Sondheim’s Confessions
A recently published book casts doubt on the composer’s insistence that his enduring musicals were never autobiographical.
Photos of the Week: Amish Birders, Oscar Winner, Newborn Sloth
Blizzard conditions in Wisconsin, lava flows on the island of Réunion, military drills in the Canadian Arctic, and much more
The Homicide Upending French Politics
A recent killing of a neo-Nazi activist could bring France’s far-right party closer to power than it’s ever been.
The Slow, Then Sudden, Death of the Hawkish Democrat
In 2002, most ambitious Democrats supported a Middle Eastern war. In 2026, most oppose it.
Trump Had No Plan B for Iran
And it shows.
A Serious Senate Debate About an Unserious Bill
The most pressing question about the SAVE America Act is not whether it’s going to pass, but why President Trump and his allies are so determined to see the Senate put up a bill that’s doomed to fail.
The Incredible Story of the Cartel Olympics
A Mexican athlete said he was kidnapped and forced to compete for his life in a tournament of gangs. But was he actually playing a different game?
What’s Going on With the IRS?
The Trump administration’s budget cuts are looming over Tax Day.
There’s Only One Reason to Cold Plunge
The practice has its benefits. Just not the ones wellness influencers are loudest about.
Atlantic Trivia for March 19, 2026: Gruesome Fairy Tales
Test your knowledge—and read our stories for a little extra help.
What Paul Ehrlich’s Fear of Scarcity Did to American Politics
Ehrlich’s lurid predictions of imminent planetary doom captivated the public, but they did not come true.
The Celebrity Clock Is Getting Rewired
Stars can stay relevant for longer than ever now.
There’s No Way the American West Will Have a Normal Summer
This week’s record-breaking heat dome augurs badly for the months to come.
The New Infidelity
Micro-cheating includes all sorts of internet behavior that, to many people, might just seem innocent.
Are They Still Your Friends if You Never See Them?
The friendship crisis of American men
The Seinfeld Theory of Fiction
Annoying characters let us admit that we might be annoying too.
Trump Is Kicking the Economy While It’s Down
How the war with Iran could lead to a recession
Israel Is Missing Its Big Chance in Lebanon
The Lebanese are furious with Hezbollah, but Israel keeps giving it more reasons to fight.
Trump Is Betraying Iran’s Pro-Democracy Protesters
He toyed with their hopes, raising expectations he never meant to fulfill.
The Lesson of Tulsi Gabbard’s Flip-Flop
The existence of war skeptics in a president’s Cabinet is not a valuable indicator of how that president will act.