The stats here are kind of remarkable. BART's new fare gates have led to a 1,000-hour decline in clean up time; 41% drop in crime; and $10 million increase in projected revenue. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
“Over these past 70 years of progress, our culture has moved in the direction of autonomy, individualism, and choice. This has generated creativity and freedom, but it has weakened the bonds between people and the elemental commitments that precede choice.” buff.ly/rdOG6q2
The irony of Trump’s invasion of Iran is that, rather than weakening the country, it reminded its leaders how effectively they can wield power over the United States.
Trump was considering pardoning the people who plotted to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer? Crazy. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
A remarkable quote from Henry David Thoreau on the importance of active citizenship. www.theatlantic.com/books/2026/0...
Pretty much every poll for Republicans is a heading in the wrong direction—but anecdotes like this make things seem truly dire. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
“Kushner is both outside and inside government—a 'volunteer,' the White House calls him. And he is vaulting over strictures that were put in place to defend the mechanisms of government from becoming tools of foreign or private interests.”
Every paragraph in this piece from @caity.bsky.social on the search for the best free restaurant bread in America contains something hilarious, fascinating, or just plain delightful. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
“Hegseth, Trump, and many of their fundamentalist and evangelical followers seem less interested in textual interpretation than in seeking scriptural validation for their bloodlust. They seem determined to find texts within the Bible to justify their dark passions.” buff.ly/mTiJDfX
Two days before the election, Orbán had Trump post about the US giving economic support to Hungary. It backfired. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
This is a great piece from Russell Shaw—head of Georgetown Day School—on how we should change our thinking about so-called “difficult” kids. www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/...
@anneapplebaum.bsky.social on why the election in Hungary, a country with a population of fewer than 10 million, could represent a turning point for politics around the world. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Viktor Orbán has ruthlessly clung to power since 2010. J. D. Vance just flew across the world to help make sure it stays that way. And yet, there's a real chance Orbán loses on Sunday.
Then it becomes a question of whether he’ll accept defeat.
Truly alarming context on some of the changes at the Pentagon since Hegseth took over, from @adamserwer.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
"Trump likes his wars unilateral, quick, and cheap. He won’t seek consent from Congress; he cannot appeal to public opinion. He just gambles that the war will end before his poll numbers sink too deep. When this latest war of his turned difficult, he panicked." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
@cwarzel.bsky.social on the timing of Trump’s threat and the Artemis II mission—and what it says about one of the more bizarre moments in US history. www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...
"Hegseth and Trump seem to be purging not only women and people of color, but officers who see them as equally capable." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
A brutal summary of where things stand, from Nancy A. Youssef. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Tablets and computers are amazing tools for helping students learn—but there are all sorts of advantages to writing things out by hand, too. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
"Some people in the Epstein files are monstrously gross. Some are moderately gross. Some are situationally, aspirationally, or cosmetically gross. And it is also quite possible that some may be no grosser than you."
An important piece about some of the names in the Epstein files. buff.ly/Pa2Xjk3
For almost 20 years, Gallup has asked people from countries around the world to rate the leadership of the U.S., China, Russia and Germany.
We're now in third—five points behind China and just five points ahead of Russia.
For 80 years, America cultivated alliances and balanced international relations.
We've almost completely destroyed that goodwill—and now face the possibility that countries will no longer cooperate with us by choice, only by coercion. And that is a dangerous spot to be in. buff.ly/v2LyhuB
The firings alone are unsettling, but the refusal to provide a rationale is downright distressing. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Someone needs to tell the American people what's going on in the Pentagon, and it obviously won't be Pete Hegseth, who is at war with America's senior military officers. My latest:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
@radiofreetom.bsky.social last night: "The president seems lost. Perhaps he should have stayed off the podium for a bit longer, rather than display how adrift he is to the American public and the world."
The markets today: That's correct. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Every time it has seemed like Iran is on the verge of liberation, the regime has found a way—through horrible means—to survive. Now it looks like that devastating story may be playing out again. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Cash hasn't killed caring or quality in college ball. My latest after that stunner of a @ncaa.bsky.social Sweet 16, looking forward to #FinalFour www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...
Trump is trying to threaten Iran into submission—while also attempting to convince markets that negotiations are going well.
Yes, it’s as contradictory as it sounds. @jonathanbchait.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
This is a fascinating idea. If social media fueled polarization by rewarding opinions on extreme ends of the spectrum, could AI chatbots, by optimizing for consensus-driven answers, help swing things back to the center? www.ft.com/content/3880...
Wow. www.theatlantic.com/internationa...