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President Trump shaking hands with newly sworn in Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office — Jim Watson / AFP / Getty

Kristi Noem Is Gone. Now Mass Deportations Can Really Begin.

DHS has a new leader and a big pot of money to deliver on Trump’s campaign promise.

March 27, 2026

A photograph of Robert Mueller III — Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty

Donald Trump Is Nothing Like Robert Mueller

The absurdity of a man who avoided Vietnam due to “bone spurs” dancing on the grave of a decorated combat veteran

Jonathan Lemire

March 21, 2026

From left to right: Donald Trump (in black and white), Bill Maher (in color), and Mark Twain (in black and white) — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA / Bloomberg / Getty; Steve Granitz / FilmMagic; Bettmann / Getty.

Not So Fast, Bill Maher

The comedian was set to receive the Twain Prize before a sudden reversal of course.

Jonathan L. Fischer and Ashley Parker

March 20, 2026

A view of the Capitol building from afar between pillars — Stefani Reynolds / Bloomberg

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.

Russell Berman and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez

March 20, 2026

Cory Booker — Greg Kahn for The Atlantic

‘I’m Far Angrier’

Can Cory Booker, once the candidate of love, run for president and stay true to who he is?

March 18, 2026

Border Wall at night — Philip Cheung for The Atlantic

The ‘Big Black Scar’

Trump is blowing up national-park land in Arizona to wall off one of the border’s last wild places.

March 17, 2026

Illustration of Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski in black and white over a red background with a silhouette of a warehouse — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Al Drago / Bloomberg / Getty; Elijah Nouvelage / Bloomberg / Getty; Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg / Getty.

Kristi Noem Bought 11 Warehouses to Use as ICE Jails. Now What?

DHS’s next leader will inherit a fast-moving $38 billion plan for industrial-scale immigrant detention.

March 16, 2026

Black and white photograph of Janet Mills set against a blue backdrop with photos and maps of Maine. — Illustration by Lucy Naland. Sources: Gregory Rec / Portland Press Herald / Getty; Getty.

A 79-Year-Old Freshman Senator?

Janet Mills does not have a dicey Reddit history or a recently covered-over Nazi tattoo. But her candidacy is haunted by Joe Biden’s 2024 debacle.

March 16, 2026

A phone dial with the buttons creating a T colored gold and the others colored silver, with a black background — Illustration by Paul Spella / The Atlantic. Source: Getty.

Everyone Has Trump’s Phone Number Now

The president’s personal iPhone has been lighting up.

Michael Scherer and Ashley Parker

March 14, 2026

Markwayne Mullin in front of the Capitol building surrounding by reporters — Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty

High Stakes, and a Low Bar, For Markwayne Mullin at DHS

Trump’s nominee has one big thing going for him: He’s not Kristi Noem.

March 13, 2026