Culture
The Ed Sheeran Controversy The Ed Sheeran Controversy
In a society that claims to promote free speech, what crosses the line from controversial to unacceptable? Who gets to define where the line begins and ends?
Populists Can’t Be Populist if They Suppress the Vote Populists Can’t Be Populist if They Suppress the Vote
The crusade against ballot access, like virtually every other facet of Trump’s agenda, does nothing to serve the interests of “the people,” but our press is too brain-dead to noti…
Justice for Macklemore Justice for Macklemore
The rapper has been dumped from Ed Sheeran’s tour for saying “free Palestine.” That’s a disgrace.
Edward Said: Between Worlds Edward Said: Between Worlds
A new film biography depicts the Palestinian writer as still out of place—and ahead of his time.
Books
The Palestine of Soraya Antonius and Annemarie Jacir The Palestine of Soraya Antonius and Annemarie Jacir
In The Lord and in Palestine ’36, the story of Mandatory Palestine comes into focus.
The Bund and the Radical History of Jewish Anti-Zionism The Bund and the Radical History of Jewish Anti-Zionism
Molly Crabapple’s Here Where We Live Is Our Country revisits the past of the Jewish Labor Bund and considers what it might mean for our future.
Love and Literature in Leslie Fiedler’s America Love and Literature in Leslie Fiedler’s America
When will the American novel grow up?
Film
The Misremembered ’90s of “The Backrooms” The Misremembered ’90s of “The Backrooms”
The Gen Z filmmaker presents the decade not as it was but as reproduced via nostalgic threads on Internet forums.
Boots Riley’s Communist Heist Film Boots Riley’s Communist Heist Film
Yes, it even has Marxist teleporters.
David Ellison’s Delusional Stab at Self-Justification David Ellison’s Delusional Stab at Self-Justification
While the Skydance–Warner Bros. merger is in legal limbo, the CEO seeking to pull it off makes a disingenuous case for it in the court of public opinion.
Do Epics Need Heroes? Do Epics Need Heroes?
In recent years, the online right has contested adaptations of epic in order to make an argument about masculinity. The Odyssey is their latest target.
This Isn’t About Rosebud, David Ellison This Isn’t About Rosebud, David Ellison
Antitrust law exists so that a free press and an open market never hang on the temperament of one well-meaning billionaire.
Television
Road Trip to Nowhere Road Trip to Nowhere
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s reality show is an ungainly mix of corporate corruption and MAGA agitprop.
David Ellison’s Delusional Stab at Self-Justification David Ellison’s Delusional Stab at Self-Justification
While the Skydance–Warner Bros. merger is in legal limbo, the CEO seeking to pull it off makes a disingenuous case for it in the court of public opinion.
Architecture
What’s Behind the Dubai-ification of America’s Yemeni Cafés? What’s Behind the Dubai-ification of America’s Yemeni Cafés?
Over the years, Yemeni cafés have become beloved establishments for students and coffee lovers alike. But recently they have undergone a conspicuous aesthetic makeover.
The Misremembered ’90s of “The Backrooms” The Misremembered ’90s of “The Backrooms”
The Gen Z filmmaker presents the decade not as it was but as reproduced via nostalgic threads on Internet forums.
The Nostalgic Architecture of the Obama Presidential Center The Nostalgic Architecture of the Obama Presidential Center
Where hope even has a gift shop.
Music
Justice for Macklemore Justice for Macklemore
The rapper has been dumped from Ed Sheeran’s tour for saying “free Palestine.” That’s a disgrace.
Dolly Parton Understood That Working 9 to 5 Doesn’t Really Pay the Bills in Today’s America Dolly Parton Understood That Working 9 to 5 Doesn’t Really Pay the Bills in Today’s America
Social mobility has ground to a halt. Why that’s lousy for American music.
Dolly Parton Was More Than an Icon Dolly Parton Was More Than an Icon
Later in life, she was heralded as a symbol of Americana—complete with her own amusement park. But what will last of her is her body of work.
A Rave Novel Rediscovered A Rave Novel Rediscovered
Ann Scott’s “Superstars” captures the last gasp of pre-Internet counterculture.
Slavery’s Musical Threads Slavery’s Musical Threads
As ICE violence resurges in the US, the musical history of black Brazil offers lessons in resistance.
Publishing
John Edgar Wideman’s American Vernacular John Edgar Wideman’s American Vernacular
The master novelist offers a view of a United States defined by its cultures of improvisation.
Daniel Poppick’s Novel of White-Collar Work Daniel Poppick’s Novel of White-Collar Work
The first novel by the poet asks us what fantasies get us through the day.
Paying Tribute to Richard Lingeman—Longtime Executive Editor and a Quiet Force at “The Nation” for More Than Three Decades Paying Tribute to Richard Lingeman—Longtime Executive Editor and a Quiet Force at “The Nation” for More Than Three Decades
A man of few spoken words, on the page he was a marvel.
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