America’s Peace Wave
Sky-high violent-crime rates of recent years have suddenly—mercifully—plummeted.
Biden’s Domestic, Foreign, and Familial Issues
Watch the full episode of Washington Week With The Atlantic, December 15, 2023
The Sound of Cruelty
The Zone of Interest is an eerie and restrained study of the Holocaust that never shows a single frame of the atrocity.
The Fate of Your Holiday-Season Returns
Their future doesn’t look too bright.
The Number Five Is Nothing Like the Number Four
Our brains process them in completely different ways.
How Gas Prices Get in Our Heads
The price of gasoline plays an outsize role in shaping consumer sentiment—with big implications for the current “vibecession.”
The Forgotten Tradition of Clemency
Minnesota reformed its system for granting mercy to those in prison. The federal government should take note.
Why Is the NBA Letting Josh Giddey Play?
The Oklahoma City Thunder player is getting lighter treatment than others suspected of misconduct off the court.
A Stubborn Workplace Holiday Tradition
So much can go wrong at a holiday party, but the events are baked into the norms of corporate America.
The Role of Gender Divides in Social Spaces
Plus: A theory of the baby bust
Our Dramatic Relationship With the Natural World
A 2023 novel that revolved around a character getting lost in the wilderness
The Crown Has Nothing Left to Say
The final season has swans, ghosts, and King Tony Blair, but it doesn’t have a message.
What Happens When AI Takes Over Science?
AI is fueling a revolution in science that may change our definition of understanding itself.
Madonna Dances With Death
Her greatest-hits tour has the feeling of a memorial—a spectacular one.
An Origin Story That’s Actually Fun
The charming Wonka wisely understands that Roald Dahl characters don’t need much backstory.
When History Doesn’t Do What We Wish It Would
In Ed Park’s new novel, the past is slippery, elusive, and alive.
That’s Not Censorship
Artists are free to say what they want, and free to face the consequences.
A New Threat to Diversity at Elite Colleges
All eyes have been on the end of affirmative action, but an emerging bipartisan bill would bar wealthy colleges from accepting federal student loans, with major consequences.
Biden’s Smart Strategy for Outmaneuvering Bibi
Netanyahu has deftly navigated multiple Democratic presidents. Biden is trying to change that.
A Big Misconception About the World’s Greatest Infectious Killer
The dogma that tuberculosis is lying dormant in the bodies of 2 billion people might be wrong.