In this special “Galaxy Brain” episode, @cwarzel.bsky.social is joined by @isaacstanleybecker.bsky.social and @adriennelaf.bsky.social to talk about the newly released Epstein files. They share their findings, address the political fallout, and explore what—if anything—can be learned:

“The president’s appetite for plastering his name on every available surface appears insatiable,” Eliot A. Cohen argues.

Bowen Yang received a moving send-off on last night’s “Saturday Night Live,” ending a tenure marked by his “subtle sweetness,” writes @shirklesxp.bsky.social:

A Christmas movie need not end with a choir of schoolchildren singing “Silent Night” to evoke what the season is all about. The Atlantic’s Culture staff shares its favorite non-Christmas Christmas movies:

Over the next year, the Roberts Court “will face more cases that could further erode both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, pushing America back toward what some on the right believe is the true, Antebellum Constitution,” Adam Serwer argues.

In Sommarøy, a small Norwegian village north of the Arctic Circle, residents have an exceptionally lax approach to timekeeping. Shayla Love traveled there to find out whether modern life really can break free from the clock.

“I don’t see my brother often but whenever I’m about to … I feel this onrush of eagerness. All day it came in waves, as the miles strung out behind me.” Read a short story by Ben Markovits:

“My parents looked so old / and small next to them. Whose life was this size? / Up close, the gold paint was scotched and chipping.” Read a new poem by Drew Rollins:

“The president’s appetite for plastering his name on every available surface appears insatiable,” Eliot A. Cohen argues.

Bowen Yang received a moving send-off on last night’s “Saturday Night Live,” ending a tenure marked by his “subtle sweetness,” writes @shirklesxp.bsky.social:

A Christmas movie need not end with a choir of schoolchildren singing “Silent Night” to evoke what the season is all about. The Atlantic’s Culture staff shares its favorite non-Christmas Christmas movies:

The federal government is now finally backing away from a misguided position about the risks of marijuana—but the new position brings along a different set of problems, @nicholasflorko argues. theatln.tc/hdkm9NSa

Something about getting older makes it easier to say “No, thank you.” In the Wonder Reader, @isabelfattal.bsky.social explores the key to happiness in older age and offers tips for making the tough choices that can help life feel more joyful.

The 21st day of the annual Space Telescope Advent Calendar features galaxies of varying shapes and sizes, some appearing stretched and warped. Check back every day until December 25 for a new image of our universe:

In this special “Galaxy Brain” episode, @cwarzel.bsky.social is joined by @isaacstanleybecker.bsky.social and @adriennelaf.bsky.social to talk about the newly released Epstein files. They share their findings, address the political fallout, and explore what—if anything—can be learned:

After the success of the original “Avatar,” the entire film industry rearranged itself to accommodate 3-D movies. Now they’re hardly made. Daniel Engber on where 3-D went wrong:

Over the next year, the Roberts Court “will face more cases that could further erode both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, pushing America back toward what some on the right believe is the true, Antebellum Constitution,” Adam Serwer argues.

A Christmas movie need not end with a choir of schoolchildren singing “Silent Night” to evoke what the season is all about. The Atlantic’s Culture staff shares its favorite non-Christmas Christmas movies:

In Sommarøy, a small Norwegian village north of the Arctic Circle, residents have an exceptionally lax approach to timekeeping. Shayla Love traveled there to find out whether modern life really can break free from the clock.

“Donald Trump likes to use a big number to anchor his point, especially when he wanders off on a tangent,” Marie-Rose Sheinerman reports. “Often it seems that a specific figure is on the tip of his tongue.”

Full of redactions, the thousands of newly released Epstein files seem unlikely to end any Epstein conspiracy theorizing. Likely, they will do the opposite, @cwarzel.bsky.social argues.

Toyotathon and other end-of-year sales events are a bit different this year. Patrick George on why America is stuck with expensive cars for the foreseeable future:

Hibachi chefs, sci-fi Barbie-themed parties, and 22-year-old billionaires. @lilashroff.bsky.social spent a week in San Francisco meeting the young tech founders at the heart of the AI boom:

A radical new academic field questions people’s tendency to see their emotions mirrored in historical figures. Boris Kachka considers how to integrate the field’s research into our interpretation of characters from classic literature:

Donald Trump’s executive order targeting state AI regulations is his latest gift to Silicon Valley, argues @matteowong.bsky.social:

“Warren Buffett has truly been, and will remain, one of a kind,” Seth A. Klarman writes. He explores what made Buffet an American role model:

Hong Kong’s response to a fire that killed more than 160 people suggests the city is becoming more authoritarian, Timothy McLaughlin argues—and this will only compound problems that “contributed to last month’s tragedy and that raise the risk of future ones”:

Hibachi chefs, sci-fi Barbie-themed parties, and 22-year-old billionaires. @lilashroff.bsky.social spent a week in San Francisco meeting the young tech founders at the heart of the AI boom:

Those who speculated wildly about the Brown shooter without knowing any facts got things wrong—and it is important that they lose their credibility because of it, Graeme Wood argues.

@petridishes.bsky.social writes satirical analyses of the news of the day. Ask her about her career, her puns, how to write humor, and some of her favorite pieces this Monday at 1 p.m. ET on Reddit:

In The Wonder Reader, @isabelfattal.bsky.social explores movies from the past year, and offers recommendations for both revisiting beloved favorites and finding something new:

The 20th day of the annual Space Telescope Advent Calendar features an image of a vast cloud of gas and dust in space, with a sharply defined edge. Check back every day until December 25 for a new image of our universe:

For fans of the “Avatar” franchise, the latest sequel will be delightfully familiar. But “the bad news for anyone not already on board: This film has no interest in you,” David Sims writes:

J. D. Vance believes that immigrants are the prime driver of American anti-Semitism—but making anti-Semitism about your ideological enemies misses whole dimensions of the problem, @yair-rosenberg.bsky.social argues:

In this special “Galaxy Brain” episode, @cwarzel.bsky.social is joined by @isaacstanleybecker.bsky.social and @adriennelaf.bsky.social to talk about the newly released Epstein files. They share their findings, address the political fallout, and explore what—if anything—can be learned:

Hibachi chefs, sci-fi Barbie-themed parties, and 22-year-old billionaires. @lilashroff.bsky.social spent a week in San Francisco meeting the young tech founders at the heart of the AI boom:

Something about getting older makes it easier to say “No, thank you.” In the Wonder Reader, @isabelfattal.bsky.social explores the key to happiness in older age and offers tips for making the tough choices that can help life feel more joyful.

@petridishes.bsky.social writes satirical analyses of the news of the day. Ask her about her career, her puns, how to write humor, and some of her favorite pieces this Monday at 1 p.m. ET on Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/

What did Jeffrey Epstein understand about Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita”? Pretty much nothing, Graeme Wood writes.

After the success of the original “Avatar,” the entire film industry rearranged itself to accommodate 3-D movies. Now they’re hardly made. Daniel Engber on where 3-D went wrong:

Warren Buffett’s imminent retirement is a moment to reflect on the qualities that have made him the most successful investor of all time—and an American role model, Seth A. Klarman writes. theatln.tc/oW1dncWy

The MAGA movement wants fewer undocumented workers in America and more babies born to American mothers—but research suggests that those two goals are at odds, Olga Khazan argues:

For 20 minutes, Americans watched Donald Trump address the nation, “drenched in pure panic as he tried to bully an entire nation into admitting he’s doing a great job,” @radiofreetom.bsky.social argues: theatln.tc/Du4KkLTo

Full of redactions, the thousands of newly released Epstein files seem unlikely to end any Epstein conspiracy theorizing. Likely, they will do the opposite, @cwarzel.bsky.social argues. theatln.tc/91bMrBrs

Hibachi chefs, sci-fi Barbie-themed parties, and 22-year-old billionaires. @lilashroff.bsky.social spent a week in San Francisco meeting the young tech founders at the heart of the AI boom:

“Donald Trump likes to use a big number to anchor his point, especially when he wanders off on a tangent,” Marie-Rose Sheinerman reports. “Often it seems that a specific figure is on the tip of his tongue.”

The release of the Epstein files left many of his victims disappointed with how the Justice Department handled it, Sarah Fitzpatrick reports. “America is getting a look tonight into how we have all felt for years,” one survivor said. theatln.tc/V5mdzJUA

The release of the Epstein files left many of his victims disappointed with how the Justice Department handled it, Sarah Fitzpatrick reports. “America is getting a look tonight into how we have all felt for years,” one survivor said.

This holiday, give a gift that opens conversations. Right now, you can give a year of unlimited access to The Atlantic—that means daily articles, beautiful magazine issues, audio, games, live events, and more—plus a signature Atlantic tote as a free bonus.* Give today: theatln.tc/n9PnF4eC