The Taliban Confront the Realities of Power

Plus: Putin prepares; Aleshea Harris stages Black life; and setting “The Gilded Age” straight. View in browser | Update your preferences Monday, February 21, 2022 A Reporter at Large The Taliban Confront the Realities of Power They fought for decades to retake Afghanistan, but promises of a new start are already colliding with internal divisions and external opposition. By Jon Lee Anderson Daily Comment Putin Prepares The autocrat has been trying for decades to end what he sees as a prolonged period of Russian humiliation. By David Remnick A Critic at Large Aleshea Harris Stages Black Life The playwright explores the myths of community, love, and violence. By Hilton Als News Desk The New Yorker Wins Two Polk Awards Sarah Stillman and Ian Urbina received prizes for reporting on migration, and Luke Mogelson won the inaugural Schanberg Prize. By The New Yorker From the Archive A Critic at Large Remembering W. H. Auden There was nothing more admirable in Auden, who was born on this day in 1907, than his firm belief in sanity. By Hannah Arendt Culture and More Poems From “An Otherwise” A poet grapples with the indelible legacies of war, empire, and exile. By Solmaz Sharif Truth in Television Setting “The Gilded Age” Straight The local-history buff Keith Taillon uses his Instagram account, keithyorkcity, to catalogue the flubs and fumbles in the new HBO series. By Sheelah Kolhatkar Humor and Games Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Liz Maynes-Aminzade Crossword A Challenging Puzzle 2021 Pulitzer Prize winner for “The Night Watchman”: seven letters. By Anna Shechtman Daily Shouts A Close Encounter with Del Close Del was at a juncture and I was, too, and so our junctures junctured. By Bob Odenkirk Daily Cartoon Monday, February 21st By Teresa Burns Parkhurst 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 2022. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.