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The Secretary of Defensiveness Nov 09, 2026

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Last week’s midterms were clear: American voters are not happy with the war in Iran.

Less clear, though, is what President Trump can or will do now. After elevating his hard-line adviser Stephen Miller to chief of staff and shielding Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth against impeachment calls, Trump seems unlikely to back down from the conflict. But he is about to lose Congress—and Iran knows it.

Our staff writers Nancy Youssef and Tom Nichols join Adam Harris to discuss where the administration goes from here, what options exist to get out of Iran, what to make of Hegseth’s potential impeachment, and how the Defense Secretary has changed the relationship between American democracy and the American military.

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Did Democrats Win—Or Did Trump Lose? Nov 05, 2026

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In a resounding rebuke to President Trump, voters this week gave Democrats control over both the House and Senate. Call it a blue wave or a blue tsunami. The power has suddenly shifted to a party that just two years two ago was decimated by Trump and the MAGA movement—and didn’t seem to know how to respond.

Hanna Rosin talks with the Atlantic staff writers Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer about how Democrats pulled it off and what comes next for both parties.
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The Anger Election’s Final Twist Nov 02, 2026

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The midterms elections are finally here—but not without some last-minute drama. In Michigan, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens changed her mind about her primary opponent Abdul El-Sayed over the weekend, and endorsed the Republican candidate for Senate instead. And Monday, President Trump delivered his closing message in front of the Reflecting Pool. “Radio Atlantic” host Adam Harris talks to the Atlantic staff writers David A. Graham and Gabby Deutch about the symbolism of that—and how anti-corruption messages are resonating with voters in the homestretch.

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How to Lose Texas Oct 29, 2026

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The Rio Grande Valley in Texas was a Democratic stronghold for decades before it went for Donald Trump in 2024. Now polls show it swinging to Democrats again.

The Atlantic staff writer Nick Miroff traveled to the region and talked with people whose family members or employees had been targeted by ICE. He also spoke with Latino men about how much it costs now to fill up their trucks. Miroff discusses the wild political swings in the Rio Grande Valley and what they might reveal about the statewide Texas races and the Latino vote in the rest of the country.

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How the Campaign War Chests Are Being Spent Oct 26, 2026

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Gas prices, an unpopular Iran war, and a bizarre Alaska lawsuit about the two Dan Sullivans on the ballot collide as the midterm elections enter their final week.

“Radio Atlantic” host Adam Harris is joined by the Atlantic staff writers Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer to break down the final spending blitz, early-voting hype, where Trump is trying to rally his base, and what a Democratic win could mean for investigations during his last two years in office.

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Maria Bamford Is Tough as Nails Oct 22, 2026

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Hanna Rosin interviews the comedian Maria Bamford, the subject of the new documentary “Paralyzed by Hope,” directed by Judd Apatow and Neil Berkeley. Bamford explains the relationship between her OCD and her comedy. She talks about why she doesn’t do political comedy, and why she no longer does imitations of her sister. She discusses her divorce and getting on the apps. She does all of that from a car, buzzed on nitro cold brew

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Why Trump Is Making Deals With Putin Oct 19, 2026

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President Trump is striking deals again—this time with the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. On Friday, he exempted Russia from a sanctions bill that Congress had passed and he had signed. The executive order followed a deal on importing diesel fuel from Russia the week before. Why is Trump seeming to turn on Ukraine at this moment? Is this a midterm strategy, or is something else going on? Atlantic staff writers Jonathan Lemire and Simon Shuster join “Radio Atlantic” host Adam Harris to discuss.

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Have We Reached Peak Testosterone? Oct 15, 2026

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Politics has seemed obsessed recently with performing masculinity. If there’s one factor that animated Donald Trump’s reelection and continues to animate the political right in general, it’s “masculinism,” a movement to fight back against the advances of feminism and reassert the primacy of men, as the Atlantic staff writer Helen Lewis wrote in her June cover story.

As the midterms approach, though, the administration—and masculinism with it—seems deflated. Have we reached “peak testosterone” already?

Hanna Rosin talks with Lewis and her fellow staff writer Sophie Gilbert at a live taping from last month’s The AtlanticFestival about the evolution of the manosphere, why both Republicans and Democrats have put masculinity on a political pedestal, and where that leaves feminism.

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Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener.

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Musk, Bezos, and the New Space Race Oct 13, 2026

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Who really controls America’s next era in space: NASA or two billionaire rivals? It might be some combination of the three. On this episode of Radio Atlantic, Adam Harris talks with Atlantic staff writer Josh Tyrangiel about SpaceX’s dominance in satellite launches, Blue Origin’s struggle to catch up, and why the moon is now the key battleground for Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

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How Far Is Kash Patel Willing to Go for Trump? Oct 08, 2026

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The Atlantic staff writer Sarah Fitzpatrick discusses her recent story, “Is There Anything Kash Patel Won’t Do for Trump Before the Midterms?” She explains what agents and other sources are telling her about how the mission of the FBI has changed, how resources have been diverted to exploration of long-debunked election-conspiracy theories, and what most worries them about this moment. The FBI has responded to Fitzpatrick’s reporting by calling it “false” and stating that the FBI is “united.”

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