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Taylor Swift Is a Perfect Example of How Publishing Is Changing

Swift is a symptom, not a cause, of the weakening bonds between celebrities and publishing houses.

The Cases Against Trump: A Guide

Thirty-four felony convictions. Charges of fraud, election subversion, and obstruction. One place to keep track of the president-elect’s legal troubles.

Three Ways to Become a Deeper Thinker

You don’t have to become a Buddhist monk to realize the value of contemplating hard questions without clear answers.

The Right Has a Bluesky Problem

The X exodus is weakening a way for conservatives to speak to the masses.

Everyone Agrees Americans Aren’t Healthy

The Biden administration tried to address the country’s health problems, with only modest success.

The Sense That Most Defines a Culture

Yáng Shuāng-zǐ’s Taiwan Travelogue shows how colonization shapes a country’s culinary landscape.

The Atlantic Gift Guide

The Atlantic has chosen 65 gifts for bringing more merriment, adventure, and wonder to the ones you love.

Donald Trump Gets Away With It

Jack Smith is dropping the charges against the president-elect for his assault on the fundamentals of American democracy.

The Trump-Trumpist Divide

The incoming president wants to do things his voters have not embraced.

A Ridiculous, Perfect Way to Make Friends

Group fitness classes aren’t just about exercise.

There’s No Longer Any Doubt That Hollywood Writing Is Powering AI

Dialogue from these movies and TV shows has been used by companies such as Apple and Anthropic to train AI systems.

The Saruman Trap

When power is corrupt, there is no way to escape its toxic influence.

Flying Is Weird Right Now

Is flying less safe? Or are we just paying closer attention?

Donald Trump’s Most Dangerous Cabinet Pick

Pete Hegseth considers himself to be at war with basically everybody to Trump’s left, and it is by no means clear that he means war metaphorically.

Put Down the Vacuum

Americans need to get off the tidiness treadmill.

A Good Country’s Bad Choice

And what I got wrong about the 2024 election

The Supreme Court Has Itself to Blame for Texas Defying Its Orders

Greg Abbott is taking a stand to protect his state’s right to let children die in the Rio Grande, and four justices of the Supreme Court are encouraging him to do so.

Dear Therapist: I Was the Other Woman

I know I sound naive, but this wasn’t like a “normal” affair.

The ‘Democracy’ Gap

Almost all Americans say they support democracy—but they have very different ideas about what the word means.

Best of How To: Spend Time on What You Value

How to make the most of your downtime