Nicholas Thompson

My Friend, Stalin’s Daughter How “the little princess of the Kremlin” became the Cold War’s most famous defector, then struggled to create a new life in the United States.

Svetlana Stalin, Joseph's daughter, was born 100 years ago yesterday. She lived an extraordinary life and defected here in 1967. Late in life, I found her living anonymously in Wisconsin. We became friends and exchanged hundreds of letters.

This is a distressing story about Trump’s attempts to impede Thomas Massie’s efforts to release the Epstein files. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

The ‘Crazy’ Plot to Release the Epstein Files How an unlikely duo of lawmakers partnered with victims to try to hold the powerful accountable

“Nine people familiar with information that was submitted to the FBI and DOJ in recent years told me they were alarmed that many documents—including those that they say include references to Trump—were not made public.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

NICHOLAS THOMPSON’S UNWAVERING PACE – PLAYERS.CO

I was 43 when Nike asked if I wanted to train for the Chicago Marathon with their coaches. I was grieving the death of my father and convinced my best running was behind me. But maybe with their help, that wasn't the case. So I said yes—and ran the fastest marathon of my life.

"Disagreeing with the government is the most American thing in the world."

Anthropic CEO, Dario Amodei, talks to CBS about the Pentagon's decision to cut them off --- and perhaps even to try to shut them down ---- because the company drew red lines over mass surveillance and autonomous killing.

Trump’s Presidency Is Now in Iran’s Hands The U.S. has launched combat operations despite little public support and widespread fears among allies.

"Trump offered immunity to the Revolutionary Guard Corps, armed services, and police if they laid down their arms. The alternative was “certain death.” Yet he didn’t say whom any takers should surrender to, given the operation has not involved ground forces." www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

Trump’s Enormous Gamble on Regime Change in Iran A few paths to success, many to failure

1) Iran's gov deserves to fall.

2) Success--meaning a new, more humane government arrives---is not impossible; but the path is narrow and hazardous.

3) Trump has not offered anything like an understandable strategy. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

The Ruthless Benevolence of a Great Editor Ann Godoff, who died this week, cared passionately about her writers—and much less about her own ego.

"The essence of editing is ethics; it’s the act of caring for the expression of the thoughts of another as if they were your own.”

A lovely Franklin Foer piece on Ann Godoff’s devotion to her writers. www.theatlantic.com/books/2026/0...

Wow. Kristi Noem’s dog-killing story may have cost her a shot at VP—but it also might've helped land her the role as head of DHS. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

How America Chose Not to Hold the Powerful to Account Our national project of elite impunity

After the arrests of powerful men across the world, you might be asking why the US has so much trouble holding its leaders accountable for lawbreaking. Since Nixon, all three branches of government have worked hard to ensure they can break the law with impunity www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Del Bigtree, a longtime ally of RFK Jr., says he wants not only his own children to contract measles, but others as well. www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/...

A brutal anecdote about Trump and Jared Kushner (featuring Tom Brady), from the new @gavinnewsom.bsky.social book. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

The Trump admin has shown a particular interest in animal welfare. Trump worries about windmills killing “our beautiful bald eagles.” Pam Bondi brings dogs to meetings.

Animals are wonderful, but as @engber.bsky.social points out, there is probably something more at play here. buff.ly/in8hczH

The Trump admin is cutting lifesaving aid to seven African countries because it says “there is no strong nexus between the humanitarian response and U.S. national interests.”

More than 6 million people in those countries are facing extreme or catastrophic conditions, per the UN. buff.ly/in8hczH

@radiofreetom.bsky.social on how the GOP became a haven for Nazi slogans and ideas. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

Our Olympians Are Being Put in an Impossible Position American athletes have been asked to account for Trump—then attacked for doing so.

“None of the American athletes speaking up right now is violating the rules. But nevertheless, they’re being asked to account for what’s happening in this country. It’s not their fault that they can’t explain or defend it.”

A smart piece from @jemelehill.bsky.social

"The former Prince Andrew acted as he did because he lived in a world in which someone like him never faced consequences. That isn’t true anymore."

The always-great Helen Lewis on the arrest of the former Prince Andrew. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

No, the SAVE Act won’t solve rampant noncitizen voting—because it’s not a problem in the first place. www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

This paragraph, from Robert Worth's amazing profile of Bashar al-Assad, is crazy in like seven different ways. www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

The James Talarico interview that Colbert says CBS wouldn’t broadcast now has almost 8M views on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTJ...

Censorship Comes for Stephen Colbert The latest dustup between the talk-show host and CBS should be concerning for people of any political leaning.

“Crackdowns on speech by prominent figures pave a way for the government to regulate speech more broadly, which should be concerning for people of any political leaning because the party and people in power can change.”

For an agency charged with defending the country, this line is particularly troubling: “The issue was not that Butler was incompetent in his job; quite the opposite.” www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

American Kids Used to Eat Everything Children in the 19th century happily consumed wild plants and organ meats. What happened?

American kids used to be much more adventurous eaters. A young Edith Wharton liked turtle soup and oyster sauce. Mark Twain ate squirrels and rabbits.

Fascinating article from @olgakhazan.bsky.social on what changed.

The Disappointment of Young Trump Voters Americans under 30 swung to the right in 2024, but they’re not getting what they voted for.

“The last time Trump’s numbers looked this bad was right after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.”

This Is How a Child Dies of Measles When your family becomes a data point in an outbreak

This is essential reading for any parent.

The Father-Daughter Divide Why they crave closeness but struggle to connect

"As kids reach high school, the discrepancy in how much time dads spend with their sons versus their daughters balloons. The 2012 study found that by age 17, girls were averaging less than 30 minutes a week one-on-one with their dad, while boys got more than an hour."

Some terrific art that sums up the Democratic Party today. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

This Is How a Child Dies of Measles When your family becomes a data point in an outbreak

"For roughly eight years, you will believe that your family made it through this crisis without suffering a tragedy ... But years later, when your baby is in fourth grade, he will begin struggling with subjects he had once mastered."

A heartbreaking piece by Elizabeth Bruenig.

If there is interference in the midterms, it's more likely to look like this than FBI agents seizing voting machines. Via Stephen Richer, the former recorder of Maricopa County. www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...

One of several incredible quotes in this @markleibovich.bsky.social story on the state of the Democratic party. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...