AI models have clung to one particular cliché when writing text—and no one seems to know why chatbots are so enamored with it, Will Oremus reports: theatln.tc/dtZR4fhE

Optimization culture has led people to believe that only outcomes matter, “so anything that isn’t focused on a future goal feels like it’s not worth doing”—but not every experience fits that idea, @ibogost.com tells @cwarzel.bsky.social. Watch Galaxy Brain: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Va_...

Answer today’s trivia from Nancy Walecki’s article on the growing popularity of “going analog.” Check your response and tackle two other questions: theatln.tc/tZ7MpITy

The Democratic manly man is back, @russellberman.bsky.social reports, with the party embracing masculinity as a campaign strategy. theatln.tc/G9oiy3k1 📸: Amy Lynn Powell for The Atlantic

Cyclospora, the parasite that appears to be causing an outbreak of diarrheal disease in the U.S., is most common in tropical climates. But America seems to have a homegrown-parasite problem on its hands, Nicholas Florko reports: theatln.tc/I4snFcRd 📸: Getty

The investigations into the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good are an inversion of how the federal government would usually treat cases involving killings by law-enforcement officers, Quinta Jurecic argues. theatln.tc/CDjhZmTW

The Atlantic wants to hear from you! Post a video of your rendition of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” featured on our July issue cover, tag @theatlantic.com, and use #AtlanticBattleHymn for a chance to receive a special gift. Full terms to submit your video here: theatln.tc/UHTYsKsH

Lindsey Graham’s sudden death leaves a void on Capitol Hill that the White House can’t afford, Matt Viser and Jonathan Lemire report. theatln.tc/0vDgIYqn 📸: Doug Mills / The New York Times / Redux

If you’re heading out for a vacation, The Atlantic’s writers and editors have recommendations for engrossing page-turners to bring along: theatln.tc/rrPGZrUz 🎨: Dhrutika Khimani

A new brand of socialism that aims to liberate consumers from high prices has propelled insurgent leftists such as Zohran Mamdani to political victory—but these well-intentioned policies could make everything worse, Idrees Kahloon argues: theatln.tc/c25Mi1Ue 🎨: Ben Hickey

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo is the latest person to be killed by ICE agents shooting into cars. @nickmiroff.bsky.social reports on the incident in Houston and immigration officials’ increased targeting of people in vehicles. theatln.tc/ueQYHd3l

The evolutionary psychologist Peter Gray is challenging the popular understanding of kids and technology, @kait.bsky.social reports. He believes kids should be free to play without their parents’ supervision even when they go online. theatln.tc/AObT0cym

If you’re heading out for a summer vacation, The Atlantic’s writers and editors have suggested some page-turners to bring along. Our senior editor @ssdai.bsky.social chose “How to End a Love Story.” See more selections here: theatln.tc/Hyog4S28

Americans were once members of a proudly literate society, but today, reading has declined across age groups, gender, and education levels. For The Atlantic’s August issue, @rosehorowitch.bsky.social explores the reading collapse—and its effects on civilization: theatln.tc/l2Xk9ATe 🎨: The Atlantic

If you’re heading out for a summer vacation, The Atlantic’s writers and editors have suggested some page-turners to bring along. Our senior editor @jenduende.bsky.social chose “Reading Lolita in Tehran.” See more selections here: theatln.tc/Hyog4S28

The iPod and other devices from a less connected era are getting a second life, @nancywalecki.bsky.social reports. She explores why some Gen Zers are joining the recent “analog” movement: theatln.tc/sjQ3BZ5a 🎨: Alisa Gao / The Atlantic

A bookstore in East Tennessee hosted trivia nights, readings, and all-ages punk shows. Then new neighbors moved in—and became convinced that the store was the regional stronghold for demonic activity. Stephanie McCrummen reports on what happened next: theatln.tc/eHFW3Fa7 🎨: Lewis Chamberlain

Modern musicians are contending with feeling betrayed by the attention economy, writes @skornhaber.bsky.social: theatln.tc/dqpzvSXY 🎨: The Atlantic. Sources: Kevin Mazur / Getty; patstock / Getty.

Surfacing the “small stuff” that you tend to overlook in your everyday life is important—“what you’re losing, if you don’t, is the experience of living in the moment,” @ibogost.com tells @cwarzel.bsky.social. Watch Galaxy Brain: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Va_...

Roger Deakin’s book, “Waterlog: A Swimmer’s Journey Through Britain,” galvanized the practice of wild swimming in rivers, ponds, and lakes. In 2021, Anelise Chen explored how the book is also a manifesto on the idea that water is inherently political. theatln.tc/CtbmAOJp 📸: Gregg Segal

If you’re heading out for a summer vacation, The Atlantic’s writers and editors have suggested some page-turners to bring along. Our staff writer @julieebeck.bsky.social chose “Magic’s Pawn.” See more selections here: theatln.tc/Hyog4S28

You don’t have to change your habits or reinvent yourself to live a richer life. @ibogost.com’s eight-week Ordinary Extraordinary newsletter course teaches you how to find joy in the experiences you’re already having. Sign up: theatln.tc/VcmHih7v

Hundreds of masked men descended on Washington, D.C., on July 4 in a demonstration that appeared to be tailored for social media, @alibreland.bsky.social reports. The group, Patriot Front, is simultaneously unserious and threatening, he argues: theatln.tc/QkMPkGGw 📸: Cheney Orr / Reuters

Despite Trump's railing against Marxism, @jonathanbchait.bsky.social argues that “Trump has more in common with Communists than his hostile rhetoric lets on”: theatln.tc/G18pphgO 📸: Kevin Carter / Getty

Answer today’s trivia from Eliot A. Cohen’s article on the enduring U.S.-France relationship. Check your response and tackle two other questions: theatln.tc/GX4D1NEN

Significant age gaps between siblings are more and more common—and they’re changing family dynamics, Michael Waters wrote in 2024. theatln.tc/TJzyVO3x

The evolutionary psychologist Peter Gray is challenging the popular understanding of kids and technology, @kait.bsky.social reports. He believes kids should be free to play without their parents’ supervision even when they go online. theatln.tc/AObT0cym

Democrats became great by fighting the far left—and today’s party can learn crucial lessons from those battles, David Brooks argues: theatln.tc/7ky1jaWE 🎨: The Atlantic. Sources: Getty.

Those who waited until this week to rescind their endorsements of Graham Platner should have already known he was a flawed candidate—and pretending otherwise required a “willful denial of the facts,” Mike Nelson argues: theatln.tc/QW60shc5

Graham Platner is ending his bid for Senate in Maine, leaving behind a powerful grassroots coalition that may or may not be transferable, @elainegodfrey.bsky.social and @russellberman.bsky.social report: theatln.tc/CMJSWHFF