Politics

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A pointed index finger ripping through a black-and-white image of the Capitol Building — Illustration by Ben Kothe / The Atlantic. Source: Jim Watson / AFP / Getty.

Does Congress Even Exist Anymore?

The fast fade of a co-equal branch of government

Russell Berman and Elaine Godfrey

January 7, 2026

Illustration of a golden snap trap formed by the sharp spikes of a jeweled crown, with a gold chain anchoring it. — Illustration by Matteo Giuseppe Pani. Source: Pieter Ferreira.

‘You Are Now a King, Under a Different Name’

America went to extraordinary lengths to throw off the rituals and titles of monarchy. Why would we fall for royal trappings today?

January 7, 2026

Multiple overlaid torn images of Stephen Miller — Illustration by Ben Kothe / The Atlantic. Sources: Demetrius Freeman / The Washington Post / Getty; Kayla Bartkowski / Getty; Samuel Corum / Sipa / Bloomberg / Getty.

The Wrath of Stephen Miller

The man who turns President Trump’s most incendiary impulses into policy

Ashley Parker, Michael Scherer, and Nick Miroff

January 7, 2026

A portrait of Gavin Newsom — Ryan Young for The Atlantic

The Front-Runner

California’s Gavin Newsom would rather be wrong than weak.

January 6, 2026

photo of man in red, gray, black jacket and jeans standing over and pushing his thumbs into the eyes of a kneeling police officer in helmet and gear — United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Donald Trump Wants You to Forget This Happened

January 6, five years later

January 6, 2026

photo of man wearing helmet and goggles with face painted in U.S.-flag stripes carrying Trump MAGA flag with gallows behind — United States District Court for the District of Columbia

MAGA’s Foundational Lie

The movement claims to stand with the police. Trump’s decision to pardon the cop-beaters of January 6 exposed his movement for what it is.

Jeffrey Goldberg

January 6, 2026

Illustration of a black-and-white image of Donald Trump walking across the Americas on a globe — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Aaron Schwartz / Getty; THEPALMER / Getty.

Trump’s Retro Imperialism

The president holds some misguided views about wealth, power, and natural resources.

January 5, 2026

Edited photograph of Zohran Mamdani’s silhouette with blue and red warbles and a blurred background, as if glitching — Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Adam Gray / Bloomberg / Getty

The Question-Mark Mayoralty

Zohran Mamdani ran an unabashedly progressive campaign. But how he will govern New York remains something of a mystery.

January 1, 2026

An illustration of a large $2,000 check dated "January 2026" and including "Make America Great Again" and Donald Trump's signature — Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Luke Sharrett / Bloomberg / Getty.

The Santa Presidency

Trump is trying to fix the economy—by handing out cash.

Toluse Olorunnipa

December 28, 2025

A photo illustration that includes Donald Trump in shadow and documents filled with redactions — Illustration by Anna Ruch / The Atlantic. Sources: Alex Edelman / Bloomberg / Getty; AFP / Getty.

So This Is Why Trump Didn’t Want to Release the Epstein Files

The latest batch includes many new references to Trump—and enough ammunition for Congress to keep pressing.

Sarah Fitzpatrick

December 24, 2025