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
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.
34 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.
102 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 31min
After Khamenei, What Now?
Anne Applebaum, a democracy and authoritarianism expert, and Arash Azizi, an Iranian political commentator, discuss Iranian reactions to Khamenei’s death. They explore Iranians’ mixed feelings of hope and fear. They assess realistic leadership alternatives, the tug between technocrats and hardliners, and how U.S. tactics have shaped Iran’s future.
12 snips
Feb 28, 2026 • 16min
What Can the Texas Primary Tell Us About Democrats?
Elaine Godfrey, an Atlantic staff writer who covers national politics and on-the-ground campaign reporting, recounts being escorted out of a Texas Senate rally. She discusses the combustible Crockett vs Tallarico primary, campaign denials and crowd reactions. Conversations touch on press access, shifting Democratic campaign tactics, and how Texas voters weigh style and electability.
31 snips
Feb 26, 2026 • 31min
Why Pick a Fight With Iran Now?
Tom Nichols, a foreign-policy analyst focused on strategy and military affairs, and Nancy Youssef, a national security reporter with Middle East on-the-ground expertise, discuss U.S. planning and posture toward Iran. They cover Geneva negotiation priorities, limits of strikes on nuclear programs, the scale and purpose of the U.S. military buildup, munitions and alliance constraints, and risks of escalation and regime-change aims.
9 snips
Feb 19, 2026 • 28min
Black History Month Is Different This Year
Adam Harris, writer who covers education and race, and Clint Smith, poet and author exploring slavery’s legacy, discuss federal efforts to sanitize Black history. They describe examples of erasure and legal pushback. They talk about practicing Black History Month differently through personal and local stories and the political stakes of whitewashing the past.
20 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 29min
Iran Wants Him Arrested. He's Going Back Anyway.
Jafar Panahi, an Iranian film director and screenwriter who makes daring films under strict bans, talks about his Oscar‑nominated It Was Just an Accident. He discusses making films in secret, the risks of returning to Iran amid arrests, and why he feels compelled to keep creating despite danger. Short, tense, and defiant.
16 snips
Feb 7, 2026 • 26min
The Meaning of 'Melania'
Sophie Gilbert, an Atlantic staff writer covering culture and film, calls the Melania movie a “two-hour perfume commercial.” She dissects its glossy visuals, slow pacing, and focus on fashion and spectacle. Conversations cover Melania’s curated solitude, body language with Donald Trump, the film’s premiere and cultural reach, and whether it functions as propaganda or a stylistic misfire.
