A selection of recent and most read stories from The Atlantic to start your day

Support fearless independent journalism and gain unlimited access to The Atlantic, starting at less than $2 a week.

‘It’s an Illegal Executive Order. And It’s Stealing.’

Trump wants to go around Congress and freeze enormous amounts of federal spending. Can he?

The Problem With $TRUMP

Democracy is for “we, the people”—not “them, the owners of memecoins.”

A Day for Pseudoscience in Congress

The stakes of RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearings are clear. What will senators decide?

You’re So Vain, You Probably Think Kash Patel Hates You

How “see you in the gulag” became a D.C. power flex

What an Undervaccinated America Would Look Like

At first, much the same. But inevitably dangerous diseases would resurge in a country that isn’t prepared for them.

Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here.

Explore all of our newsletters.

The Atlantic’s Crossword

The Atlantic’s crossword puzzle gets a little more challenging every day: Mondays are the easiest, with the biggest, most difficult puzzle on Sunday.