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May 1, 2026

Mark Peterson for The New York Times

Notable

The promise of Graham Platner. “As America slips deeper into social and economic crisis — likely to be exacerbated by the job-killing effects of artificial intelligence — the electorate might gravitate toward leaders offering far-reaching solutions.”

— Michelle Goldberg, an Opinion columnist

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America no longer rules the waves. “The global elite at watering holes like Davos and Bilderberg could never have prospered without the U.S. Navy, even if members of this elite are unaware of the fact.”

— Robert D. Kaplan, an author and a lecturer at the University of Texas, Austin

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The Supreme Court and our shadow justice system. “Shining a light on how the court is putting big companies ever further beyond the reach of the law may force the justices to think twice before they continue down this path, and give states and cities time to act.”

— Brendan Ballou, a former federal prosecutor

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Spotlight

Photo Illustration by Evan Hume for The New York Times

Who Really Has the Cards? Trump, Iran or A.I.?

Our columnist Thomas L. Friedman writes that artificial intelligence will drastically increase the power of small states and groups in conflict with the great powers.

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ICYMI

The 900-year-old answer to our most modern problem. “Legal accountability is necessary, and legal accountability is coming for the A.I. industry, even in the absence of congressional legislation and presidential regulation. The common law is about to wallop the A.I. industry.”

— David French, an Opinion columnist

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Listen (or Watch)

The Opinions In a Small Iowa Town, a Solution to a National Crisis As the Trump administration guts weather agencies, a state’s low-cost flood tracking system offers a model for responding to deadly inundations. 17 MIN LISTEN

More in Opinion

Guest Essay This Is What’s Behind Trump’s Relentlessness “Animal spirits” and American presidents. By Jackson Lears and John Guida

Guest Essay We Should All Be Concerned About What’s Happening in India The Modi administration’s systematic throttling of free speech sets a dangerous precedent for the world. By Arman Khan

john mcwhorter The Fascinating Stories of Dying Tongues On finding new horizons and saving a disappearing language. By John McWhorter

letters Older Americans Are a Reality, Not a Problem Sampling the outpouring of responses to a guest essay, “Older Americans Are Hoarding the Nation’s Potential,” by Samuel Moyn. Also: A clash over a wind project.

In Your Words

Re “I’m Not a King, but I Play One on TV”:

Yes, you know that the American project is in serious trouble when the King of England is reminding us about democracy. And when the King of America is wondering what he’s on about. — A comment by JK Global from What used to be America

Read more comments on the story here and check out our Letters to the Editor.

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