Afghanistan and the Haunting Questions of Blame

Plus: the Democratic civil war; the flexibility of our sexual desires; and the New York Film Festival. View in browser | Update your preferences Friday, October 1, 2021 Daily Comment Afghanistan and the Haunting Questions of Blame In Senate testimony, the generals acknowledged America’s “strategic failure” in its longest war, and their differences with Biden. By Robin Wright Letter from Biden’s Washington The Democratic Civil War Has a Winner: Donald Trump Biden’s agenda is up against more than just the moderates-versus-progressives split. By Susan B. Glasser Daily Comment What Is Going On with the German Election? As negotiations continue, it helps that Germans have experience building coalitions and that the largest parties aren’t extreme. By Amy Davidson Sorkin From the Magazine Books We’re Shaped by Our Sexual Desires. Can We Shape Them? What we want may be more socially conditioned than we realize. By Alexandra Schwartz Culture and More Culture Desk Jason Isbell, Friend to the Vaccinated Why the singer-songwriter has been very public about his pro-vaccine stance. By Paul Elie The Front Row Highlights of the New York Film Festival, Second Week Metaphysical mysteries and political dangers come to the fore in a teeming program of international films by Céline Sciamma, Hong Sangsoo, and others. By Richard Brody The Pictures Margaret Qualley Acts Her Age The “Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood” ingénue and star of the Netflix series “Maid” visits Color Me Mine for some sophisticated conversation. By Alexandra Schwartz Humor and Games Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz The fewer clues you need, the more points you receive. By Liz Maynes-Aminzade Blitt’s Kvetchbook Discomfort Foods A feast fit for foes. By Barry Blitt Daily Shouts I Finally Learned to Listen to My Body This is what it had to say. By Broti Gupta and Julia Edelman Daily Cartoon Friday, October 1st By Jon Adams You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Was this e-mail forwarded to you? Sign up. Unsubscribe | Manage your e-mail preferences | Send newsletter feedback | View our Privacy Policy Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.