The Atlantic poses as a magazine of ideas, but its writers get away with terrible arguments. Its ascendance is a sign of the dire state of American intellectual life.
Commentary around the first Harris-Trump debate focused on Harris’s impressive performance. But both candidates accepted dangerous right-wing premises on climate, immigration, economics, and foreign policy.
Not everyone has the available time or energy to do deep reading. But if you’re going to make confident public pronouncements on matters that require a lot of research, books will help you avoid dangerous foolishness.