Today's Liberal News
Trump Ally Erik Prince Supplied Arms, Mercenaries For Planned Libya Coup: Report
The U.N. finds Trump endorsed a strongman in Libya four days after Prince made a pitch to the militia boss for an $80 million mercenary op, the N.Y. Times reports.
Our new data confirms two Louisiana House seats shouldn’t flip in upcoming special elections
Our project to calculate the 2020 presidential results for all 435 House seats nationwide nears its end with Louisiana, which will host not one but two special elections on March 20. You can find our detailed calculations here, a large-size map of the results here, and our permanent, bookmarkable link for all 435 districts here.
Prosecutor who brought down John Gotti interviews Michael Cohen in Manhattan DA’s Trump probe
If you’re longing to see Donald Trump in an orange jumpsuit, here’s some news that might grab ya, so to speak: The Manhattan DA investigating Donald Trump hired the veteran prosecutor who brought down Gambino mob boss John Gotti, and he has already interviewed Trump fixer Michael Cohen.
Key Biden Nominee At Serious Risk After Democrat Joe Manchin Says He’ll Vote No
Neera Tanden, the Democratic nominee for director of the Office of Management and Budget, has elicited criticism for her partisan rhetoric.
Rep. Lauren Boebert Ripped For Not Understanding Basics Of The Constitution
The Republican congresswoman apparently didn’t learn about amendments in her high school civics class.
Listen: ‘A Disaster for Feminism’
Nearly a year ago, Atlantic staff writer Helen Lewis predicted the pandemic would be “a disaster for feminism,” and far too many of her predictions have proven true. With women leaving the workforce at unprecedented rates, why has the pandemic’s burden fallen so much harder on them? And what can we, as a society, do about it?Lewis joins staff writer James Hamblin and comedian Maeve Higgins on the podcast Social Distance.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Doing Ted Cruz’s Job To Provide Texas Storm Aid
The New York congresswoman helped raise $2 million in relief for Texans and is heading to the state to dispense supplies after the GOP senator went to Cancun.
The Window for D.C. Statehood Won’t Be Open Forever
With one move, Democrats could reshape government and potentially lock in their majority in the Senate for years to come. Four of their own stand in the way.The party may have just a few months to make it happen—but leaders in the House and Senate are taking their time and arguing about the details.Advocates see statehood for Washington, D.C.
It Turns Out People Really Like Throwing Axes During a Pandemic
“Hatchet houses” survived a terrible year by providing a valuable public service.
The Books Briefing: The Works That Changed Our Understanding of America
A government of the people, by the people, and for the people: That was the idea behind the American experiment. But there has always been tension between the idea and the reality.Inspired by great works of American inquiry, The Atlantic and WNYC Studios earlier this month launched a new podcast, The Experiment: stories from an unfinished country.
The Double Meaning of the American Dream
Having moved from the teeming cityscape of Taipei to the rural American South in the 1970s as a preteen, I know something of the shock, at once awe-inspiring and estranging, of that first sight of the great American landscape—just sheer land—that seems to stretch on forever.
Hiking Is an Ideal Structure for Friendship
Each installment of The Friendship Files features a conversation between The Atlantic’s Julie Beck and two or more friends, exploring the history and significance of their relationship.This week she talks with a group of friends who have been going on monthly hikes for 25 years. They discuss why the hike organizer has absolute authority, how they’ve shown up for one another through tragedies, and why hiking together has bonded them more deeply than other ways of keeping in touch.
Democracy Now! Turns 25: Celebrating a Quarter-Century of Independent News on the Frontlines
Democracy Now! first aired on nine community radio stations on February 19, 1996, on the eve of the New Hampshire presidential primary. In the 25 years since that initial broadcast, the program has greatly expanded, airing today on more than 1,500 television and radio stations around the globe and reaching millions of people online.
Dear Care and Feeding: My Daughter Was Just Diagnosed With ADHD. Could I Have It, Too?
Parenting advice on adult ADHD, new mom support, and infidelity revelations.
Tensions start to emerge in Biden’s dance with governors
Some governors are increasingly rankled by federal maneuvers like moving vaccine out of their control, creating early friction as Biden wraps up his first month.
The Argument for (and Against) Only Forgiving $10,000 of Student Debt
President Biden’s plan would actually do a lot of good—but it could do even more.
It’s Getting Harder for Hallmark to Avoid Politics
From the Capitol riot to LGBTQ representation, reality is intruding on the company’s traditional, conservative fantasy.
Americans Are in a Golden Age of Yelling at Their Local Representatives
Thanks to the pandemic, it’s never been easier to give your mayor an earful.
Biden Wants to Give States $350 Billion. Do They Still Need It?
It turns out the pandemic may not have been the budget wrecker everyone feared.
If Rush Hour Dies, Does Mass Transit Die With It?
Downtowns won’t recover from the pandemic anytime soon. Public transportation must look elsewhere.
Now Streaming: Wild and Wise, the New Show With Jamilah Lemieux
Jamilah and williambryantmiles take on topics of race, sex, and identity.
I Planned to Give Up My “Dangerous” Gas Stove. Then Texas Froze.
The South’s winter storm crisis raises a difficult question for the movement against gas stoves.
Biden’s economic point man draws praise — and pushback
Allies laud Brian Deese’s leadership on the stimulus negotiations, but he’s rubbed some the wrong way.
Biden aims to isolate China on coal — but it could blow back on the U.S.
The U.S. wants to stop new coal projects, but risks losing poor countries to Beijing’s “Belt and Road” agenda.
‘Clearly not healthy’: Markets are giddy about reopening — and that’s the problem
Investors are pumping up bubbles across markets, with excitement growing about more stimulus and widespread vaccinations.
‘The Democratic version of John McCain’
As the critical swing vote in a 50-50 Senate, Joe Manchin has emerged as the most powerful man in Washington.
U.S. backs Okonjo-Iweala, first woman and African, to head WTO
The decision breaks with the Trump administration’s opposition to Okonjo-Iweala and brings the U.S. in line with much of the rest of the world.
Photos of the Week: Mars Rover, Green Fur, Icicle Tunnel
Lava flows on Mount Etna, ski championships in Italy, scenes from the Australian Open, ice skating in the Netherlands, an image from New York Fashion Week, freezing conditions in Texas, a monument to cosmonaut Yury Gagarin, snowy scenes in Greece, and much more.
Can you hear the chants of ‘resign’ as Ted Cruz blames his kids for Cancún fiasco?
Decades of inaction by corrupt politicians, groveling at the oily feet of the fossil fuel industry led to a natural disaster-turned epic disaster in Texas. A winter storm took advantage of an archaic fossil fuel-soaked energy grid. Then conservative officials, their party, and their media propaganda machines attempted to place blame for this failure on renewable energy—which makes up less than 20 percent of the grid.