USA

IÕm Not Black, IÕm Kanye

Ta-Nehisi Coates on two ÔgodsÕ_Ñ_Michael Jackson and Kanye West, his own fortune Òto come of age in the last days of mysteryÓ before the social feed, fame, and America. As one reader puts it, the writing in this piece is Òbottled lightning.Ó http://bit.ly/atlantic-kanye

The Impermanence of Importance

A review of a new book by Obama adviser Ben Rhodes (a speechwriter and Deputy National Security Adviser who was one of the few senior officials to remain in office throughout the whole presidency). The piece reflects on Obama’s style of leadership, the nature of power and governing, and the author’s own journey. It is also replete with anecdotes from behind the scenes of elite politics such as Rhodes discussing the TV show Entourage with David Cameron over after-state-dinner drinks at Buckingham Palace.

Al Franken, That Photo, and Trusting the Women

This eloquent piece looks at the sexual harassment allegations against Senator Al Franken and uses them as a springboard to examine humanity’s long history of identifying trustworthiness as a male trait and duplicity as its female counterpart – via Aristotle, Galen, Jezebel, Cassandra, Hamlet and others.

In Conversation: Kathleen Turner

The celebrated actress reflects on her life and career with refreshing frankness, and doesn’t hold back in discussing collaborators as varied and celebrated as Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Francis Ford Coppola, Jack Nicholson, and the cast of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

The Subversive

A profile of US Senator John McCain, written in 1997 by author and journalist Michael Lewis (Lewis’s notable works include Moneyball, Flash Boys & The Big Short). He found an unusual politician, unwilling to operate like most of his peers, something that has proven both a strength and a hindrance throughout his career.

Anthony Scaramucci Called Me to Unload About White House Leakers, Reince Priebus, and Steve Bannon

If freshly minted White House Communications Director Anthony “Mooch” Scaramucci appears to you like a three episode antagonist from a 5.2/10-on-IMdb show you watch anyway because you wish the West Wing was still going, then this story is 100% true to type. Since the story was published on Thursday, it has gone viral and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus has been replaced with a retired four star general.