2020 2020
We’ve had a year, you must admit, Whose misery would just not quit. At last, we offer this obit: We’re glad to see the back of it.
Dec 29, 2020 / Column / Calvin Trillin
What Can We Learn From the 1918 Pandemic? What Can We Learn From the 1918 Pandemic?
A recent history of the pandemic illuminates not just parallels with our moment but how a public health crisis can become a political one as well.
Dec 29, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Richard J. Evans
Apples Apples
The townspeople paste wax apples on the trees, glow shyly out their windows as the Dictator struts past the monument of his father strutting past nothing at all. Yesterday, the Dic…
Dec 29, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Claire Schwartz
Random Assignment Random Assignment
It seems to want to rain but can’t. It fades to pink, an argument. Relinquish the dream. You can’t ever get what you want, You can’t please any of the people Any of the time. Time…
Dec 29, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Elisa Gabbert
How the Fight Over Spain’s Anti-Fascist Legacy Involves a Former ‘Nation’ Editor How the Fight Over Spain’s Anti-Fascist Legacy Involves a Former ‘Nation’ Editor
Spain’s progressive government is protecting the tomb of Julio Álvarez del Vayo, foreign minister for the Republic during the Civil War and later a Nation editor. Spain’s right win...
Dec 28, 2020 / Sebastiaan Faber and Bécquer Seguín
Even as a Weak President, Trump Has Undermined Democracy Even as a Weak President, Trump Has Undermined Democracy
Singularly unable to achieve his legislative agenda or run an effective administration, Trump instead relied on dangerous demagogic theater.
Dec 28, 2020 / Jeet Heer
The US Covid Death Toll Increases Exponentially The US Covid Death Toll Increases Exponentially
The impact of the pandemic on American lives continues to be devastating.
Dec 28, 2020 / OppArt / Andrea Arroyo
Somewhere Real Somewhere Real
Get in, George Eliot. I packed PB&Js. I’m bringing that rainbow parachute we held hands under as eight year olds. Get in, right beside Autumn, beside every manic pixie dream gi…
Dec 28, 2020 / Poems / Shira Erlichman
Teetering on the Edge: A Postcard From London Teetering on the Edge: A Postcard From London
The city bids goodbye to 2020 with Brexit brinkmanship and a return to lockdown.
Dec 28, 2020 / D.D. Guttenplan
House Democrats’ Marijuana Decriminalization Vote Is Huge—and Not Enough House Democrats’ Marijuana Decriminalization Vote Is Huge—and Not Enough
This is exactly the right time to start pulling back from the war on drugs.
Dec 28, 2020 / Column / Kali Holloway