Unable to agree on how to interpret American history, schools, universities, and political institutions have stopped trying to interpret it at all, @YAppelbaum writes. But “without a coherent national story, we will fail to be a coherent nation.”

The Atlantic

The Founders could never have imagined America’s modern information environment—and the “question for our democracy is whether a system designed for the communications technologies of the 18th century can survive those of the 21st,” @JeffreyRosen argues.

The Atlantic

Since the start of his tenure as secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth has sought to delegitimize the accomplishments—and the very presence—of Black people in the military, @ClintSmithIII writes.

The Atlantic

Donald Trump is hosting a UFC fight on the White House lawn for his birthday. Although the president loves fights, he doesn’t understand them, @bhumikatharoor argues. She explores what Trump can learn from mixed martial arts:

The Atlantic

“Battle Hymn of the Republic” can be used to make a statement in a way that “The Star-Spangled Banner” never can—and the rousing urgency of the hymn’s lyrics can’t be ignored, Jake Lundberg writes.

The Atlantic

The latest flu shot is ready for review—but nearly a dozen experts, including former ACIP members and former HHS officials told @KatherineJWu they have never encountered such uncertainty about the basic government process of recommending the vaccines.

The Atlantic

Would you pay $12,000 for a coat of arms? Many Americans have, @helenlewis writes. Why does a nation founded on the rejection of aristocratic traditions still yearn for them?

The Atlantic

“We’d save ourselves an enormous amount of trouble in the future if we’d agree to a simple litmus test: Immediately disregard anyone in the business of selling a vision who proudly proclaims they hate reading,” Thomas Chatterton Williams wrote in 2023:

The Atlantic

.@DKThomp spoke with the economist Jesús Fernández-Villaverde about why the birth rate is dropping, why it matters, and just how steep the decline is likely to get:

The Atlantic

The white identitarians have more cultural and political power today than they did at any point in the past half century—and now that DEI and anti-racism are in retreat, they're moving on to a more ambitious goal, @thomaschattwill argues.

The Atlantic

The hit movie “Obsession” dramatizes a particular kind of Gen Z anxiety spiral, Emma Stefansky writes:

The Atlantic

Tennis is now easier to pick up than ever. “But its real advantage over other sports is what happens when you keep on playing,” Alexandra Moe wrote in 2025.

The Atlantic

No Russian thinker has worked harder than Aleksandr Dugin to rationalize the invasion of Ukraine—but Dugin, along with many other Russian elites, has run out of cogent stories to tell, @shustry reports: : Ramil Sitdikov / AFP / Getty

The Atlantic

"For many people, the talents that bloom later in life are more consequential than the ones that bloom early," David Brooks wrote in 2024:

The Atlantic

Being alive at all is the most extraordinary stroke of good luck any of us will ever experience, the physicist Alan Lightman writes: “The question is: What are we to make of the fantastically improbable fact of our existence, our moment of life?” : Will

The Atlantic

Answer today’s trivia, from Jake Lundberg’s article on the resurgence of a long-standing, politically dubious practice. Check your response and tackle two other questions:

The Atlantic

Joyce Beatty, the lawmaker fighting Donald Trump’s control of the Kennedy Center, says she feels vindicated with recent rulings in her favor—but saving the center legally may be easier than restoring it institutionally, @janaykingsberry reports: : Julia

The Atlantic

Hunter Biden’s return to public life has won him unexpected praise—but there’s a lesson he should learn from his father’s presidency, @GrahamDavidA argues:

The Atlantic

Republicans once sacrificed a Senate seat on the strategic calculation that they were better off without a disreputable colleague—a choice that Democrats now face, David Frum argues. : Jim Watson / AFP / Getty

The Atlantic

The real tradwives of America largely have one thing in common: They can’t afford child care, @fhill_official reports.

The Atlantic

Attacks on James Talarico show the GOP’s narrow, anxious definition of masculinity—and how difficult making a positive case for the party’s own candidate is, Helen Lewis argues: : Danielle Villasana / Getty