Today's Liberal News

Speaking from White House, Trump defends pro-Trump murderer Kyle Rittenhouse

Donald Trump gave another campaign monologue attacking opponent Joe Biden from the White House press room this evening. In it, Trump confirmed one of Biden’s central claims: Donald Trump is incapable of denouncing violence by his own supporters.

Trump first defended a caravan of Trump supporters who drove through Portland firing paintballs and pepper spray at protestors. “That was a peaceful protest, and paint is a defensive mechanism, paint is not bullets.

Answer to this question about the alleged Kenosha shooter should be easy, but White House refuses

During a Monday afternoon briefing, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany used fearmongering language typical of the Trump administration, including painting a picture of anarchy, chaos, and riots in Democrat-led cities, in her opening address. McEnany even brought up Donald Trump’s incessant tagline of “law and order,” which his Twitter feed has been full of lately.

He ‘didn’t think of them as a product’: Georgetown coach John Thompson dies devoted to his athletes

John Thompson, an esteemed Georgetown University basketball coach and the first Black head coach to win the NCAA national championship, has died at 78 years old, the university announced Monday. And while his personal record in athletics as a two-time champion playing for the Boston Celtics is more than enough to earn him due praise, it’s his personal investment in his players and their 97% graduation rate that have humbled those even outside of the world of sports.

The Atlantic Daily: What Portland Foretells about the State of Democracy

Every weekday evening, our editors guide you through the biggest stories of the day, help you discover new ideas, and surprise you with moments of delight. Subscribe to get this delivered to your inbox.A pro-Trump caravan clashed with counterprotesters in Portland, Oregon. One man, purportedly affiliated with a far-right group, died. One of our writers warns that such violence speaks to something troubling about the state of democracy.

Listen: Plasma and Immunity

The writer F. T. Kola had COVID-19 in March, and she’s still dealing with the aftermath. She returns to the podcast Social Distance to ask about whether she should donate plasma, and if she should worry about “reinfection.”Also on this episode: Atlantic senior editor John Hendrickson talks about disability at the Democratic National Convention. Read his definitive story on Joe Biden and stuttering.

All the President’s Lies About the Coronavirus

Editor’s Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here. Updated at 11:25 a.m. ET on August 31, 2020.President Donald Trump has repeatedly lied about the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s preparation for this once-in-a-generation crisis.Here, a collection of the biggest lies he’s told as the nation endures a public-health and economic calamity. This post will be updated as needed.

How Donald Trump Is Killing Politics

After a caravan of Donald Trump’s supporters descended on Portland, Oregon, this weekend, aching to grapple, he praised them as “great patriots.” In cheering them on, Trump is pointing them, and others like them, toward a specific target. What he seeks to eliminate is politics itself.Politics is such a ubiquitous term in the English language, such a seemingly fixed part of American life, that its existence is assumed and its definition rarely considered.

White Supremacist in the White House: Ibram X. Kendi on Trump’s Calls for “Law & Order” in Kenosha

In Part Two of our interview with Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, we air excerpts from the families of Jacob Blake and George Floyd at the massive protest marking the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, and discuss President Trump’s planned visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, as he blames Democrats for violence during protests there and in Portland, Oregon.

Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Ibram X. Kendi on Legacy of “Black Panther” Actor, Cancer & Anti-Racism

Tributes continue to pour in for beloved actor Chadwick Boseman after his death at age 43 following a private four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman is best known for his iconic role as King T’Challa in the groundbreaking “Black Panther” — the first mainstream Black superhero movie and a smash hit that earned more than $1 billion at the box office.

Dear Therapist: Should My Parents Get Divorced?

Editor’s Note: Every Monday, Lori Gottlieb answers questions from readers about their problems, big and small. Have a question? Email her at dear.therapist@theatlantic.com. Dear Therapist,For quite some time, I’ve known that my parents haven’t gotten along. They are polar opposites: My father is mild-mannered to the point of reticence; my mother is mercurial and can go from playful and loving to angry in a matter of minutes.