How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
Revenge of the COVID Contrarians
They’re angry at the public-health establishment. Now they’re in control of it.
Dear Therapist: No One Wants to Host My In-Laws for the Holidays
My husband’s parents are divorcing, and they are worried about being alone.
The Business-School Scandal That Just Keeps Getting Bigger
The rot runs deeper than almost anyone has guessed.
What the Broligarchs Want From Trump
Tremendous power is flowing to tech and finance magnates.
The Leak Scandal Roiling Israel
Netanyahu’s spokesperson stands accused of revealing secrets for political gain.
The Right Has a Bluesky Problem
The X exodus is weakening a way for conservatives to speak to the masses.
The Atlantic Gift Guide
The Atlantic has chosen 65 gifts for bringing more merriment, adventure, and wonder to the ones you love.
Best of How To: Spend Time on What You Value
How to make the most of your downtime
Climate Diplomacy’s $300 Billion Failure
Climate negotiations at COP29 ended in a deal that mostly showed how far the world is from facing climate change’s real dangers.
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 Fairy Tale We’ve Been Retelling for 125 Years
Every generation has an Oz story, but one retelling best captures what makes L. Frank Baum’s world sing.
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.
What Pete Hegseth Doesn’t Get About Women in Combat
Trump’s allies treat every change in social norms as a DEI project gone wrong.
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.
A Ridiculous, Perfect Way to Make Friends
Group fitness classes aren’t just about exercise.
A Good Country’s Bad Choice
And what I got wrong about the 2024 election
Winners of the 2024 International Landscape Photographer of the Year
Some of the top and winning images from this year’s landscape-photography competition
The Long-Held Habits You Might Need to Reconsider
One of the most humbling parts of being alive is realizing you’ve been doing a simple thing wrong.
Gladiator II Is More Than Just a Spectacle
Ridley Scott’s ancient-Roman epic manages to find some beauty amid the savagery.