Politics

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Markwayne Mullin in front of the Capitol building surrounding by reporters — Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty

High Stakes, and a Low Bar, For Markwayne Mullin at DHS

Trump’s nominee has one big thing going for him: He’s not Kristi Noem.

March 13, 2026

A black-and-white photograph of Kevin Kiley in front of a red square — Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Bill Clark / CQ–Roll Call / Getty.

The Republican Party Continues Eating Its Own

What one lawmaker’s defection from the GOP says about the state of politics

Elaine Godfrey and Russell Berman

March 12, 2026

An illustration of a plane-shaped cutout of The Art of the Deal book cover over a neutral green-beige background — Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Getty.

Trump Isn’t Even Trying to Sell This War

Has the salesman in chief gotten rusty?

Jonathan Lemire

March 12, 2026

A black-and-red illustration showing Blake Miguez, a state seal, and a map — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: USA Today Network / Reuters; Getty.

A Police Report About a House Candidate Surprised the White House

A woman’s allegations of rape against a Republican House candidate have put Trump in a bind.

Michael Scherer

March 11, 2026

Illustration with a black-and-white photograph of Andy Ogles overlayed in front of a beige, old map of Tennessee that has been rotated 90 degrees — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Heather Diehl / Getty; Sepia Times / Getty.

The Republican Who Wants to Banish His Own Constituents

Representative Andy Ogles wrote on Monday that “Muslims don’t belong in American society.” He represents thousands of them in Congress.

March 11, 2026

Arizona early voting ballots stacked in boxes dated November 2020. — Courtney Pedroza / Getty

Arizona Is Now at the Center of Election Investigations

Both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are probing the results of the 2020 election in Arizona.

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Sarah Fitzpatrick, and Nick Miroff

March 10, 2026

An illustration of an image of 5-year-old Liam Ramos wearing a blue bunny hat next to an image of three silhouettes, two adults and one child, walking against the background of the Dilley Immigration Processing Center — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Ali Daniels; Ilana Panich-Linsman / Redux.

I Recognize the Look on Liam Ramos’s Face

The 5-year-old was briefly held at Dilley, where families are sent after ICE roundups.

Caitlin Dickerson

March 10, 2026

photo of Pete Hegseth's head next to his text 'We are currently clean on OPSEC. Godspeed to our Warriors.' Photo of John Ratclilffe's head and his text: 'A good start.' Photo of Michael Waltz's head with text of fist, U.S. flag, and fire emoji. — Illustration by Erik Carter. Sources: Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty; Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call / Getty; Andrew Harnik / AFP / Getty.

The Pete Hegseth Exception

Nearly a year after a national-security scandal erupted on my iPhone, no one in the Trump administration has faced consequences.

Jeffrey Goldberg

March 9, 2026

From left to right, black in white photos on a red background: Laura Loomer, Jack Posobiec, Joseph McCarthy, Steve Bannon — Illustration by Akshita Chandra / The Atlantic*

‘We Need to Do McCarthyism to the Tenth Power’

Conservative influencers are pushing for a return to the dark days of 1950s inquisitions.

March 6, 2026

Andrew Harnik / Getty

Pete Hegseth’s Moral Unseriousness

The defense secretary appears unable to approach matters of life and death with even the slightest bit of reverence or humility.

March 6, 2026