Journalism
Prince Harry’s Book Undermines the Very Idea of Monarchy
"The cost of all the pomp and pageantry, the tabloid sales and the viral clicks, the patriotism and the tradition, has been the utter destruction of one boy’s mind." (The Atlantic).
The New Gurus
From productivity hackers to dating coaches, from crypto bros to wellness influencers, when did the internet get taken over by gurus? Helen Lewis investigates. (BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds)
Elon Musk’s Brutally Honest Management Style
Like everyone else still left on Twitter—at this point, roughly 90,000 journalists and 14 bemused normal people—I was deeply skeptical about Elon Musk’s takeover of the social network. (The Atlantic)
DeSantis’s COVID Gamble Paid Off
His message was a macho one of risk-taking and courage, which tapped into the existing Republican advantage among male voters. (The Atlantic)
Rishi Sunak, Scion of Britain’s New Ruling Class
British democracy is shrinking, and the result is Sunak—a politician who lacks a popular mandate but does have incredible wealth and an air of hoodie-wearing dorkiness. (The Atlantic)
Liz Truss Fought The Lettuce. The Lettuce Won
Today, the lettuce looked a little bruised, but it could still be incorporated into a healthy salad. Sadly, Liz Truss serves no such useful purpose. (The Atlantic)
The PM Who Got Everything Wrong
Just six weeks into her tenure, Liz Truss's ambitions have shuffled off this mortal coil, rung down the curtain, and joined the choir invisible. (The Atlantic)
The Guggenheim’s Scapegoat
How did a simple offer, over a single painting, lead to such a spectacular destruction of someone’s life and career? (The Atlantic)
The Second Elizabethan Age Has Ended
Like the North Star in the night sky, Queen Elizabeth II was a fixed point, something by which to orient yourself. She was six weeks older than Marilyn Monroe, three years older than Anne Frank, nine years older than Elvis Presley—all figures of the unreachable past. She was older than nylon, Scotch tape, and The Hobbit. (The Atlantic)
Boris Johnson’s Terrible Parting Gift
In his last days as prime minister of Britain, Boris Johnson conducted a farewell tour of the country. Possibly he expected something like the accolades his beloved Roman generals were given—a small arch in his honor, say—or at least a few angry Gauls walking miserably behind his chariot. Instead he went to a field in southwest England and stared at a hole in the ground. (The Atlantic)