Abraham Lincoln and the preservation of democracy Historian Jon Meacham on how the 16th president faced an election during the Civil War, when the continuation of democracy was still an open question - and how it resonates with the first post-insurrection midterm election. Nov 6, 2022
Jim Gaffigan on the incessant texts from politicians asking for money The comedian says he's being obsessively stalked by the Democratic and Republican Parties, who have one thing in mind. Oct 16, 2022
David Sedaris on coming out, all over again The humorist has some thoughts about the term "queer" and how people today (or perhaps just humanities professors) identify themselves. Oct 16, 2022
Jim Gaffigan is baffled by the mania over pumpkins The comedian says October (officially "pumpkin season") is the strangest of all made-up seasons – and that "pumpkin spice" isn't what you think it is. Oct 9, 2022
New Yorker writer Hua Hsu on maintaining family ties via fax The author of the new memoir "Stay True" recalls his teen years as a time of overcoming great distances – both generational and global – one page at a time. Oct 2, 2022
Rachel Aviv on how the stories we tell about mental disorders shape patients' lives The New Yorker writer and author of "Strangers to Ourselves" says we can increase our understanding of mental illness by paying more attention to the stories patients tell about their individual experience to find meaning for themselves. Sep 18, 2022
Commentary: Queen Elizabeth's epic reign, and why the monarchy matters Historian and author Amanda Foreman offers her thoughts on the woman who embodied the spirit of a nation, as both a figurehead and a very relatable mother and grandmother. Sep 11, 2022
Diana the revolutionary: What we learned from her life and loss Historian and author Amanda Foreman reflects on the enduring legacy of the "People's Princess," and how she continues to inspire us a quarter-century after her tragic death. Sep 4, 2022
David Sedaris on Alaska, land of eagles and no neckties Returning from "America's Last Frontier," the humorist says he gained an appreciation for a state where people give you things (and not just COVID). Aug 7, 2022
All the president's apologists: Defending Trump by attacking the truth John Dickerson says the former president's supporters have engaged in diversion, distraction and lying about witnesses at the January 6 hearings, demonstrating that they're OK with Trump's failure to protect the nation. Jul 24, 2022
"Don't Look Up" director Adam McKay on the climate crisis that's no joke The effects of climate change are being felt more quickly than we thought possible, but the Academy Award-winning director says there are actions we can take now to deal with this existential threat. Jul 24, 2022
ER doctor on the aftermath of gun violence – on the body, and the community Dr. Megan Ranney, the dean of public health at Brown University and an emergency room physician, talks about the importance of treating gun violence the same way we treat other public health crises – before it lands people in the ER. Jul 10, 2022
Douglas Brinkley: Let us celebrate patriots who put country over party The historian says truth-tellers guard our Constitution, as demonstrated by January 6 Committee vice chair Liz Cheney, and former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, speaking out against fellow Republicans' actions during the insurrection at the Capitol. Jul 3, 2022
SCOTUS' abortion ruling, and when a right becomes a crime Columbia Law professor Carol Sanger says the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade means women are losing an established right touching on the most intimate aspects of family life – and face a new era of woman-shaming. Jun 26, 2022
January 6 hearings: Can our Union survive? The Select Committee hearings into the violent attack on Congress by Trump supporters, and about the ongoing struggle between the will of the voters and election deniers, may determine whether forces of democracy or of chaos prevail. Jun 5, 2022
Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber on addressing challenges facing higher education Universities have found themselves under pressure from President Trump – from blocked funds for research, to attacks on their admission policies and diversity programs. Princeton's president says, "The stakes are really high." Nov 5
George Clooney on "Jay Kelly," fame and family In his latest film, George Clooney plays a familiar role – one of the world's biggest movie stars – who nonetheless tries to reconcile professional success and his personal shortcomings. Nov 2
Dealing with the crushing costs of child care For some, the high cost of child care in the U.S. is a higher expense than rents and mortgages, or even in-state college tuition, and has pushed tens of thousands of women out of the workforce this year alone. Nov 2
Salman Rushdie on "The Eleventh Hour" and free speech The author talks about his first fiction published since the 2022 attack that nearly killed him; his own immigrant experience in the U.S.; and what happens when freedom of speech dies. Nov 2
Ken Burns on America's origin story: "The most important event since the birth of Christ" The documentary filmmaker, long a chronicler of the American experience, talks about his latest film for PBS, "The American Revolution," and why the end of the Revolutionary War did not mean the end of our nation's revolution. Nov 2
The Book Report: Ron Charles' latest picks (Nov. 2) The Washington Post book reviewer offers highlights from fall's fiction and non-fiction releases. Nov 2
Book excerpt: "The Wayfinder" by Adam Johnson The Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winner returns with an epic tale set in Polynesia a thousand years in the past. Nov 2
Book excerpt: "1929" by Andrew Ross Sorkin The New York Times financial columnist's new book looks back to Wall Street's most catastrophic market collapse. Nov 2
Book excerpt: "Love, Sex, and Frankenstein" by Caroline Lea The author of "The Glass Woman" returns with a gripping reimagining of how young Mary Shelley created her classic horror novel. Nov 2
Book excerpt: "A Guardian and a Thief" by Megha Majumdar A National Book Award finalist, Megha Majumdar's novel is set in India in a climate-ravaged near-future. Nov 2
Commentaries
Abraham Lincoln and the preservation of democracy
Historian Jon Meacham on how the 16th president faced an election during the Civil War, when the continuation of democracy was still an open question - and how it resonates with the first post-insurrection midterm election.
Jim Gaffigan on the incessant texts from politicians asking for money
The comedian says he's being obsessively stalked by the Democratic and Republican Parties, who have one thing in mind.
David Sedaris on coming out, all over again
The humorist has some thoughts about the term "queer" and how people today (or perhaps just humanities professors) identify themselves.
Jim Gaffigan is baffled by the mania over pumpkins
The comedian says October (officially "pumpkin season") is the strangest of all made-up seasons – and that "pumpkin spice" isn't what you think it is.
New Yorker writer Hua Hsu on maintaining family ties via fax
The author of the new memoir "Stay True" recalls his teen years as a time of overcoming great distances – both generational and global – one page at a time.
Rachel Aviv on how the stories we tell about mental disorders shape patients' lives
The New Yorker writer and author of "Strangers to Ourselves" says we can increase our understanding of mental illness by paying more attention to the stories patients tell about their individual experience to find meaning for themselves.
Commentary: Queen Elizabeth's epic reign, and why the monarchy matters
Historian and author Amanda Foreman offers her thoughts on the woman who embodied the spirit of a nation, as both a figurehead and a very relatable mother and grandmother.
Diana the revolutionary: What we learned from her life and loss
Historian and author Amanda Foreman reflects on the enduring legacy of the "People's Princess," and how she continues to inspire us a quarter-century after her tragic death.
David Sedaris on Alaska, land of eagles and no neckties
Returning from "America's Last Frontier," the humorist says he gained an appreciation for a state where people give you things (and not just COVID).
All the president's apologists: Defending Trump by attacking the truth
John Dickerson says the former president's supporters have engaged in diversion, distraction and lying about witnesses at the January 6 hearings, demonstrating that they're OK with Trump's failure to protect the nation.
"Don't Look Up" director Adam McKay on the climate crisis that's no joke
The effects of climate change are being felt more quickly than we thought possible, but the Academy Award-winning director says there are actions we can take now to deal with this existential threat.
ER doctor on the aftermath of gun violence – on the body, and the community
Dr. Megan Ranney, the dean of public health at Brown University and an emergency room physician, talks about the importance of treating gun violence the same way we treat other public health crises – before it lands people in the ER.
Douglas Brinkley: Let us celebrate patriots who put country over party
The historian says truth-tellers guard our Constitution, as demonstrated by January 6 Committee vice chair Liz Cheney, and former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, speaking out against fellow Republicans' actions during the insurrection at the Capitol.
SCOTUS' abortion ruling, and when a right becomes a crime
Columbia Law professor Carol Sanger says the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade means women are losing an established right touching on the most intimate aspects of family life – and face a new era of woman-shaming.
January 6 hearings: Can our Union survive?
The Select Committee hearings into the violent attack on Congress by Trump supporters, and about the ongoing struggle between the will of the voters and election deniers, may determine whether forces of democracy or of chaos prevail.
More From Sunday Morning
Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber on addressing challenges facing higher education
Universities have found themselves under pressure from President Trump – from blocked funds for research, to attacks on their admission policies and diversity programs. Princeton's president says, "The stakes are really high."
George Clooney on "Jay Kelly," fame and family
In his latest film, George Clooney plays a familiar role – one of the world's biggest movie stars – who nonetheless tries to reconcile professional success and his personal shortcomings.
Dealing with the crushing costs of child care
For some, the high cost of child care in the U.S. is a higher expense than rents and mortgages, or even in-state college tuition, and has pushed tens of thousands of women out of the workforce this year alone.
Salman Rushdie on "The Eleventh Hour" and free speech
The author talks about his first fiction published since the 2022 attack that nearly killed him; his own immigrant experience in the U.S.; and what happens when freedom of speech dies.
Ken Burns on America's origin story: "The most important event since the birth of Christ"
The documentary filmmaker, long a chronicler of the American experience, talks about his latest film for PBS, "The American Revolution," and why the end of the Revolutionary War did not mean the end of our nation's revolution.
The Book Report: Ron Charles' latest picks (Nov. 2)
The Washington Post book reviewer offers highlights from fall's fiction and non-fiction releases.
Book excerpt: "The Wayfinder" by Adam Johnson
The Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winner returns with an epic tale set in Polynesia a thousand years in the past.
Book excerpt: "1929" by Andrew Ross Sorkin
The New York Times financial columnist's new book looks back to Wall Street's most catastrophic market collapse.
Book excerpt: "Love, Sex, and Frankenstein" by Caroline Lea
The author of "The Glass Woman" returns with a gripping reimagining of how young Mary Shelley created her classic horror novel.
Book excerpt: "A Guardian and a Thief" by Megha Majumdar
A National Book Award finalist, Megha Majumdar's novel is set in India in a climate-ravaged near-future.