This Week’s Issue: The Man Who Refused to Spy

Plus: the case for dumping the Electoral College, the many faces of Ethan Hawke, and white supremacy in classical music. View in browser | Update your preferences A Reporter at Large The Man Who Refused to Spy When an Iranian scientist came to Ohio, the F.B.I. pressed him to become an informant. When he said no, he was arrested—and began a Kafkaesque journey from one American prison to another. By Laura Secor American Chronicles How the Promise of Normalcy Won the 1920 Election A hundred years ago, the U.S. was riven by disease, inflamed with racial violence, and torn between isolation and globalism. Sound familiar? By Thomas Mallon Life and Letters An American Writer for an Age of Division The playwright and novelist Ayad Akhtar explores the origins of Trump’s toxicity, the tensions of Muslim identity, and the splintering of a family and a country. By Alexandra Schwartz Profiles The Many Faces of Ethan Hawke The actor’s long, freewheeling career has been a chart of his restlessness and his recklessness. By John Lahr Comment The Case for Dumping the Electoral College Trump’s Presidency, and the risk that it will recur despite his persistent unpopularity, reflects a deeper malignancy in our Constitution that must be addressed. By Steve Coll A Critic at Large Black Scholars Confront White Supremacy in Classical Music The field must acknowledge a history of systemic racism while also giving new weight to Black composers, musicians, and listeners. By Alex Ross Books When a Virus Becomes a Muse Hervé Guibert wrote about the ravaging of AIDS in controversial, self-exposing, always defiant fiction. A revival of his work places it within the canonical literature of illness. By Julian Lucas PAID POST The Unexpected Paths to Success from the Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs “How I Built This” by Guy Raz, based on the highly acclaimed NPR podcast of the same name, is “a must-read for anyone who wants to start a business, grow a business, or be inspired by those who do.” (Adam Grant) Humor from The New Yorker Shouts & Murmurs One-Star Yelp Reviews of Heaven “I’m only giving one star because no stars is not an option.” By Jay Martel Cartoons From The Issue Cartoons from the Issue Drawings and drollery from this week’s magazine. 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.