Trump’s Struggle to Find an Off-Ramp From the Iran War
The Iran‑U.S. conflict entered its third month with fighting largely confined to the Strait of Hormuz. After two U.S. destroyers were hit, the Navy responded with limited strikes that President Trump dismissed as a “love tap,” keeping the cease‑fire technically intact. Panelists on Washington Week highlighted that Iran now controls more of the strait, while Trump appears increasingly impatient for an exit strategy. The stalemate threatens global oil flows and adds uncertainty to markets.
Understanding Our Mothers
The Wonder Reader’s latest edition curates a suite of Atlantic pieces that explore mothers beyond their parental role, delving into the lives they led before children arrived. It highlights personal essays, a 2015 neuroscience feature on hormonal shifts, and recent...
The Real Cost of Withdrawing U.S. Troops From Germany
President Trump announced a phased removal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, with a possible larger drawdown over the next year. The cuts will focus on units stationed around Vilseck and Grafenwoehr, shrinking the roughly 50,000‑person American community that includes...
Denyce Graves’s Second Act
Denyce Graves closed her three‑decade Met career with a moving performance as Maria in *Porgy and Bess*, receiving a commemorative plaque in the Met’s List Hall. The ceremony came amid a turbulent cultural climate, as the Trump administration targeted the...
Music’s Next ‘Disco Sucks’ Moment Is Near
A new wave of music marketing called “trend simulation” pays influencers and bots to flood social‑media feeds with fabricated enthusiasm, tricking algorithms into treating songs as viral hits. The tactic was exposed by Chaotic Good Projects, whose founders bragged about...
The Tragedy of the Tradwife
Caro Claire Burke’s debut novel *Yesteryear* surged to No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list within weeks of release, prompting Amazon to secure film rights with Anne Hathaway slated to star. The book critiques the TikTok‑driven "tradwife" phenomenon, where influencers portray...
The Attention-Span Panic
The Atlantic essay argues that America’s anxiety over shrinking attention spans reflects a broader shift from "deep" to "hyper" attention, a change accelerated by smartphones and social‑media platforms. Neuroscientists note that sustained focus consumes significant brain glucose, and rapid task‑switching...
The FBI Is Reportedly Investigating a Leak to an Atlantic Writer
The FBI is said to have opened a criminal leak investigation focused on Atlantic journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick, who reported on alleged misconduct by FBI Director Kash Patel. The bureau’s spokesperson denied any such probe, calling the claim false. Patel has...
A Brutal First for the Cruise Industry
Health officials have reported the first documented hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, the MV Hondius, which was sailing toward South Africa with roughly 150 passengers and crew. Three passengers have died and four are ill, including two laboratory‑confirmed cases...
What Adding Race to BMI Can Do
Body‑mass index, a 19th‑century height‑weight ratio, remains a cornerstone of obesity and diabetes screening despite its inability to distinguish muscle from fat or locate visceral adiposity. Clinicians have layered race‑based adjustments onto BMI, a practice increasingly criticized because racial categories...
For Ibram X. Kendi, It’s Nazis All the Way Down
Ibram X. Kendi’s new 600‑page volume, *Chain of Ideas*, argues that the modern Great Replacement conspiracy is a re‑branded form of Nazism, linking far‑right leaders across continents to a single authoritarian agenda. The reviewer contends the book functions more as...
Europe Without America
The Trump administration launched a unilateral war against Iran, leaving NATO allies out of the loop and later blaming them for a lack of support. In response, the Pentagon abruptly reassigned long‑time NATO policy director Mark Jones and announced a...
How Everest Has Changed Since Into Thin Air
Since Jon Krakauer’s 1996 book *Into Thin Air*, Everest has been climbed roughly 13,000 times, with commercial expeditions accounting for over 90% of ascents. Mortality has plummeted from one death per five summits to one per 173 by 2025, thanks...
How to Find Focus When It’s Most Elusive
David Epstein’s recent essay recounts how a medically‑imposed slowdown forced him into monotasking, revealing that limiting physical movement heightened his concentration. The piece argues that true focus stems from deliberately restricting multitasking, not merely choosing the right activity. Epstein’s experience...
Your Next Dog May Live Longer
Longevity biotech Loyal, founded by Celine Halioua, has received FDA clearance to market a daily pill that improves insulin sensitivity and could extend dogs’ lifespans. The agency deemed the drug likely effective based on a small study of about 50...
Atlantic Reads: How to Be a Dissident With Gal Beckerman
On May 13, Atlantic staff writer Gal Beckerman will sit down with podcast host Adam Harris for a live Atlantic Reads conversation about his new book *How to Be a Dissident*. The book blends philosophy, history and a practical guide...
The Trump Administration Casts Out the ‘Soul’ of MAHA
President Trump announced on Truth Social that he is withdrawing Casey Means’ nomination for surgeon general, ending the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) push to install a wellness influencer with a controversial health agenda. Means, a former surgical resident turned...
Seven Death-Defying Books for the Adventurous Reader
The article curates seven high‑octane adventure books that transport readers to extreme environments, from Shackleton’s Antarctic ordeal in *Endurance* to the perilous 4,000‑mile trek of *The Sun Is a Compass*. Each entry highlights the author’s storytelling craft, historical depth, and...
Making America’s Houses Bigger May Have Been a Mistake
U.S. millennials and Gen Z are abandoning the long‑standing dream of ever‑larger single‑family homes, preferring smaller, walkable residences. The National Association of Realtors reports a clear preference for compact housing in dense neighborhoods, yet new construction remains dominated by detached...
The Iran War’s Ramifications Have Only Just Begun
The eight‑week Iran war has left Tehran with practical control of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that moves roughly 20% of global oil and LNG. Although a cease‑fire is in place, negotiations are stalled and the strait remains effectively...
All the Sad Young Chinese Professionals
The "Are You Dead?" app, which let users check in every 48 hours to alert contacts if they missed a check‑in, became China’s top paid iPhone download before being forced off the App Store by regulators. Its removal highlights a...
Child Care Is Buckling
President Trump told Easter guests the federal government cannot fund day‑care, Medicaid or Medicare, arguing states should shoulder the cost. The comment comes as child‑care providers across Indiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina and other states report hundreds of closures, cutting more...
The Avant-Garde Path to God
James K. A. Smith’s new book argues that abstract and experimental contemporary art can foster mystical contemplation, countering traditionalist critics like Roger Scruton who dismiss modern art as merely provocative. Smith illustrates his point with visits to works by Agnes Martin...
The Lost Idealism of Heartland Rock
The Atlantic’s new feature revisits heartland rock—a 1970s‑80s sound defined by stadium‑sized guitars, blue‑collar storytelling, and left‑leaning politics. It highlights how icons like Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Bob Seger and Tom Petty used the genre to champion ordinary Americans, while later...
MAHA’s Perfect Villain
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Monsanto v. Durnell, weighing whether Bayer, the owner of Roundup, should be shielded from state lawsuits alleging the herbicide’s cancer risk. Outside the Court, the MAHA coalition staged a high‑profile rally near the...
The Pentagon May Not Be Telling Trump the Full Picture About the War
Vice President J.D. Vance has repeatedly pressed the Pentagon for a clearer picture of the Iran war, questioning the department’s upbeat claims about missile stockpile levels. Internal assessments suggest the United States may have expended more than half of its...
Why Silicon Valley Is Turning to the Catholic Church
Silicon Valley’s top AI leaders have been meeting the Catholic Church in Rome’s Minerva Dialogues since 2016, seeking ethical guidance while the Vatican hopes to regain moral authority. The partnership has influenced AI developers, notably Anthropic’s Claude model, whose "constitution"...
The Big Question the Fed-Chair Hearing Leaves Open
Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor and Trump ally, testified before the Senate Banking Committee, insisting he would act as an independent Fed chair. The hearing highlighted intense scrutiny over his willingness to resist President Trump’s push for lower rates...
Eight of the Most Fascinating Biographies to Read
The article curates eight standout literary biographies, ranging from Hermione Lee’s exhaustive portrait of Virginia Woolf to Stacy Schiff’s vivid reconstruction of Cleopatra. Each work is praised for its blend of rigorous research, narrative flair, and the author’s personal devotion...
Brace for the Plastic-Price Hikes
The Iran‑Israel conflict has shut the Strait of Hormuz, choking the flow of naphtha and other oil‑derived feedstocks that feed Asia’s petrochemical complex. Shortages have forced force‑majeure notices and triggered price spikes of 30% or more for polyethylene, polypropylene and...
A Life Hack for the Ultra-Wealthy Is Going Mainstream
A growing niche of “house managers” is moving from ultra‑wealthy estates to affluent middle‑class families, offering a blend of personal assistance, household oversight, and concierge services. Companies such as Sage Haus and Personal Assistant for Mom connect families with managers...
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Endgame
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has asked U.S. regulators for permission to launch up to one million additional satellites, a move tied to his vision of orbital data centers that would harvest solar power for AI workloads. The plan coincides with a...
Why Justin Bieber Played YouTube Onstage for Thousands of People
Justin Bieber opened his first Coachella appearance in four years with a minimalist set that included a live YouTube browsing segment, prompting critics to call the performance lazy. The stage was stark, his wardrobe subdued, and he sang primarily from...
Peter Hujar’s Photos Are All the Rage. He’d Be Shocked.
Peter Hujar’s photography is experiencing a renaissance nearly four decades after his death, driven by high‑profile exhibitions and new publications. The Morgan Library will display over 110 of his contact sheets in the upcoming "Hujar: Contact" show, while a dual...
The New Age of Performance Anxiety
Propranolol, a beta‑blocker once prescribed for heart conditions, is seeing a surge in off‑label use to tame modern stage fright amplified by smartphones and social media. The article argues that ubiquitous personal broadcasting blurs the line between everyday life and...
The Problem With Hasan Piker’s Einstein Story
Hasan Piker appeared on the "Pod Save America" podcast and claimed Albert Einstein’s views on Zionism mirrored his own, asserting Einstein opposed the Israeli state. Historical records show Einstein actively supported the creation of Israel, fundraising for Hebrew University, and...
Is Hurry the Great Enemy of Spiritual Life?
John Mark Comer, a bestselling evangelical author, argues that hurry—an incessant sense of urgency amplified by technology—is the chief obstacle to spiritual life. His 2019 bestseller "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" and the 2024 follow‑up "Practicing the Way" outline nine...
The First Draft of Cultural History
The Atlantic’s Books Briefing spotlights Lena Dunham’s new memoir *Famesick*, arguing that gossip‑laden memoirs serve as the rough draft of cultural history. The review praises Dunham’s candid, humor‑filled recounting of her privileged Manhattan upbringing, early filmmaking struggles, and Hollywood’s transactional...
RFK Jr.’s New Normal
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., long known for anti‑vaccine rhetoric, faced a tense hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee, where he largely avoided repeating discredited claims. The White House has urged him to stay...
The Publishing Mystery That No One Wants to Talk About
Woody Brown, a non‑speaking autistic author, released his debut novel *Upward Bound* to bestseller status after a Today show feature. The book was written using a letter board and Rapid Prompting, a communication method criticized by ASHA for facilitator influence....
Is Anybody Actually Winning Trump’s Iran War?
In a recent episode of The David Frum Show, former Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger detailed the escalating “cold truce” between the United States and Iran, highlighting failed negotiations in Pakistan and the emergence of dueling blockades in the Strait...
A New Kind of Hybrid Car Is About to Hit America’s Streets
The Ram 1500 REV, an extended‑range electric vehicle (EREV), will debut later this year, pairing a 150‑mile electric range with a gasoline generator that pushes total range to roughly 700 miles. Automakers are turning to EREVs to ease American range‑anxiety,...
The Paradox of Modern Medicine
Diagnostic errors affect an estimated 13 million Americans each year, with over 750,000 resulting in permanent disability or death. Despite a 2015 National Academies report calling for reform, most U.S. health systems still lack systematic tracking of misdiagnoses, and only nine...
The Guitar Sounds New Again
New Jersey musician Michael Gordon, known as Mk.gee, released his debut album *Two Star & the Dream Police* in 2024, showcasing a guitar tone that mimics orchestras, wildlife and underwater radios. Fans traced the sound to a Roland VG‑8, a...
How to Raise ‘Difficult’ Kids—On Purpose
The article argues that so‑called “difficult” students are essential to a healthy learning environment because they challenge complacency and spark moral debate. It critiques schools’ tendency to reward compliance while marginalizing dissenting voices, and shows how parents can unintentionally silence...
Harmeet Dhillon Is Not Wasting Any Time
Harmeet Dhillon, appointed assistant attorney general for civil rights in May 2024, has rapidly reshaped the DOJ's Civil Rights Division to align with President Trump’s agenda, halting DEI initiatives and redirecting resources toward partisan goals. Within a year, roughly 70%...
The Iran War Is Putting Pressure on Europe
A panel on Washington Week With The Atlantic examined how President Trump’s war in Iran is straining Europe’s economies and diplomatic ties. While NATO allies continue to share intelligence and logistics with the United States, European leaders feel increasingly scapegoated...
America Has a New GLP-1 Playbook
The latest GLP‑1 oral formulations—Eli Lilly’s Foundayo and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill—offer a needle‑free alternative but deliver modest weight‑loss results compared with their injectable counterparts. Clinical data show Foundayo can preserve most of the weight lost on injections over a year, while...
Iran Has the Upper Hand in the Upcoming Negotiations
Vice President Kamala Vance flew to Pakistan to open talks with Iranian officials as a tenuous two‑week cease‑fire hangs over the U.S.–Israel war with Iran. Iran appears to hold the upper hand, leveraging its control of the Strait of Hormuz...
How Fake People Became Real Influencers
The New York Times reports that AI‑generated influencers—synthetic avatars that look human—are flooding social feeds to market supplements and other products. A Graphite study shows AI‑written articles have outpaced human writers since November 2024, and venture‑backed firms like Doublespeed are offering bulk...