Culture
Trump Wants to Make Art Into a Tool of the State Trump Wants to Make Art Into a Tool of the State
In ordering a review of the Smithsonian, the White House wants to use its power to remake our culture—or to reinvigorate a strain in the culture that has been dormant for a long t…
The Empty Provocations of “Eddington” The Empty Provocations of “Eddington”
Ari Aster’s farcical western is billed as a send-up of the puerile politics of the Covid years. In reality, it’s a film that seems to have no politics at all.
The Revolutionary Politics of “Andor” The Revolutionary Politics of “Andor”
The latest addition to the “Star Wars “series offers an intricate tale of radicalization and its costs.
Billy Wilder’s Battle With the Past Billy Wilder’s Battle With the Past
How the fabled Hollywood director confronted survivor’s guilt, the legacies of the Holocaust, and the paradoxes of Zionism.
Books
Catherine Lacey’s Missed Connections Catherine Lacey’s Missed Connections
In her most personal work, “The Möbius Book”, Lacey uses a devastating moment of heartbreak to ruminate on the messy intersections between life and writing.
Red Scares, Past and Present Red Scares, Past and Present
What are the parallels between the rise of McCarthyism in the 1950s and today?
The Cold and Forbidding Worlds of Cynthia Ozick The Cold and Forbidding Worlds of Cynthia Ozick
In a new career-spanning collection of shorter fiction and nonfiction, the past often looms larger for Ozick than the present.
Film
The Empty Provocations of “Eddington” The Empty Provocations of “Eddington”
Ari Aster’s farcical western is billed as a send-up of the puerile politics of the Covid years. In reality, it’s a film that seems to have no politics at all.
Billy Wilder’s Battle With the Past Billy Wilder’s Battle With the Past
How the fabled Hollywood director confronted survivor’s guilt, the legacies of the Holocaust, and the paradoxes of Zionism.
The New Deal and the Popular Front Gave Us Superman The New Deal and the Popular Front Gave Us Superman
The real Man of Steel wasn’t woke, but he was radical.
Seth Rogen’s Toothless Hollywood Satire Seth Rogen’s Toothless Hollywood Satire
“The Studio” is pitched as a send-up of the idiocy of the entertainment industry, but its potshots are harmless, even friendly.
The Death and Rebirth of New York City The Death and Rebirth of New York City
A new documentary about the 1975 fiscal crisis, “Drop Dead City”, is entertaining to watch but dangerously misleading as history—or politics.
Television
The Revolutionary Politics of “Andor” The Revolutionary Politics of “Andor”
The latest addition to the “Star Wars “series offers an intricate tale of radicalization and its costs.
Jay Leno’s Phony Case for Balanced Comedy Jay Leno’s Phony Case for Balanced Comedy
The former “Tonight Show” host thinks a dose of bothsidesism will punch up the late-night scene.
The New Deal and the Popular Front Gave Us Superman The New Deal and the Popular Front Gave Us Superman
The real Man of Steel wasn’t woke, but he was radical.
Architecture
Iranian Brickwork Shows Us Better Architecture Is Possible Iranian Brickwork Shows Us Better Architecture Is Possible
Why the beauty and inventiveness of contemporary masonry in Iran has captured Western audiences.
Norman Foster’s 270 Park and the Rise of the New Office Building Norman Foster’s 270 Park and the Rise of the New Office Building
The building’s dramatic and dazzling feats of architecture make it appear as if it were hovering above the street. But is that a good thing?
If Trump Could Make John Wayne the Head of Homeland Security, He Would If Trump Could Make John Wayne the Head of Homeland Security, He Would
Trump’s appeal stems from the way he combines restoration and revolution. His reactionary modernism may have beguiled Silicon Valley, but the rest of us should expect repression.
Music
Ozzy Osbourne, Rock God Despite Himself (1948–2025) Ozzy Osbourne, Rock God Despite Himself (1948–2025)
The Prince of Darkness, who gave us heavy metal as we know it, has been laid to rest.
The Life and Times of Talking Heads The Life and Times of Talking Heads
How influential was the New Wave band?
Billy Hart’s Life in Rhythm Billy Hart’s Life in Rhythm
The legendary jazz drummer played with Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, and Stan Getz. His new memoir tells all—and lays out his own philosophy.
Brian Wilson (1942–2025) Outlived the Times He Helped Define Brian Wilson (1942–2025) Outlived the Times He Helped Define
When the Beach Boys front man died, the obituaries described him as a genius. Which means what, exactly?
Brian Wilson’s Endless Summer Brian Wilson’s Endless Summer
His music, by turns joyous and melancholy, wide-eyed and masterful, transformed the meaning of pop.
Publishing
Militarism Has Long Worked to Shield Antisemitism Militarism Has Long Worked to Shield Antisemitism
From the Cold War till Donald Trump, there’s always been a special dispensation for hawkish bigots.
My Grandmother Stood Up to Nixon—Jeff Bezos Should Take Note My Grandmother Stood Up to Nixon—Jeff Bezos Should Take Note
Fifty-four years ago, Katharine Graham defended “The Washington Post” against presidential threats. Her granddaughter now fears its soul is being sold.
We Can’t Afford to Let the Fourth Estate Topple We Can’t Afford to Let the Fourth Estate Topple
For all the deserved criticism of the American media, it remains one of the strongest pillars propping up what’s left of democracy in a time that’s been anything but good for the …
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