How the War in Ukraine Might End

Plus: the troublesome legacy of the early Romantics; and the mystery of the headless goats in the Chattahoochee. View in browser | Update your preferences Thursday, September 29, 2022 In today’s newsletter, how to stop a war, and then: • The legacy of the early Romantics • The mystery of the headless goats • Andy Borowitz on our age of ignorance How the War in Ukraine Might End In recent years, a small group of scholars has focussed on war-termination theory. They see reason to fear the possible outcomes in Ukraine. Photograph by Mila Teshaieva for The New Yorker A war is an armed conflict between two groups; when one side surrenders, the war ends. Or so we think, Keith Gessen writes, in a piece about the future of the war in Ukraine. In reality, there are a host of complicating factors. One side might accept a certain set of terms, but what if the winner keeps inventing new ones? What if one or both sides don’t honor a peace deal? And what if a leader continues fighting an unwinnable war—just to hold on to power? Gessen talks to numerous experts in the field of war termination about what could happen next in Ukraine, and the implications of Vladimir Putin’s call for a “partial mobilization” of troops in Russia. As one expert says, “This will shape the rest of the twenty-first century. If Russia loses, or it doesn’t get what it wants, it will be a different Russia afterward. If Russia wins, it will be a different Europe afterward.” —Jessie Li, newsletter editor Read the story Jerrod Carmichael at The New Yorker Festival The recent Emmy winner, who revealed family secrets—and his own—in “Rothaniel,” his latest standup special, joins the staff writer Andrew Marantz to discuss the role of truth in comedy. Buy tickets and see the full Festival lineup » Editor’s Picks Books The Troublesome Legacy of the Early Romantics Express yourself! That credo was forged by a group of brilliant, oversexed German visionaries in the late eighteenth century. But did they really think it through? By Nikhil Krishnan Letter from the South The Mystery of the Headless Goats in the Chattahoochee Hundreds of decapitated goat carcasses have turned up in the river that runs through metro Atlanta. Are they evidence of animal sacrifice? Drug smuggling? Both? By Charles Bethea Afterword The Tap-Dancing TV Chef LaDeva Davis was a major presence on Philadelphia’s dance scene—and dancing was just one of her talents. By Susan Orlean Politics and More Podcast Andy Borowitz on Our Age of Ignorance The writer and comedian talks with David Remnick about “the intellectual deterioration” of American politics, the subject of his latest book. Culture Dept. The Front Row Three Highlights from the First Week of the 2022 New York Film Festival A trio of films share provocative approaches to the cinematic representation of facts. By Richard Brody Backstage The Not-Paparazzo That Celebrities Actually Enjoy Seeing Kevin Mazur, who was the last to shoot Michael Jackson alive, has become the guy Taylor Swift and Elton John call over when they want some candids. By Michael Schulman Fun & Games Dept. Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Will Nediger Daily Shouts Raising Felix: Not Baby Talking “Oh, my God, I have to tell everyone the adorable thing you just said!” By Julia Wertz Crossword A Beginner-Friendly Puzzle Pieces that make up half of a chess set: five letters. By Robyn Weintraub Daily Cartoon Thursday, September 29th By Margalit Cutler P.S. “As disconcerting as encountering intelligent aliens would be, the fact that we haven’t yet heard from any is, arguably, even more so.” Elizabeth Kolbert examines what’s known as the Fermi paradox, named after the physicist Enrico Fermi, who was born on this day in 1901. As the story goes, Fermi once turned to his colleagues at lunch and, noting that the Earth was a typical planet orbiting a typical star, wondered why we’d never seen signs of extraterrestrial life. “Where are they?” he asked. And Kolbert considers another question: Have the aliens already been here? 👽 Today’s newsletter was written by Jessie Li. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up for The Daily. 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.