Hospital Upending the Logic of Private Equity
Instead of cutting services to cut costs, one rural hospital plans to thrive by offering more.
The Trump Administration’s Nasty Campaign Against Trans People
The president wants to draw out a politically expedient fight, not broker compromises.
An Uproar at the NIH
Jay Bhattacharya, the the agency’s director, has made a point of welcoming dissent. A letter from his officials will test that.
The Democrats Have an Authenticity Gap
What creates the “relatable dude-bro” audience is organic connection, not donor checks.
The Real Message Behind Les Misérables
As Donald Trump prepares to host Les Mis at the Kennedy Center, a Victor Hugo scholar imagines what the author would make of the president.
The Real Problem With the Democrats’ Ground Game
Democratic organizers are hesitant to admit when get-out-the-vote efforts don’t work. One group is trying to change that.
Inside America’s Death Chambers
What years of witnessing executions taught me about sin, mercy, and the possibility of redemption
A Reporter in the Death Chamber
On capital punishment, and The Atlantic’s July 2025 cover story
Trump Is Using the National Guard as Bait
Don’t give him the pretext he wants.
Averting a Worst-Case Scenario in Los Angeles
Immigration raids and protests will continue so long as Trump is president. His opponents should do everything they can to stay within the law.
For Trump, This Is a Dress Rehearsal
Ordering the National Guard to deploy in Los Angeles is a warning of what to expect when his hold on power is threatened.
An Appeal to My Alma Mater
A liberal-arts college like Pomona is the ideal place to experiment with low-tech education.
Under a Supermoon
Paris Can Be Intimidating—But It Has Great Butter
A conversation with Caity Weaver about following Mark Twain there
Musk and Trump Still Agree on One Thing
Whatever they may be fighting about, they are both committed to showering tax cuts on Americans who already have more than they need.
Where Is Barack Obama?
The “audacity of hope” presidency has given way to the fierce lethargy of semi-retirement.
How I Accidentally Inspired a Major Chinese Motion Picture
A decade ago, I wrote a story about transcending cultural boundaries through sports. Now it’s a movie with a very different message.
America’s Anti-Jewish Assassins Are Making the Case for Zionism
History shows that violence against Jews creates more Zionists.
Oceans Awash in Plastic Waste
An estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enter oceans each year, according to the U.S. State Department—and some of it accumulates in highly visible ways.
How Air-Conditioning Built Our Reality
The AC was not only a brilliant innovation; it changed the course of human life.
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