Joe Manchin Kills Biden’s Build Back Better Plan

Plus: the Afghans America left behind; how to address weaknesses in the voting system; and the power of bell hooks’s gaze. View in browser | Update your preferences Monday, December 20, 2021 Our Columnists Joe Manchin Kills the Build Back Better Bill How will the country ever address the enduring market failures, glaring inequality, and big social-safety-net gaps that the plan was designed to tackle? By John Cassidy Annals of War The Afghans America Left Behind The U.S. promised protection to the locals it relied on during the war. When it withdrew, it abandoned thousands to the Taliban. By Eliza Griswold 2021 in Review A Year That Changed How Athletes Think About Mental Health The psychological challenges of sports have been talked about for ages. In 2021, athletes in a number of disciplines took action. By Louisa Thomas Daily Comment Joe Manchin Has Wrecked the Biden Presidency—Perhaps He’ll Also Liberate It The need to appease the West Virginia senator is gone now, and not just on the climate. By Bill McKibben Daily Comment The Catch-22 of Addressing Election Security How do politicians contend with the weaknesses in the voting system without fuelling baseless claims of election fraud? By Sue Halpern Persons of Interest Simon Rex on What Happens When the Party’s Over The actor and former MTV v.j., who used to rap about drugs and his dick, plays a washed-up, middle-aged porn star in “Red Rocket,” the best performance of his career. By Naomi Fry Culture and More Postscript The Power of bell hooks’s Gaze The feminist writer and activist as the photographer Eli Reed saw her, in his contact sheets from a 1996 shoot. By Eli Reed On Television Deconstruction and Delusion on HBO’s “Landscapers” Susan and Chris Edwards, the subjects of this true-crime love story, are not so much on the run as on a long walk. By Doreen St. Félix From the Cartoons & Puzzles Issue Cover Story Christoph Niemann’s “Give Us a Clue” The artist discusses “think, doodle, repeat,” and other strategies for generating ideas. By Françoise Mouly Puzzles & Games Dept. The Cover Crossword The ABCs of solving. By Andy Kravis Humor and Games Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Will Nediger Daily Cartoon Monday, December 20th By Zoe Si Shouts & Murmurs Yelp Reviews of Xmas “I’m allergic to nuts! One star.” “Christmas is too loud! Two stars.” And other holiday beefs. By David Sedaris You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2021. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.