Radio Atlantic
The Atlantic
The Atlantic has long been known as an ideas-driven magazine. Now we’re bringing that same ethos to audio. Like the magazine, the show will “road test” the big ideas that both drive the news and shape our culture. Through conversations—and sometimes sharp debates—with the most insightful thinkers and writers on topics of the day, Radio Atlantic will complicate overly simplistic views. It will cut through the noise with clarifying, personal narratives. It will, hopefully, help listeners make up their own mind about certain ideas.The national conversation right now can be chaotic, reckless, and stuck. Radio Atlantic aims to bring some order to our thinking—and encourage listeners to be purposeful about how they unstick their mind.
Episodes
Mentioned books
41 snips
May 7, 2026 • 32min
The Tragedy of the Tradwife
Caro Claire Burke, author of Yesteryear and cultural commentator on gender, discusses a tradwife influencer thrown into 1855. She explores why the aesthetic appeals, how nostalgia and policy intersect, and the novel’s dark psychological tone. Conversation touches on political radicalization, motherhood, and the real-world consequences of romanticizing past gender roles.
69 snips
Apr 30, 2026 • 32min
The 'Great Man' Presidency
Michael Scherer, White House and foreign policy writer, and Ashley Parker, White House reporter, discuss Trump's self-comparisons to conquerors and a Hegelian 'world-historical' lens. They explore his legacy-building through foreign adventures, national monuments, currency and White House redesigns. The conversation probes limits of power, political costs, and whether these moves aim to secure a grand place in history.
65 snips
Apr 23, 2026 • 34min
Kash Patel's FBI
Quinta Jurecic, Atlantic legal writer tracking Justice Department shifts, and Sarah Fitzpatrick, Atlantic reporter who investigated concerns about FBI Director Kash Patel. They discuss reports of erratic behavior and security worries. They also cover DOJ staffing changes, counterterror and counterintelligence gaps, and how headlines have preceded agency actions.
49 snips
Apr 16, 2026 • 29min
If Hungary Can Do It
Anne Applebaum, historian of autocracy who explains how illiberal leaders build power. Veronika Munk, Hungarian reporter who covered Budapest’s streets during the vote. They discuss Orban’s decline, how propaganda clashed with rising cost-of-living realities, media crackdowns and newsroom resistance, and what Hungary’s turnaround might mean for politics beyond its borders.
49 snips
Apr 9, 2026 • 32min
Trump Is Wishcasting Victory in Iran
Nancy Youssef, military and foreign affairs reporter tracking battlefield developments. Tom Nichols, political scientist analyzing strategy and institutions. They discuss Trump’s alarming public threats and the diplomatic scramble that followed. They probe military limits on catastrophic strikes, how rhetoric harms Iranians, and what the cease-fire means for deterrence and U.S. credibility.
64 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 25min
The Manosphere Feels Betrayed
Elaine Godfrey, Atlantic staff writer who covers political movements and media, tracks shifts in the manosphere and its political clout. She discusses how comedy podcasters shaped Trump’s 2024 coalition. She traces the betrayals that cracked that alliance, reactions ranging from bafflement to anger, and how splinters could reshape future MAGA politics.
25 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 28min
The Department of Homeland Security Theater
Nick Miroff, an Atlantic reporter who covers immigration and enforcement, discusses ICE deployments to airports and the optics vs. reality of that move. He breaks down why agents cannot fix TSA lines and how enforcement is being rebranded into quieter, targeted strategies. He also touches on new DHS leadership and plans for expanded detention capacity.
53 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 29min
Trump Is Kicking the Economy While It’s Down
Rogé Karma, Atlantic staff writer who covers global oil markets, breaks down Iran’s Strait of Hormuz blockade and the immediate spike in U.S. gas prices. He explains why U.S. fuel exports still tie the country to global crude, how oil shocks ripple into food, airfare, and consumer spending, and why a fragile economy could be pushed into recession while some countries benefit.
34 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 33min
A Year as a Degenerate Sports Gambler
McKay Coppins, an Atlantic staff writer who tested sports gambling by betting through an NFL season. He chronicles setting up bets, leaning on Nate Silver’s methods, and the emotional and family strain of losing control. The story also traces the legal expansion of betting and the rise of prediction markets that blur gambling with everyday life.
31 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 30min
A War Begun on Instinct
Jeanne Shaheen, a U.S. senator and Foreign Relations leader, and Missy Ryan, a national-security reporter with years in the Middle East. They discuss sudden strikes on Iran, shifting public rationales, limited congressional briefings, military buildups and readiness, and who is steering U.S. policy as war powers and oversight falter.
