It Sure Looks Like Phones Are Making Students Dumber
Test scores have been falling for years—even before the pandemic.
Biden Is All That’s Holding Back the Left
A man once thought to be a transitional president has become a consequential one.
Feelings and Vibes Can’t Sustain a Democracy
America could be heading for an election where nothing matters.
2023: The Year in Volcanic Activity
Scenes from the wide variety of volcanic activity on Earth over the past year
Nobody Knows What’s Happening Online Anymore
Why you’ve probably never heard of the most popular Netflix show in the world
A Memorial at the Barn
After an Atlantic story about the lynching of Emmett Till, the barn where he was murdered will be converted into a memorial.
The Invisible Forces Behind the Books We Read
And why they’re so hard to measure
The New Family Vacation
More and more Americans are traveling with multiple generations—and, perhaps, learning who their relatives really are.
They Do It for Trump
Behind the GOP’s shifting excuses for abandoning Ukraine
Seven Books That Actually Capture What Sickness Is Like
These titles aren’t interested in sticking to a simple narrative about sickness and health—they explore the textures of human life.
The Little-Known Rule Change That Made the Supreme Court So Powerful
More than 80 years ago, the Court decided that it didn’t need to settle whole cases, but could limit its review to specific questions it liked.
Give Russia’s Frozen Assets to Ukraine Now
Putin should pay for the damage his invasion has caused, and the money is needed immediately.
Texas Becomes an Abortion Dystopia
The conservative movement will pay any price to extend restrictions.
Time to Break Up With Your 9-to-5
Sometimes workplace culture requires you to leave the rest of your life at the door. What if there are better ways to structure time?
The Curious SNL Return of Kate McKinnon
The quirky ex–cast member came back to the sketch show, only to disappear into it.
Why Isn’t the Government Doing More About the Housing Crisis?
The Department of Housing and Urban Development should consider doing some housing and urban development.
Bored
Published in The Atlantic in 1994
A Young-Adult Blockbuster With Staying Power
Entertainment musts from Elise Hannum
The Myth of the Unemployed College Grad
A bachelor’s degree continues to be a great investment. Why do the media keep suggesting otherwise?
The Postal Service Wasn’t Built for Boxes
Packages are bringing in much-needed revenue, but the agency can’t be saved without Congress.