The Violence in Vermeer It is easy to treat the Dutch artist as an agreeable intimist—a transcriber of domestic niceties. But he grew up in a world of war, starvation, and massacres. His paintings were safe havens.

Weekend reading from this week's issue: "The Violence in Vermeer" by Anthony Lane. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/20

“A Private View” Fiction by Douglas Stuart, the author of “Shuggie Bain” and “John of John”: “Oh, not another story about me,” she cried. “Another book about how I was the world’s worst mother. I wish you could find something else to write about.”

Another pick from the April 20 issue: "A Private View" by Douglas Stuart. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/20

The Return of Family Detention

"The Return of Family Detention" by Sarah Stillman is our pick from the April 20, 2026 issue of The New Yorker. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/20

“Rate Your Happiness” New fiction by Catherine Lacey, the author of “Biography of X” and “The Möbius Book”: How natural it is to fail, to fail to decide, to remain in meaningless motion.

Weekend reading from this week's issue: "Rate Your Happiness" by Catherine Lacey (@catherinelacey.bsky.social). newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/13

Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth’s Warped Vision of the Iran War The two men might wish that they lived in a world where whoever dropped the most bombs got whatever he wanted. But the war has shown that this isn’t true.

Another pick from the April 13 issue: "Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth’s Warped Vision of the Iran War" by Benjamin Wallace-Wells. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/13

The Pharmageddon Riddle by Michael Specter | April 10, 2000 | New Yorkerest Michael Specter's "The Pharmageddon Riddle" — Featured pick from The New Yorker's April 10, 2000 issue.

Michael Specter's 2000 piece on Monsanto reads like a thriller—corporate boardrooms, environmental activists, and the question of whether biotech giants are villains or saviors. 24 years later, still the sharpest take on agribusiness doublespeak.

https://newyorkerest.com/issue/2000/04/10

Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted?

"Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted?" by Ronan Farrow (@ronanfarrow.bsky.social) is our pick from the April 13, 2026 issue of The New Yorker. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/13

The Camps Promising to Turn You—or Your Son—Into an Alpha Male At the Men of War Crucible, you bear crawl through rivers. At Warrior Week, you dig your own grave. At the Squire Program, your teen-ager can take part, too.

Weekend reading from this week's issue: "The Camps Promising to Turn You—or Your Son—Into an Alpha Male" by Charles Bethea (@charlesbethea.bsky.social). newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/06

What Was Behind the T.S.A. Meltdown? The present mess has roots in two entangled, defining White House projects:DOGEand the mind-bending expansion ofICE.

Another pick from the April 6 issue: "What Was Behind the T.S.A. Meltdown?" by Benjamin Wallace-Wells. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/06

The Dirty Secrets of a Smear Campaign by David D. Kirkpatrick | April 3, 2023 | New Yorkerest David D. Kirkpatrick's "The Dirty Secrets of a Smear Campaign" — Featured pick from The New Yorker's April 3, 2023 issue.

Only 7 years ago, hackers exposed how an entire country orchestrated a smear campaign that destroyed an American businessman—using fake identities, stolen phone records, and planted rumors. The digital playbook now defines modern disinformation.

https://newyorkerest.com/issue/2023/04/03

He Helped Stop Iran from Getting the Bomb

"He Helped Stop Iran from Getting the Bomb" by David D. Kirkpatrick (@davidkirkpatrick.bsky.social) is our pick from the April 6, 2026 issue of The New Yorker. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/06

Is Cuba Next? Trump’s campaign to topple foreign adversaries encounters a battered but defiant regime.

Weekend reading from this week's issue: "Is Cuba Next?" by Jon Lee Anderson. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/30

“Floating” Fiction by Souvankham Thammavongsa, the author of “How to Pronounce Knife” and “Pick a Color”: After he left, I said to my friend, “I like him. Is he single?” My friend said he’d never mentioned a partner.

Another pick from the March 30 issue: "Floating" by Souvankham Thammavongsa. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/30

How an American Radical Reinvented Back-Yard Gardening by Jill Lepore | March 24, 2025 | New Yorkerest Jill Lepore's "How an American Radical Reinvented Back-Yard Gardening" — Featured pick from The New Yorker's March 24, 2025 issue.

Ruth Stout's "no-work" gardening method from half a century ago now dominates every homesteading podcast and garden center—but her radical secrets went far beyond mulch.

https://newyorkerest.com/issue/2025/03/24

The 99% Invisible Breakdown of The Power Broker - 99% Invisible In 1974, two very significant things happened, if you are a fan of 99% Invisible. Number one is that 99PI host Roman Mars was born. And number two, The Power Broker by Robert Caro was published. Roman...

99% Invisible produced a fantastic "listen along" podcast a couple years ago. 99percentinvisible.org/pb/

We just added RSS support back to the site for those of you who have been missing it. Enjoy! www.newyorkerest.com

Robyn, on Her Own

"Robyn, on Her Own" by Jia Tolentino is our pick from the March 30, 2026 issue of The New Yorker. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/30

Lisa Kudrow Is Back—Again Twenty two years after the end of “Friends,” the actress returns with a new installment of “The Comeback.”

Weekend reading from this week's issue: "Lisa Kudrow Is Back—Again" by Michael Schulman (@michaelschulman.bsky.social). newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/23

“My Balenciaga” Fiction by Han Ong. It could have been an experiment by the master. An early draft. A failed caprice.

Another pick from the March 23 issue: "My Balenciaga" by Han Ong. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/23

Trump’s Mass-Detention Campaign

"Trump’s Mass-Detention Campaign" by Jonathan Blitzer (@jonathanblitzer.bsky.social) is our pick from the March 23, 2026 issue of The New Yorker. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/23

The Zombie Regulator As the cost of living continues to spiral upward, the Trump Administration is gutting the government agency built to protect Americans from financial ruin.

Weekend reading from this week's issue: "The Zombie Regulator" by E. Tammy Kim. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/16

“The City Is a Graveyard” Fiction by Addie Citchens, the author of the novel “Dominion”: Life is a wild, silly ride when you’re out here yearning as hard as you are.

Another pick from the March 16 issue: "The City Is a Graveyard" by Addie Citchens. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/16

Howard Stern’s Bad-Taste Trap by David Remnick | March 10, 1997 | New Yorkerest David Remnick's "Howard Stern’s Bad-Taste Trap" — Featured pick from The New Yorker's March 10, 1997 issue.

"A small, vicious-looking shark wheels through the tank. Eels spool around the shark." David Remnick's Howard Stern profile from 1997 opens like noir fiction.

https://newyorkerest.com/issue/1997/03/10

Where Is the Iran War Headed?

"Where Is the Iran War Headed?" by Robin Wright is our pick from the March 16, 2026 issue of The New Yorker. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/16

“Calm Sea and Hard Faring” Fiction by Yiyun Li, the author of “The Book of Goose” and “Things in Nature Merely Grow”: The children, two by two, walked into the woods solemnly, the hurricane lamp swinging, the light vanishing and then returning.

Weekend reading from this week's issue: "Calm Sea and Hard Faring" by Yiyun Li. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/09

The Man Who Broke Into Jail In Nashville, a criminal-justice activist commits a baffling crime.

Another pick from the March 9 issue: "The Man Who Broke Into Jail" by James Verini. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/09

What a Major Solar Storm Could Do to Our Planet by Kathryn Schulz | March 4, 2024 | New Yorkerest Kathryn Schulz's "What a Major Solar Storm Could Do to Our Planet" — Featured pick from The New Yorker's March 4, 2024 issue.

2 years ago, Kathryn Schulz warned that solar storms could devastate our power grid. With recent geomagnetic activity hitting new highs, her question feels urgent: are we prepared?

https://newyorkerest.com/issue/2024/03/04

Can the Democrats Get It Together?

"Can the Democrats Get It Together?" by Amy Davidson Sorkin is our pick from the March 9, 2026 issue of The New Yorker. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/09

The Trial of Gisèle Pelicot’s Rapists United France and Fractured Her Family After fifty-one men were convicted, Pelicot became a feminist hero. But additional accusations left her children struggling to accept her new role.

Weekend reading from this week's issue: "The Trial of Gisèle Pelicot’s Rapists United France and Fractured Her Family" by Rachel Aviv (@rachelaviv.bsky.social). newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/02

The Migrants in the Ancient Forest Five years ago, Belarus began enabling people from high-conflict countries to attempt the crossing into Europe. Despite high walls and backlash, they’re still coming.

Another pick from the March 2 issue: "The Migrants in the Ancient Forest" by Elizabeth Flock. newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/03/02