1. I’ve spent the past several years trying to solve a riddle: Why has America ceased to be a land of opportunity for so many of its people? The answer, I’ve come to believe, is that we’re STUCK: penguinrandomhouse.com/books…

A lot of people doubted the president's promise to revitalize programming at the Kennedy Center by broadening its appeal, but credit where it's due—today's livestream is an absolutely viral sensation: theatlantic.com/culture/2026…

"Although it’s unlikely that Trump will publicly dwell on his advancing age, he’s certainly not hiding from his birthday. This is all part of an in-your-face presidency, one meant to dominate and overwhelm," @JonLemire writes. theatlantic.com/politics/202…

A look at Donald Trump the soccer player (a decent defender, his teammates recall), the soccer dad (not much of one, having not gone to Barron’s games) the soccer fan (claims Pele is his favorite) and the soccer host (of a World Cup plagued by problems) theatlantic.com/politics/202…

More on the Semicinquentennial meltdown, with receipts, from @michaelscherer theatlantic.com/politics/202…

New story:

California takes forever to count its votes, @russellberman and @yvonnewingett report, and the lack of speed is now spawning conspiracy theories theatlantic.com/politics/202…

I wrote about the economic crisis Iranians are suffering from. I spoke to many across the country who helped me paint a picture of just how dire things are.

🚨 new Elaine Godfrey story 🚨

Freddy is far and away the best part of the World Cup

A generation ago, Britain was a global power—today, its output is barely above that of America’s poorest state, @imkahloon reports. He traveled to the nation to explore what happened: theatlantic.com/magazine/202…

The Republican Party’s refusal to accept the prospect of Spencer Pratt’s defeat in the L.A. mayor’s race is bizarre and revealing, @jonathanchait argues: theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…

"It’s our 250th birthday, and no one seems to know what we’re celebrating." This is really good, from Yoni Applebaum, featuring Johann Neem and Jill Lepore, among others. theatlantic.com/magazine/202…

“Deleting accounts of the past not because they are false but because they are true betrays a curious lack of confidence. Do the censors fear that Americans will cease to love their country once they know the full story?” theatlantic.com/magazine/202…

The highest purpose of journalism is to shine a bright light on to neglected problems: theatlantic.com/technology/2…

The entire University of California system abandoned the use of standardized tests in admissions during the pandemic. Now a huge share of STEM and economics faculty is demanding the tests are considered again, @imkahloon reports: theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…

Read @bhumikatharoor on what fighters know that Trump does not: theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…

A patriotic banger from @JerusalemDemsas theargumentmag.com/p/you-hav…

Read this excellent piece on Trump and MMA by @bhumikatharoor who, among many other things, definitely knows a thing or two about fighting. "If Trump shares with his predecessors a fascination with the fight ring, he also differs from them in crucial respects. Hyper-masculinism is integral to MAGA culture, and on a superficial level, the experience of a UFC fight can be as theatrical as a Trump rally—swagger, combativeness, and drama. These qualities may work well in meme-making or cosplay, but iIllusions of strength are not useful in mixed martial arts. In a fight, you can’t wriggle away from the consequences of your actions. The punches are not scripted. Actions matter more than words. And nobody is going to pardon you out of getting hit."