The Atlantic

“If you’re not worried about this country’s fiscal outlook, you’re not paying attention,” Jared Bernstein, a former economic adviser to President Biden, argues. theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/…

.@JohnAvlon, a former speechwriter for Rudy Giuliani, considers his legacy: “Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that his sordid actions on behalf of Trump have made the real-world effectiveness of his policies less accessible to current and future mayors.” theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/…

A spate of high-profile scandals is forcing a fresh reckoning over what to do about AI writing, @WillOremus reports. theatlantic.com/technology/202…

"People have stopped believing that the economy can be good, and have lost the willingness to admit that they are doing well. That pessimism might be harder to fix than an actual downturn," @AnnieLowrey argues. theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/…

The late Karl Lagerfeld’s blue-cream Birman cat lived a pampered life with two maids, chef-prepared meals served on the best china, and travel by way of private jet. Chris Heath explores the delightfully absurd life of Choupette: theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/…

A new book, “Dekonstructing the Kardashians,” is an opportunity to reflect on the reality stars’ rise—and what their power says about the people watching them, Megan Garber argues: theatlantic.com/culture/2026/0…

Stephen Colbert’s farewell to “The Late Show” was in many ways deeply ordinary—a striking choice that reminded viewers what made his program so singular, writes David Sims: theatlantic.com/culture/2026/0…

At the Enhanced Games, where athletes were encouraged to dope, the sports seemed less like the main event and more like a Trojan horse for a broader business—selling supplements to the masses, @elcush reports from Las Vegas: theatlantic.com/culture/2026/0…

“Many of the adults that I most admire, they were not easy teenagers,” Russell Shaw says. He examines how feisty kids—who made some teachers quietly miserable—may possess a “moral fire” that deserves cultivation: theatln.tc/47MIG4Ac

Exclusive: The DHS secretary told travel executives that he’s serious about curbing international flights to U.S. airports in cities with “sanctuary” policies, which could force airlines to re-route and inflict economic pain, @NickMiroff reports. theatln.tc/A0CDtiZD 📸: Jacquelyn Martin / AP

Donald Trump’s most consequential psychedelics policy yet is linked to a drug that’s received little scientific investigation, largely thanks to Bryan Hubbard, an ibogaine advocate who believes that his mission is divine, Shayla Love reports. theatlantic.com/health/2026/05…

.@JohnAvlon, a former speechwriter for Rudy Giuliani, considers his legacy: “Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that his sordid actions on behalf of Trump have made the real-world effectiveness of his policies less accessible to current and future mayors.” theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/…

Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund is a tool that could divert public money to his supporters—even January 6ers, @jonathanchait argues: theatln.tc/vJTM0C6q

Americans aren’t partying as much as they used to. This year, we should all resolve to change that, Ellen Cushing writes. theatln.tc/hblGG3uB

At a frantic hospital near Ukraine's front lines, the retired U.S. Army neurosurgeon Rocco Armonda is operating on the country’s most critically wounded soldiers—and he’s treating far more brutal injuries than he did in Iraq, @MarthaRaddatz writes: theatlantic.com/international/…

“If you’re not worried about this country’s fiscal outlook, you’re not paying attention,” Jared Bernstein, a former economic adviser to President Biden, argues. theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/05/…

A man without diplomatic expertise is leading Putin’s negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, and he is making a pitch to the U.S., @robertfworth reports: America “should sell out Ukraine’s sovereignty in exchange for glittering billion-dollar projects”: theatlantic.com/international/…

In 2025, James Murdoch, the exiled scion, spoke with @mckaycoppins about the bitter divide within his family, and the battle over the future of conservative media. Revisit the piece: theatln.tc/ZYtIlYfF 📸: Ron Galella / Getty

Newer, better UV-blocking agents have been in use in other countries for years, Amanda Mull wrote in 2022. Why can’t we have them here? theatlantic.com/technology/arc…

Thomas Massie's ouster is the latest demonstration that MAGA has just one unbreakable rule, @Yair_Rosenberg argues. theatlantic.com/politics/2026/…