When Maya Rudolph returned to her old stomping grounds to host Saturday Night Live this weekend, the cast members Bowen Yang and Sarah Sherman popped in during her monologue to declare her “mother”—and not only because she has four children. They also meant it in the slang sense of the word, which was derived from queer ballroom culture. So Rudolph...

This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.Welcome back to The Daily’s Sunday culture edition, in which one Atlantic writer or editor reveals what’s keeping them entertained. Today’s special guest...

In Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part II, the Earl of Warwick warns the king of an impending revolt, which is one of those main chance of things As yet not come to life, who in their seeds And weak beginning lie intreasured The ailing but canny king rises to the occasion: Are these things then necessities? Then let us meet them like necessities....

1. I’m tapering the doctor says–– It might feel like you can hear your eyes moving–– space racing from the back of your skull to the front–– Mine goes a little cold sometimes–– I don’t know how else to describe it–– Tall black candles–– 2. I’m tapering off because they make...

Editor’s Note: Washington Week With The Atlantic is a partnership between NewsHour Productions, WETA, and The Atlantic airing every Friday on PBS stations nationwide. Check your local listings or watch full episodes here.   This week, a range of political headlines continue to raise questions about the looming presidential election. The adult-film...

This is an edition of The Wonder Reader, a newsletter in which our editors recommend a set of stories to spark your curiosity and fill you with delight. Sign up here to get it every Saturday morning.“During most of my early adulthood, philosophy had little appeal to me,” Elissa Strauss wrote in 2022. “As long as I treated people mostly kindly, what...