Ideas

Photograph of a swamp superimposed with a red drawing of the Capitol building.
Illustration by Akshita Chandra / The Atlantic. Source: Getty.

Fill the Swamp?

Trump’s appointments are putting lobbyists and industry leaders into positions of immense government power.

Collage of black and white photos of Elon Musk, a standing Walter White, Judge Dredd frowning with his helmet on, a postal stamp stylized with Darth Vader’s helmet, the silhouette of Donald Trump, and Tony Soprano.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Getty; Anna Moneymaker / Getty; Richard Blanshard / Getty; PictureLake / Getty; Saul Loeb / Getty; Ursula Coyote / AMC.

Trump’s Fans Are Suffering From Tony Soprano Syndrome

Some conservatives are embracing the villains in what are supposed to be cautionary tales.

Collage with black-and-white photo of U.S. soldiers in WWII carrying the American flag, with a red Department of Defense stamp, and a photo of officials in front of the American flag.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Getty.

Bring Back the War Department

If you want a clear strategy for winning wars, don’t play a semantic game with the name of the department that’s charged with the strategy’s execution.

Collage of Hunter Biden and Joe Biden embracing with the presidential seal in the background tinted red
Illustration by Allison Zaucha / The Atlantic. Sources: Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty; Bettmann / Getty

Any Parent Would Have Done the Same

If pardoning Hunter Biden was politically improper or reputationally risky, it was also done in accordance with the higher and fiercer laws of familial love.