The False Promise of Trump’s Tax Bill

Plus: Facebook’s audacious pitch for a global cryptocurrency, and Olga Tokarczuk’s novels against nationalism. View in browser | Update your preferences Our Columnists The False Promise of Trump’s Tax Bill A year and a half after the Administration’s tax cuts became law, some businesses appear to be cutting back on their capital spending rather than increasing it. By John Cassidy Daily Comment Trump’s Message to U.S. Intelligence Officials: Be Loyal or Leave The nomination of Representative John Ratcliffe, of Texas, for director of National Intelligence is the clearest sign yet that powerful spy agencies are being politicized. By David Rohde Annals of Technology Facebook’s Audacious Pitch for a Global Cryptocurrency Libra promises a way for the unbanked people “who need it most” to move money across the world, but will it simply consolidate the power of the already powerful? By Sue Halpern From the Latest Issue Profiles Olga Tokarczuk’s Novels Against Nationalism In the face of the Polish government’s rightist dogma, the country’s preëminent writer explores its history of ethnic intermingling. By Ruth Franklin Books What P. T. Barnum Understood About America The “Prince of Humbugs” was a liar, a racist, and an entertainer who would do anything for a crowd. He even considered running for President. By Elizabeth Kolbert Dept. of Dissent Justice Stevens’s Dissenting Shakespeare Theory Among the late Supreme Court Justice’s controversial opinions: a belief that the Bard’s works were actually written by Edward de Vere, the seventeenth Earl of Oxford. By Tyler Foggatt Department of Newsletters Newsletters Sign Up for The New Yorker’s Movie Club Newsletter Reviews of the current cinema, plus recommendations for classics and underrated treasures available on streaming services, every Friday. From the Archive Books The Sublimely Inaccurate Portrait of the Brontë Sisters The story of Emily Brontë, who was born two hundred and one years ago, and her sisters has long been one of sensational legend. The truth is less grim—but more beguiling. By Peter Ackroyd Our Local Correspondents The Maraschino Mogul’s Secret Life From 2018: First the red bees arrived; then the Brooklyn cherry factory’s dark secret came to light. By Ian Frazier Humor from The New Yorker Daily Shouts New Slogans for Athleisure Brands “Biodynamic design helps us attain new heights of pajamas for hot people.” By Sam Saulsbury Daily Cartoon Tuesday, July 30th By Teresa Burns Parkhurst Sign up for more newsletters from The New Yorker. Visit The New Yorker shop. Question about your subscription? Contact Customer Care. New Yorker digital subscribers get unlimited access to everything on newyorker.com. Log in to your account here. We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please send your thoughts and suggestions to TNYinbox@newyorker.com. This e-mail was sent to you by The New Yorker. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, NewYorker@newsletters.newyorker.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2019. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.