Work In Progress

Latest

Illustration of a man in a suit and tie falling into a narrowing tunnel that fades from deep blue into warm light — Illustration by The Atlantic

The Last Americans Really Paying Taxes

The tax code is becoming more chaotic and less fair.

September 17, 2025

A black-and-white photograph of Donald Trump from behind, overlaid a red downward arrow — Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Alex Wong / Getty.

The Era of Step-on-a-Rake Capitalism

Trumponomics isn’t about economics. It’s about creating pain and demanding tribute.

September 11, 2025

a maze to a briefcase — Illustration by Jonelle Afurong / The Atlantic. Sources: Dimitri Otis / Getty; Javier Zayas Photography / Getty.

The Job Market Is Hell

Young people are using ChatGPT to write their applications; HR is using AI to read them; no one is getting hired.

September 8, 2025

A yellow siren with a graduation cap — Illustration by Akshita Chandra / The Atlantic. Source: Getty.

Something Alarming Is Happening to the Job Market

A new sign that AI is competing with college grads

April 30, 2025

A man in a suit surfing on a wave of tax forms — Illustration by Akshita Chandra / The Atlantic. Source: Getty.

Buy, Borrow, Die

How to be a billionaire and pay no taxes

March 17, 2025

Wedding-cake bride and groom figurines standing back to back with their arms crossed — Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Getty.

America’s ‘Marriage Material’ Shortage

Adults are significantly less likely to be married or to live with a partner than they used to be.

February 3, 2025

Collage of images evoking Latino American politics — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Getty; Gina Ferazzi / Getty; Chris Putnam / Getty; Jeff Greenberg / Getty.

Why Democrats Got the Politics of Immigration So Wrong for So Long

They spent more than a decade tacking left on the issue to win Latino votes. It may have cost them the White House—twice.

December 10, 2024

Collage consisting of a photo of RFK Jr. holding a microphone interspersed with red images of COVID-19 vaccines, "Make America Healthy Again" caps, and pills. — Illustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Kevin Dietsch / Getty; deliormanli / Getty.

RFK Jr. Is a Bellwether

Kennedy embodies several trends across politics, science, and society, which require careful attention to understand how America is changing

December 4, 2024

Illustration of a Bitcoin token with two arms flexing its biceps — Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Getty.

The Three Pillars of the Bro-Economy

Day-trading, sports betting, and crypto are about to get bigger.

November 19, 2024

Collage of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden — Illustration by Ben Kothe / The Atlantic. Sources: Andrew Harnik / Getty; Brandon Bell / Getty.

The Cost-of-Living Crisis Explains Everything

The economy under Biden looked good but felt bad.

November 11, 2024