Politics Without Politicians

Plus: Bloomberg at the Democratic debate; the trouble with Trump’s pardons; and a new kind of campus novel. View in browser | Update your preferences The Future of Democracy Politics Without Politicians The political scientist Hélène Landemore asks: If government is for the people, why can’t the people do the governing? By Nathan Heller Our Columnists At the Democratic Debate, Can Anyone Halt Bloomberg’s Rise? The way that the former New York mayor has barged into the race harkens back to what Trump did in the 2016 Republican primary. By John Cassidy Daily Comment The Trouble with Donald Trump’s Clemencies and Pardons The President’s absolution of white-collar criminals who were his personal friends and associates is an exercise in authoritarianism. By Jeffrey Toobin Campaign Chronicles The Republicans Planning to Vote in South Carolina’s Democratic Primary Before the state’s vote, on February 29th, some conservatives are trying to settle on the least electable candidate. By Charles Bethea PAID POST A sweeping journey through hundreds of years of U.S. history. Featuring lively conversations with popular historians and journalists, including David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Walter Isaacson, Ron Chernow, Bob Woodward, and many others, The American Story offers fresh insights and analysis on pivotal moments from the Founding Era to the present day. More on the Future of Democracy The Future of Democracy What Happens When the News Is Gone? In Jones County, North Carolina, and many other places around the country, local journalism has just about dried up. By Charles Bethea The Future of Democracy The Right to Listen As citizens of a democracy, we need to hear one another. Why can’t we? By Astra Taylor Culture and More Culture Desk The Video Game That Lets You Make Video Games In Dreams, the objective isn’t to win a game but to create one. Could it change the industry? By Simon Parkin Page-Turner “Real Life” Is a New Kind of Campus Novel In his début, Brandon Taylor rejects the usual characters—and clichés—of student life. By Eren Orbey Humor from The New Yorker Daily Shouts Our New Business Plan: Go Viral After we go viral, Eric’s team will just rake in the money. Then we’ll rinse and repeat until we can go public. By Kate Villa Daily Cartoon Wednesday, February 19th By Drew Dernavich 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 2020. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.