The Unbearable Weight of Mission: Impossible
What started as the adventures of a brilliant spy morphed into the mythology of an exemplary human being.
The Big, Beautiful Republican Shrug
Republicans routinely criticized Democrats for rushing bills through Congress. Now that they’re in power, they don’t seem to mind.
My Shipwreck Story
On my first time out as a commercial fisherman, my boat sank, my captain died, and I was left adrift and alone in the Pacific.
The Anti-Natalist’s Revenge
A manifesto left by the bomber of a fertility clinic demands refutation.
A Convenient Piece of Junk Science
RFK Jr. is prepared to rework the FDA’s official assessment of the abortion pill mifepristone based at least in part on a questionable report.
Trump’s National-Security Disaster
Trump’s vandalism of the national-security structure, Signalgate, and a conversation with Susan Rice
The Protective ‘Politburo’ That Hid Biden’s Decline
Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson discuss their new book, Original Sin.
The End of Rule of Law in America
The 47th president seems to wish he were king—and he is willing to destroy what is precious about this country to get what he wants.
Photos of the Week: Dragon’s Teeth, Witch Convention, High Plateau
A swannery in southern England, tornado damage in Kentucky, drought conditions in the Florida Everglades, a rally race in a Chinese desert, and much more
The Largest Upward Transfer of Wealth in American History
House Republicans voted to advance a bill that would offer lavish tax cuts for the rich while slashing benefits for the poor.
OpenAI’s Ambitions Just Became Crystal Clear
But when you promise the world a revolutionary new product, it helps to have actually built one.
24 Books to Get Lost in This Summer
The Atlantic’s writers and editors have chosen fiction and nonfiction to match all sorts of moods.
The Congressman Who Saw the Truth About Biden
While many Democrats remained in denial, Mike Quigley perceived something painfully familiar.
A Defense Against Gaslighting Sociopaths
If you can recognize their signature move, then forewarned is forearmed.
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
The Most Controversial Game on the Internet
Wyna Liu, the editor of the New York Times game Connections, discusses her process and the particular ire her puzzles inspire.
American Corruption
The Founders would have hated Trump’s luxury jet.
Trump Is Making Netanyahu Nervous
Cracks are showing in the U.S.-Israel alliance.
A Striking Moment in American Activism
A new documentary revisits a pivotal week at Gallaudet University in 1988.
The Myth of the Poverty Trap
We know how to end extreme poverty. Why haven’t we done it?