The Tariffs Were Never Real
Donald Trump does not appear eager to follow through on one of his biggest campaign promises.
The New Rules
Exploring the policies, people, and ideas reshaping the global economy
Information
This work was commissioned, produced, and edited by The Atlantic's editorial staff. Support for this work was provided in part by the organizations listed here.
Support for these stories was provided in part by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The Atlantic maintains full editorial control over its content.
The Illegal Drug at Every Corner Store
Nitrous oxide is widely available as long as everyone pretends it’s being used for whipped cream. An industry has arisen to exploit that loophole.
DeepSeek’s Chatbot Has an Important Message
The Chinese app has already hit the chipmaker giant Nvidia’s share price, but its true potential could upend the whole AI business model.
The Online Porn Free-for-All Is Coming to an End
Three decades into the internet era, the Supreme Court finally appears ready to uphold age-verification laws.
Where Biden Turned the Battleship
The outgoing president’s legacy of revived antitrust enforcement won’t be easy to undo.
How the Ski Business Got Too Big for Its Boots
A recent strike at a major resort has put the spotlight on what a bad deal both workers and visitors are getting.
What the H-1B Visa Fight Is Really About
Elon Musk and Bernie Sanders agree on how to reform the suddenly controversial immigration program. But the real conflict here is within the parties, not between them.
Why Poor American Kids Are So Likely to Become Poor Adults
Most scholarship on the subject focuses on conditions during childhood. But government support during adulthood plays the biggest role.
The Walmart Effect
New research suggests that the company makes the communities it operates in poorer—even taking into account its famous low prices.
The California Job-Killer That Wasn’t
The state raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers—and employment kept rising. So why has the law been proclaimed a failure?