Category Archives: Culture

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE – AUGUST 3, 2026 PREVIEW

A brightly colored summer scene of a woman taking a break in the summer heat.

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE: The latest issue cover features Pierre-Emmanuel Lyet’s “Repose” – Soaking up the sun. By Françoise Mouly

Which Way Should the Democratic Party Go Now?

It’s been a tumultuous primary season, but is this the Democrats’ Tea Party moment? Or is something more pragmatic emerging? By Benjamin Wallace-Wells

How Netanyahu’s Top General Became His Strongest Challenger

Gadi Eisenkot, whose view of war is shaped by the loss of his son, is, in manner and character, the anti-Bibi. By David Remnick

The Men Who Made Theory French

French theory, as taught in American classrooms, has acquired a reputation of forbidding difficulty and hauteur. A new history seeks to surface its human side. By Dayna Tortorici

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE- JULY 26, 2026

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THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE: The 7.26.26 Issue features Matthew Shaer on the American car industry and E.V.s; Billy Brennan on dementia patients recovering mental faculties right before dying; Yudhijit Bhattacharjee on the hunt for counterfeiters; and more.

The American E.V. Has Been Crushed. Will It Take the U.S. Auto Industry With It?

The largest U.S. automakers have backed away from electric vehicles, even as global sales are booming. The decision may make them obsolete.

Voters Think All Politicians Are a Little Corrupt, but Trump Might Be Pushing It

There’s a difference between ordinary influence peddling and the first family’s outright self-enrichment.

My (Crazy, Heartbreaking, Glorious) World Cup Adventure

Soccer is perfect for screens. But being there in person showed me a side of the sport — and of my fellow human beings — that I’ll never forget. By Sam Anderson and Sara Messinger

Saying ‘Google It’ Makes You Sound Old. ‘Search It Up’ Instead.

As online research evolves, so has the language we use to describe it. By Sophie Haigney

Bill Maher Feuded With Trump. Did He Get the Last Laugh?

How the late-night host won comedy’s biggest prize — despite the White House’s objections.

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY —- JULY 24, 2026 PREVIEW

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY: The latest issue features ‘Up In Flames’ – Are we ready for the age of global wildfires?

Across the globe, wildfires are on the move. Acrid smoke from huge Ontario fires choked major cities across Canada and the US last week, while in western Europe, France, Portugal and Spain have each been torched by a record-breaking number of blazes for this time of year.

In the UK, parched conditions after a hot dry summer have helped fuel blazes from national parks to cities. Last weekend, firefighters were tackling a blaze on Arthur’s Seat, the volcanic outcrop in the middle of Edinburgh. The week before, dozens of crews were confronted by a wildfire in north-east London.

Because of the climate crisis, fires are burning simultaneously in more places around the world – and they are often hotter, less predictable, and greater in number. For our big story, Ajit Niranjan surveys what seems to be a new normal and considers the impossible decisions specialist fire crews are making when multiple fires are burning in different parts of the world.

In Australia, bushfires have always been part of the country’s landscape. Graham Readfearn talks to some of those who have learned to live with the ever-present danger and asks what they can teach others in this rapidly changing world.

Spotlight | Trump is risking midterm disaster. Why?
Less than a month after hailing a ceasefire, Trump resumed strikes on Iran – a move experts warn could prolong the war and hurt Republicans in upcoming elections. Robert Tait asks what is going on

Science | Is the world facing a male reproductive crisis?
Reports of falling sperm counts and testosterone levels have fuelled fears over chemicals, pollution and modern lifestyles. Hannah Devlin investigates

Feature | The business of rewilding
Intensive farming has all but destroyed England’s ancient woodlands and freshwater wetlands. On a farm in Lincolnshire, a radical aristocrat hopes to show there’s money in protecting nature. Patrick Barkham went to find out

Opinion | What’s left after this World Cup? A kind of messy hope
Kazakhs cheering Uzbeks, Bengalis wild for Argentina … This tournament was once a playground for nationalism. Now it shows how flimsy that allegiance is, argues Jonathan Liew

Culture | All shook up: the return of Alabama Shakes
With Brittany Howard at the helm, the American three-piece band are back with a new album railing against the state of the US in 2026. Dave Simpson caught up with them

HARPER’S MAGAZINE – AUGUST 2026 PREVIEW

HARPER’S MAGAZINE: The latest issue features ‘Holy War’ – The American Pope and the Catholic Church’s Progressive Revival….

Radical Reformation

The Catholic Church’s progressive revival by Jack Hanson

A Dying Art

The last of the morticians  by John Semley

Blue Bowls

On misreading Doris Lessing by Cynthia Zarin

COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE – JULY 22, 2026 PREVIEW

COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE: The latest issue features

Meet Peggy, Britain’s naughtiest dog

Agnes Stamp meets the cereal-snaffling, bed-wrecking, turkey-wrangling miniature bull terrier who took the title—and rounds up the best (or worst) of the rest

Spreads from Country Life 22 July 2026

The 39 steps to being a good dog owner

From clamping down on begging to sweetening bad breath, William Hanson presents his guide to modern pet-iquette

Ian Seath’s favourite painting

The Royal Kennel Club chairman chooses a work that celebrates canine collaboration with humans

Pup and coming

There have never been so many options for pampering your pooch. Mary Skipwith explores the rapidly evolving world of canine luxury

Spreads from Country Life 22 July 2026

Country-house treasure

John Goodall marvels at the extensive 18th-century library at Powderham Castle in Devon

The legacy

Kate Green applauds Enid Blyton for dreaming up the spirited adventures of the Famous Five

A power in the landscape

In the first of two articles, John Goodall explores the early history of Curraghmore in Co Waterford, one of Ireland’s great houses

Spreads from Country Life 22 July 2026

Bone appétit

Why settle for discarded street snacks when there is succulent chicken on the menu, asks Jack Russell Maud Parker Bowles

Interiors

Arabella Youens investigates interiors designed with pets in mind and Amelia Thorpe shares accessories for the (dog) house

Winging it

Why can’t we learn to love the wood pigeon, asks Mark Cocker

You got me there

David Profumo pursues tricky brown trout in a day on the Test

Everything bar the Oompa Loompas

Harry Pearson visits The Oldest Sweet Shop in England, which has traded in treats since 1827

Spreads from Country Life 22 July 2026

Luxury

Fruity accessories offer rich pickings for Amie Elizabeth White

Colour for all seasons

Kathryn Bradley-Hole admires the spectacular successional planting in the new gardens of The Copper House in Kent

Travel

Steven King savours the spirit of the Hebrides and the natural beauty of the Isle of Harris during a stay at historic Rodel House

Spreads from Country Life 22 July 2026

Arts & antiques

The rise of service à la russe in the 19th century turned the tables in upper-class British dining, discovers Carla Passino

To say nothing of the dog

Michael Prodger examines the history of canines on canvas and reveals how artists have warmed to Man’s best friend

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE – JULY 27, 2026 PREVIEW

New Yorkers enter and exit the subway dressed in towels and ready for a sauna.

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE: The latest issue cover features “Spa Day,” by Marcellus Hall.

Trump’s War on Journalists

The recent subpoenas of reporters make clear that the President is trying to threaten the press. Few protections are in place to stop him. By Ruth Marcus

How Biden Enabled Israel’s Aggression Toward Gaza—and Iran

Top officials from the previous Administration now express regret over their failure to rein in Netanyahu.

María Corina Machado’s Opposition in Exile

The Venezuelan politician hoped to become her country’s leader with help from the U.S. The Trump Administration had other priorities. By Stephania Taladrid

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE- JULY 19, 2026

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THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE: The 7.19.26 Issue features Jeneen Interlandi on how we’re just beginning to understand how our bacteria are talking to one another; Nathaniel Rich on a multimillion dollar data center heist; Ferris Jabr on trying to build an ecologically responsible garden; and more.

Is Venezuela a Colony Now? A Sovereign State? Modern Empires Rule in Ambiguity.

Occupation is a hassle. Large countries have many new ways to control small ones.

Our Bacteria Are Talking. We’ve Just Begun to Understand What They’re Saying.

The human microbiome is essential to our health, but scientists still know very little about it. Two researchers set out to map this largely uncharted terrain. By Jeneen Interlandi

Some of Us Got Tired of Lionel Messi, but He Won Us Over. Again.

Has any seemingly overhyped phenomenon done a better job living up to the hype? By Sam Anderson and Sara Messinger

Zohran Mamdani Knows He Has Political Capital. And He Intends to Spend It.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City is riding high. In an era when the public is sour on politics, recent polls show him actually becoming more popular among New Yorkers. It’s fair to say that some of that is vibes: As the Knicks won the N.B.A. championship, Mamdani became one of the team’s main hype men, basking in the reflected glow of their victory; the World Cup has been a raging success with New York City awash with celebrating fans; Taylor Swift got married in a secret celebration in the most visible of New York venues.

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY —- JULY 17, 2026 PREVIEW

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY: The latest issue features ‘Andy Burnham’s path to No 10″…

Andy Burnham is to become Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, having secured the Labour leadership with the landslide support of his party’s MPs.

The former Manchester mayor is now set to replace Starmer as Labour leader on Friday before walking through the doors of No 10 and becoming prime minister next Monday.

For our big story this week, Daniel Boffey looks at how Burnham charted the route from school politics to No 10, while Jessica Elgot runs through the bulging in-tray awaiting him when he steps into the new role. And Gaby Hinsliff examines how the PM-in-waiting might fare on the global stage, asking whether, unlike Keir Starmer, he has the skills to deal with Donald Trump.

Spotlight | A revolution in ruins
Discontent with Venezuela’s Trump-backed government is mounting as Chávez heirs struggle to respond to the earthquake disaster, writes Tom Phillips

Science | We’re going on a water bear hunt
Scientists hope DNA sequencing tardigrades – tiny yet virtually indestructible creatures – could help us understand the secrets of their superpowers. Patrick Barkham reports

Feature | The battle of the Bell hotel
Tim Burrows visits the town of Epping in Essex to hear from local people about the impact of last year’s far-right protests that centred on a hotel housing asylum seekers

Opinion | The real source of Trump’s power exposed
The Nato summit showed the US president’s willingness to violate all norms, rules and laws – and leave everyone else to pick up the pieces, argues Robert Reich

Culture | Never-ending story
With Christopher Nolan’s take on the Odyssey set to break box office records, Charlotte Higgins asks why a poem from 600BC holds a vice-like grip on pop culture

COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE – JULY 15, 2026 PREVIEW

COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE: The latest issue features the magic, power and beauty of water, pays tribute to the king of British powerboating and enjoys the Victorian splendour of Scarborough.

Why our water is going down the drain

Investment, organisation and effort can guarantee secure water supplies for everyone in Britain, argues Lord Deben

Spread from Country Life July 15, 2026

The power of water

Kate Green surveys the surging strength of the Severn Bore, the haunting beauty of the flooded Somerset Levels, life on the edge at Dawlish and the capital’s mighty Thames Barrier.

Why every drop counts

People who work with water tell Kate Green and Mary Skipwith why we need to reconnect with our most precious resource

Spread from Country Life July 15, 2026

Up with the gulls, to bed with the owl

Patrick Galbraith experiences an eventful day in the life of the ever-changing, but enduringly beautiful Cley estuary in Norfolk

On peak form

Artists such as Turner, Bierstadt and Wolf took painting to new heights with their depictions of mountains, finds Michael Prodger

Let all the world sing

The 2026 BBC Proms promises to be a truly global spectacle, as Henrietta Bredin discovers

The queen of spas

Scarborough in North Yorkshire is the original Victorian seaside resort. Kathryn Ferry charts the development of its spa complex

Spread from Country Life July 15, 2026

The Revd Sam Wells’s favourite painting

The St Martin-in-the-Fields vicar chooses a painting where ‘magnificent humanity’ is laid bare

Country-house treasure

John Goodall unearths evidence of Bowood in Wiltshire’s wartime role as a ‘beacon of recovery’

Pooling assets

George Plumptre is charmed by the Anglo-Italian landscape at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire

Spread from Country Life July 15, 2026

The legacy

Agnes Stamp pays tribute to speed merchant Sir Max Aitken, the king of British powerboating

Winging it

Mark Cocker assesses the anti-social antics of the herring gull

Spread from Country Life July 15, 2026

Luxury

Jonathan Self ponders the power of fine jewellery and Amie Elizabeth White finds coral for all

Interiors

Arabella Youens visits a kitchen giving a nod to history, and reveals that chequerboard floors are back

Travel

Rosie Paterson is looking for a New England in Nantucket

Spread from Country Life July 15, 2026

Arts & antiques

Carla Passino investigates the intriguing tale of ‘Mad Madge’, a pioneer of science-fiction

Truth, lies and somewhere in between

Michael Billington delves into a world of deceit and infidelity

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE – JULY 20, 2026 PREVIEW

For the World Cup finals soccer players on the field with a city skyline in the background.

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE: The latest issue cover features Jonathan Blitzer on ICE’s biggest detention center, Zach Helfand on steroids, Jessica Contreras on a family intertwined with A.I., and more.

An O.M.B. Plan to Defund Science—and Anything Trump Doesn’t Like

Under a new proposal, Administration officials could deny government grants to any group or project on the ground that it didn’t fit the President’s agenda. By Elizabeth Kolbert

When A.I. Is a Member of the Family

A single mom, her two daughters, and the chatbots that fill in the gaps. By Jessica Contrera

Inside ICE’s Largest Detention Center

On a military base in West Texas, where the government has built a sprawling tent complex to hold thousands of immigrants, deprivation and dire conditions are part of the design. By Jonathan Blitze

The Lost Art of the Bromance

New books, articles, and shows lament a crisis of connection among American men. But the picture of friendship that emerges can feel romanticized and brittle. By Katy Waldman