What The Atlantic Got Wrong About Reconstruction
In 1901, a series of articles took a dim view of the era, and of the idea that all Americans ought to participate in the democratic process.
How Black Americans Kept Reconstruction Alive
The federal government abandoned Reconstruction in 1877, but Black people didn’t give up on the moment’s promise.
The Annotated Frederick Douglass
In 1866, the famous abolitionist laid out his vision for radically reshaping America in the pages of The Atlantic.
The False Binary in Higher Ed
Liberal education and career training aren’t mutually exclusive.
London’s Day of Creeping Extremism
On a day dedicated to peace, the British capital is consumed by competing symbols.
The Timeshare Comes for Us All
I was a patsy, a sucker, a fool.
‘If We Go on Living Like This, Israel Is Not Going to Find Peace’
In the short term, indirect rule of Gaza by the Palestinian Authority is worth considering.
Why Americans Can’t Accept the Good Economic News
They’re better off but not feeling it—which could be a really big political problem.
The West Must Defeat Russia
Putin hasn’t given up his plans. He thinks Ukraine’s allies will lose interest.
The Day After Netanyahu
Israel has long succeeded in spite of its leaders, not because of them.
Harsh Anti-abortion Laws Are Not Empty Threats
The history of the Comstock Act shows how activists can find ways to enforce laws that might appear superficially “unenforceable.”
An Unusually Tricky Campus Free-Speech Fight
Florida’s shutdown of pro-Palestinian student groups was wrong. But was it illegal?
The AI Debate Is Happening in a Cocoon
The risks posed by new technologies are not science fiction. They are real.
Sleep More and Be Happier
When Shakespeare called a good night’s rest the “balm of hurt minds,” he was really onto something.
How the Democrats Won Virginia
The abortion backlash continues to hamper the Republican Party.
When Anti-Zionism Is Anti-Semitic
The most consequential form of anti-Zionism today is the one that deploys guns and rockets.
The Songs That Shaped My Life
Joni Mitchell’s wisdom, Otis Redding’s invitation, and the Beatles’ schematic of love
Cancel Culture Cuts Both Ways
All the more reason to defend genuine tolerance and free speech
Why Abortion Rights Keep Winning in Red States
When given a choice between prohibition and expansive abortion rights, Americans seem to prefer the latter.
Rashida Tlaib’s Inflammatory Language
By amplifying a loaded slogan, the Michigan representative isn’t helping anyone’s cause.