We Are Living in the Age of the Black-Panic Defense

Plus: The worst jobs report in history, Michael Flynn gets his case dismissed, and what Shakespeare actually wrote about the plague. View in browser | Update your preferences Daily Comment We Are Living in the Age of the Black-Panic Defense The case of Ahmaud Arbery seems to point to racial presumptions implicit in how we interpret the concept of self-defense. By Jelani Cobb Our Columnists The Most Alarming Thing About the Worst Jobs Report in History In an April employment report that showed joblessness on par with rates seen during the Great Depression, the most jarring aspect is a pervasive uncertainty about what the future holds. By John Cassidy Daily Comment Flynn’s Dismissal and Trump’s War on the Mueller Investigation The President always had the right to pardon his former national-security adviser, but the Justice Department has done his dirty work for him. By Jeffrey Toobin Q. & A. How Racism Is Shaping the Pandemic The Harvard historian Evelynn Hammonds discusses the intersection between race and epidemics in America, from the seventeenth century to today. By Isaac Chotiner Letter from the U.K. London Celebrates the Anniversary of V-E Day Rather than gathering in the streets, as they did in 1945, Britons were urged to gather, on Friday, in front of the television. By Rebecca Mead Newsletters Sign Up for the New Yorker Recommends Newsletter Discover what our staff is reading, watching, and listening to each week. Culture and More Books Søren Kierkegaard’s Struggle with Himself For the philosopher, unhappiness became not a condition but a vocation. By Adam Kirsch Cultural Comment What Shakespeare Actually Wrote About the Plague In the works of the playwright, who lived his entire life in the shadow of bubonic plague, epidemic disease is present as a steady undertone, surfacing most vividly in everyday exclamations of rage and disgust. By Stephen Greenblatt Humor and Puzzles Puzzles & Games Dept. The Weekend Crossword Enters, as one’s D.M.s: ten letters. By Aimee Lucido Daily Shouts In These Difficult Times As you know, people are struggling. These very tasteful luxury products can absolutely help. By Sarah Mirk This e-mail was sent to you by The New Yorker. To ensure delivery, we recommend adding newyorker@newsletters.newyorker.com, to your contacts, while noting that it is a no-reply address. Please send all newsletter feedback to tnyinbox@newyorker.com. For more from The New Yorker, sign up for our newsletters, shop the store, and sign in to newyorker.com, where subscribers always have unlimited access. Contact us with questions. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2020. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.