FDR’s Jewish Problem FDR’s Jewish Problem
How did a president beloved by Jews come to be regarded as an anti-Semite who refused to save them from the Nazis?
Jul 17, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Laurence Zuckerman
Surveillance Blowback Surveillance Blowback
The making of the US surveillance state, 1898–2020.
Jul 16, 2013 / Alfred W. McCoy
This Week in ‘Nation’ History: The Fourth of July and the Meaning of Patriotism This Week in ‘Nation’ History: The Fourth of July and the Meaning of Patriotism
In our first issue, just after the Civil War, we wrote that in 89 years of celebrating the Fourth of July, never before did Americans have more to rejoice about on Independence Day...
Jul 4, 2013 / Blog / Katrina vanden Heuvel
The Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA The Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA
“The court invalidated the Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal benefits to gay couples who are legally married in their states.” —NBC News Those not in catacombs in Roma Will know the court has struck down DOMA. That’s great for gays in, say, Tacoma— Unless they move to Oklahoma.
Jul 3, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
How the Powerful Derail Accountability: The Case of Intelligence Reform (Part II) How the Powerful Derail Accountability: The Case of Intelligence Reform (Part II)
When momentum gathered to reign in the national security state in 1976, the powers that be struck back with a distraction campaign that worked.
Jul 2, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein
Immortality Immortality
Online, no matter what I say My words will never go away. In cyberspace they’re there to stay. For that I thank the NSA.
Jun 19, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Unsparing Truths: On Lucille Clifton Unsparing Truths: On Lucille Clifton
A poet’s reckonings with suffering and indifference.
Jun 19, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Jordan Davis
The Last Unfinished Page: On Euclides da Cunha The Last Unfinished Page: On Euclides da Cunha
A portrait of the journalist and intellectual who championed the caboclos of the young Brazilian republic.
Jun 18, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Lorna Scott Fox
Adieu, Michele Bachmann Adieu, Michele Bachmann
Gigantic tears into our eyes now well As we prepare to say farewell, Michele. We pliers of the small-joke trade are grieving. We so regret to hear that you are leaving. Oh, sure, we often managed to make merry With gaffes by Sarah Palin or by Perry. And Cain was grand; with Trump we had a ball. But you, Michele, were wackiest of all.
Jun 5, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Rage and Ruin: On the Black Panthers Rage and Ruin: On the Black Panthers
A new history of the party is too close to its subject, and misses the human drama.
Jun 5, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Steve Wasserman