Trump to DOJ: Pay Up The goal is not just dictatorial power, but ostentatious performance.
https://www.theatlantic.com/id....eas/archive/2025/10/

Moscow Is Planning to Create Its Own USAID As a Ukrainian, I’ve seen firsthand how Russia has learned to emulate American soft power for authoritarian ends.
https://www.theatlantic.com/in....ternational/archive/

Can Trump MAGA-Proof the Shutdown? The administration has tried to hurt only “Democrat things.” It’s not that easy.
https://www.theatlantic.com/po....litics/archive/2025/

A Novel That Understands Where Romance Is Going Claire-Louise Bennett’s new novel trades romantic fatalism for something odder and pricklier.
https://www.theatlantic.com/bo....oks/2025/10/big-kiss

What an Iranian Filmmaker Learned In Prison Jafar Panahi discusses his most daring work yet.
https://www.theatlantic.com/in....ternational/archive/