The Worst Debate in American History

Plus: Chinese citizens are already receiving a coronavirus vaccine; Atul Gawande on controlling the pandemic; and Claudia Rankine. View in browser | Update your preferences Letter from Trump’s Washington “This Is So Unpresidential”: Notes from the Worst Debate in American History Trump talked and talked on Tuesday night, but, politically speaking, it added up to nothing. By Susan B. Glasser Our Columnists Biden and Trump’s First Debate Did Not End Well Debates are meant to present contrasts, but at the outset this one delivered only characters. By Benjamin Wallace-Wells News Desk Chinese Citizens Are Already Receiving a Coronavirus Vaccine The pandemic has only increased the battle with the U.S. for scientific and political supremacy. By Peter Hessler Dispatch Activists in Louisville Fight the Breonna Taylor Decision Alone The movement’s success at publicizing Taylor’s cause on the Internet has not shielded the activists on the ground from physical and legal risk. By Emily Witt Our Columnists Mourning the Autumn in New York City That Could Have Been What if, once the city had made it through the worst of the pandemic, we’d refused to settle for less in every area of our lives? By Masha Gessen PAID POST The gripping yet largely hidden history of WWII’s one million refugees “Insightful and eye-opening…Nasaw is a humane writer with a knowledge of his subject that is broad and deep, and he doesn’t lose sight of one of the enduring ironies of the war’s aftermath.” –NPR.org The Stakes The Stakes Controlling the Pandemic Is the First Step Toward Rescuing a Failed System Joe Biden has committed to building an infrastructure that would support public health and equitable medical care—not only during this pandemic but during the next one. By Atul Gawande Culture and More Page-Turner The Burdened Insights of Claudia Rankine’s “Just Us” In her new book, the poet tries to interrogate race in America through conversation. By Katy Waldman The New Yorker Documentary Azuma Makoto’s Botanical Sculptures, in “Flower Punk” Alison Klayman’s documentary shows how a former punk musician brought his sensibility—part poet, part mad scientist—to the unlikely medium of floral art. By Andrea K. Scott Humor and Puzzles Daily Shouts Welcome to the ​“Top Chef” ​Judges’ Table Bryce, your grilled octopus was too dry and too wet. It tasted like you never had a childhood. By Taryn Englehart and Jasmine Pierce Crossword Today’s Crossword Author of the Decameron and “On Famous Women”: nine letters. By Patrick Berry This e-mail was sent to you by The New Yorker. To insure 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.