Donald Trump’s advisers have been working for months to move his focus away from baseless theories of election fraud—but a group of outsiders is making that difficult, @yvonnewingett and @michaelscherer report. theatln.tc/MSjJxO2p

Abdul El-Sayed isn’t afraid of starting an argument—but the Michigan Democrat doesn’t always pick his fights carefully, @HelenLewis writes. She spoke with the candidate ahead of the midterm elections: theatln.tc/BGrm4Ucq

Exclusive: Egypt’s top spy flew to Israel shortly before October 7 with a dire warning about Gaza, @vmsalama reports. Watch Salama’s full discussion with host @AdamHSays on Radio Atlantic about her reporting: theatlantic.com/podcasts/202…

Discourse over healing one’s attention span has grown. Julie Beck and the author Jenny Odell discuss the link between how much technology commands people's focus—and informs their understanding of who they are: theatln.tc/LxvWre4U

“The war will not end until the Islamic Republic of Iran collapses or undergoes some transformation,” @EliotACohen argues. “And if either occurs, it will probably come as a surprise.” theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…

When, exactly, does middle age begin and end? @isabelfattal asks. In the Wonder Reader, she explores a collection of stories about how modern life has made the phases of aging murkier: theatlantic.com/newsletters/…

“The Last Ditch’s future might be precarious, but so is the future of the social-justice protection racket.” @helenlewis draws lessons from the fight over a lesbian bar in Massachusetts. theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…

Xi Jinping arrived in Washington this week for a state visit. @peterbakernyt, @sbg1, @AdamHSays, and @vmsalama joined @JeffreyGoldberg on @washingtonweek to discuss what Xi’s conversations with Trump reveal about trade, AI, and the war with Iran: theatlantic.com/national/202…

Four years into the ChatGPT era, colleges may be further from solving the problem of AI cheating than ever before, @WillOremus argues: theatlantic.com/technology/2…

Billie Holiday and Lil Jon have both helped James Parker understand America in the three decades since he moved there. Parker shares five picks from his list of 50 songs that help explain the country. We want to hear from you too. Leave us a voicemail about a song you think explains America at (202) 266-7715. By participating, you agree to grant The Atlantic permission to use, modify, and distribute the audio files in all media. Read his full list: theatln.tc/nOPlrnjF

The greatest American popular music has always been a broadcast from the national unconscious, James Parker writes. He shares his list of the 50 songs that explain America: theatlantic.com/culture/2026…

The national media is not the “human-resources department” for Democratic staffers who “seem to believe that their role is to serve as a kind of moral check on their boss,” @jonathanchait argues: theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…

Exclusive: Egypt’s top spy flew to Israel shortly before October 7 with a dire warning about Gaza, @vmsalama reports: theatln.tc/cSzmY0kw

America's allies no longer think the country's isolationism and protectionism will end with Trump, @vmsalama reports. theatlantic.com/national-sec…

Donald Trump has used the press to his political advantage—but changes within the news industry are making it more difficult for presidents to exercise power, @dicktofel argues. theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…

Donald Trump’s vision for a monumental arch was always ambitious—even before he decided that it should also be a military complex, @janaykingsberry reports. She examines why the president’s additions to the arch may not work the way the he hopes: theatlantic.com/culture/2026…

Donald Trump’s extravagant spending could threaten the global economy and destroy trust in the dollar—and Republicans are enabling this, @davidfrum argues. theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…

Donald Trump Jr. thanked a Russian businessman for “an extraordinarily generous” wedding gift—but current and former intelligence officials see an effort by the Kremlin to influence people in the president’s orbit, @shaneharris reports. theatln.tc/m9oFrZFb

“A book that once rightfully inspired devotion can simply fall out of favor, or even out of print,” Dustin Illingworth writes. He recommends six titles that are no longer fashionable—but worth reading: theatln.tc/FFU3o2rS

AI is sapping people’s concentration in a new way—one that abstaining from the technology won’t fix, @thomaschattwill argues: theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0…