The Perception Gap That Explains American Politics
Americans overwhelmingly—but, it turns out, mistakenly—believe that Democrats care more about advancing progressive social issues than widely shared economic ones.
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
It’s not just a phase.
Why Are You Still Cooking With That?
Black plastic spatulas, nonstick pans, and other Thanksgiving cooking worries
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.
The Business-School Scandal That Just Keeps Getting Bigger
The rot runs deeper than almost anyone has guessed.
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
Always a Girlboss, Never a Tradwife
A new Netflix documentary explores the cost of Martha Stewart’s chase for domestic perfection.
The Nature You See in Documentaries Is Beautiful and False
Nature documentaries mislead viewers into thinking that there are lots of untouched landscapes left. There aren’t.
Your Armpits Are Trying to Tell You Something
The best time to apply antiperspirant is right before bed. Seriously.
The Trump Marathon
If Americans want to hold Trump accountable in a second term, they must keep their heads when he uses chaos as a strategy.
Even Worse Than The Da Vinci Code
Conclave treats Catholic theology as mere policy, like the membership rules at Augusta National.
The Musical Blockbuster That Didn’t Play By the Rules
Wicked makes the case that audiences aren’t so tired of the genre after all.
Thanksgiving Should Be in October
A modest proposal for fixing the back-to-back-holiday crunch
The Road Dogs of the American West
Survivalists, drifters, and divorcées across a resurgent wilderness
The Atlantic Gift Guide
The Atlantic has chosen 65 gifts for bringing more merriment, adventure, and wonder to the ones you love.
My Home Is a Horror of Unfinished Tasks
Why can’t I get anything done?
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.
How America Got Mean
In a culture devoid of moral education, generations are growing up in a morally inarticulate, self-referential world.
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.