Opinion Today: What happened in Russia, and what’s next?

Our writers have been taking stock of the situation from many angles this week. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP4QoAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPVRZJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1cmk9bnl0JTNBJTJGJTJGbmV3c2xldHRlciUyRmEyMGE5NWZlLWJjYTMtNTkzYi1hZjI1LWExMDkxNjJiZDM3NCZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0SwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) [Marquee Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDYyOSZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjlXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Read more from Opinion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) June 29, 2023 [Author Headshot] By Krista Mahr Deputy International Editor, Opinion All of us felt the world shift a little last weekend, watching the troops of the Wagner force leader Yevgeny Prigozhin make their way from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don toward Moscow. The sight of a domestic challenge to President Vladimir Putin — and what its success or failure would bring — was as disorienting as it was alarming. And then, seemingly as abruptly as it began, it was over, the standoff ending in a hastily brokered deal. Prigozhin called back his convoy and received a hero’s send-off in Rostov-on-Don as his private army packed up and left, ending the immediate specter of a civil war and Russia’s massive nuclear arsenal potentially falling into the hands of a rogue mercenary leader. We may never know exactly what transpired behind the scenes last weekend, but the murky events unearthed critical questions that we at Times Opinion have been grappling with in our coverage this week. Among those questions, as [editorial board member Serge Schmemann](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNi9vcGluaW9uL2ludGVybmF0aW9uYWwtd29ybGQvcHV0aW4tcnVzc2lhLXVwcmlzaW5nLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) put it, “is whether the failed mutiny will leave President Vladimir Putin weakened, strengthened or vindictive.” As Putin seeks to reassert himself, the immediate prognosis for Ukraine looked bleak, he wrote, as Russia sent a swarm of missiles and drones into the country hours after the mutiny. At home, “Mr. Putin has left the field for new repression in Russia wide open, and could similarly begin an even more vicious crackdown on anyone in the Russian elite or leadership who questions him,” Schmemann wrote. Others stand to benefit from the instability. President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus, who reportedly helped broker the deal between Putin and Prigozhin, is seeking to burnish his reputation on the global stage by presenting himself as the man who stopped a bloody uprising, [Thomas Graham writes in a guest essay](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2x1a2FzaGVua28tYmVsYXJ1cy1ydXNzaWEtY291cC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0SXaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjMwNjI5JnRlPTEmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOVcDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) From Moscow, [Andrei Kolesnikov wrote](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3B1dGluLXJ1c3NpYS1jb3VwLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) about the uneasy silence that settled over the typically lively city as residents watched the convoy inch toward their homes. He argued that the system that Putin built, while easily surviving Prigozhin’s revolt, nevertheless suffered a serious blow. The mutiny “poked a hole in the Kremlin’s campaign to assure Russians that everything is fine,” he wrote. The true power of the revolt, [Bret Stephens argued](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3J1c3NpYS1wdXRpbi1wcmlnb3poaW4tdWtyYWluZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), was that it broke through Putin’s sustained lies about the war in Ukraine. In a diatribe he posted to Telegram the day before his march on Moscow, Prigozhin said Putin’s war was “poorly planned” and cost thousands of Russians their lives. “There’s something bracing and refreshing about hearing the truth — even if it comes from the mouth of a self-interested thug,” Stephens wrote. Prigozhin didn’t succeed, of course. He may be silenced, reportedly now in exile in Belarus, and Putin is back in control of his country’s narrative. And, [as Thomas L. Friedman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3B1dGluLXJ1c3NpYS11a3JhaW5lLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) reminds us, even if Putin is somehow unseated in the near term, the world may not necessarily become a safer place. There are no other more reliable figures waiting in the wings should Putin’s system crumble. If Russia fails, it will fail spectacularly. In that sense, Friedman writes, “Putin has taken the whole world hostage. If he wins, the Russian people lose. But if he loses and his successor is disorder, the whole world loses.” Read Opinion’s coverage: [[Article Image] James Hill for The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2x1a2FzaGVua28tYmVsYXJ1cy1ydXNzaWEtY291cC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [GUEST ESSAY Lukashenko Proves Once a Tool, Always a Tool The Belarusian leader is once again trying to burnish his global image after the failed coup in Russia. By Thomas E. Graham](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2x1a2FzaGVua28tYmVsYXJ1cy1ydXNzaWEtY291cC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [[Article Image] Igor Russak/Reuters](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3J1c3NpYS1wdXRpbi1wcmlnb3poaW4tdWtyYWluZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [BRET STEPHENS Prigozhin’s Mutiny Against Putin’s Reign of Lies But do ordinary Russians want to know the truth? By Bret Stephens](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3J1c3NpYS1wdXRpbi1wcmlnb3poaW4tdWtyYWluZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [[Article Image] Pool photo by Pavel Bednyakov](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3B1dGluLXJ1c3NpYS1jb3VwLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [GUEST ESSAY Yesterday’s Putin Is Gone He survived a brief revolt, but the cracks in his system are now evident. By Andrei Kolesnikov](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3B1dGluLXJ1c3NpYS1jb3VwLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [[Article Image] Pool photo by Sergey Guneev](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3B1dGluLXJ1c3NpYS11a3JhaW5lLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN What Happens to Putin Now? The events playing out in Russia last weekend felt like the trailer for the next James Bond movie. By Thomas L. Friedman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3B1dGluLXJ1c3NpYS11a3JhaW5lLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [[Article Image] Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNi9vcGluaW9uL2ludGVybmF0aW9uYWwtd29ybGQvcHV0aW4tcnVzc2lhLXVwcmlzaW5nLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [SERGE SCHMEMANN Prigozhin and the Long and Infamous History of Failed Russian Rebellions Putin may emerge weakened, strengthened or vindictive. By Serge Schmemann](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yNi9vcGluaW9uL2ludGVybmF0aW9uYWwtd29ybGQvcHV0aW4tcnVzc2lhLXVwcmlzaW5nLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAxODEyJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDYyOSZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjlXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Here’s what we’re focusing on today: Editors’ Picks [GUEST ESSAY ‘My Body Is a Clock’: The Private Life of Chronic Care Every 28 days, I point the camera toward myself to document my illness, care and time. By Sara J. Winston](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOS9vcGluaW9uL3Bob3RvZ3JhcGh5LW11bHRpcGxlLXNjbGVyb3Npcy1jaHJvbmljLWNhcmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOS9vcGluaW9uL3Bob3RvZ3JhcGh5LW11bHRpcGxlLXNjbGVyb3Npcy1jaHJvbmljLWNhcmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) More From Opinion [Wait, Are There Actually Aliens? What to make of the latest allegations of a government cover-up. By Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos Lozada and Lydia Polgreen](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2FsaWVucy1jb25zcGlyYWN5LXRoZW9yaWVzLWdvdmVybm1lbnQtY292ZXItdXBzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2FsaWVucy1jb25zcGlyYWN5LXRoZW9yaWVzLWdvdmVybm1lbnQtY292ZXItdXBzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9OTYzMTImbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTM3OTUzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpknJN0nWRy-lIUUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [GAIL COLLINS You’re So Vain, You Probably Think This Campaign Is About You R.F.K. Jr. is a walking, talking conspiracy theory. By Gail Collins](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL3Jmay1qci1wcmVzaWRlbnQtMjAyNC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL3Jmay1qci1wcmVzaWRlbnQtMjAyNC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [PAMELA PAUL Do Not Panic. It’s Just a Moral Panic. They’ve existed for years. But they are increasing in number and changing in nature. By Pamela Paul](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2NvbHVtbmlzdHMvbW9yYWwtcGFuaWMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2NvbHVtbmlzdHMvbW9yYWwtcGFuaWMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [CHARLES M. BLOW Republicans’ Anti-Woke, Anti-Vote Crusade Has Crashed Into the Constitution G.O.P. politicians today aren’t constitutional absolutists. They’re constitutional opportunists. By Charles M. Blow](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL3JlcHVibGljYW5zLWFudGktd29rZS1jb25zdGl0dXRpb24uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL3JlcHVibGljYW5zLWFudGktd29rZS1jb25zdGl0dXRpb24uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [NICHOLAS KRISTOF The Wannabe Putin in Saudi Arabia Why would Biden “reset” relations with a crown prince who seeks a nuclear program? By Nicholas Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL3B1dGluLW1icy1zYXVkaS1hcmFiaWEtYmlkZW4uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL3B1dGluLW1icy1zYXVkaS1hcmFiaWEtYmlkZW4uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [ROSS DOUTHAT How Do You Replace an Elite? This book tries to give new answers to a question conservatives have been asking for decades. By Ross Douthat](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2FtZXJpY2FuLWVsaXRlLXBhdHJpY2stZGVuZWVuLXBvc3QtbGliZXJhbGlzbS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2FtZXJpY2FuLWVsaXRlLXBhdHJpY2stZGVuZWVuLXBvc3QtbGliZXJhbGlzbS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwNjI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTk2MzEyJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEzNzk1MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-2) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI2NTM3JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDYyOSZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzA2MjlXA255dEIKZJyTdJ1kcvpSFFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [DAVID WALLACE-WELLS The Myth of Early Pandemic Polarization When Covid arrived, partisanship had little to do with how officials responded. By David Wallace-Wells](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2NvdmlkLXBhbmRlbWljLTIwMjAtb3ItY292aWQtcGFuZGVtaWMtcG9saXRpY3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2NvdmlkLXBhbmRlbWljLTIwMjAtb3ItY292aWQtcGFuZGVtaWMtcG9saXRpY3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [PETER COY What Old-School Economics Doesn’t Get About Democracy Danielle Allen makes the case that taxation and redistribution are a poor proxy for true equality. By Peter Coy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2RhbmllbGxlLWFsbGVuLWRlbW9jcmFjeS1lY29ub21pY3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2RhbmllbGxlLWFsbGVuLWRlbW9jcmFjeS1lY29ub21pY3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [LETTERS The Supreme Court’s Rejection of a Disputed Legal Theory on Elections A majority on the court ruled against the “independent state legislature” theory. Also: Race and class; tax relief; reading; the German far right.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvc3VwcmVtZS1jb3VydC1lbGVjdGlvbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmf_mTP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNi8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvc3VwcmVtZS1jb3VydC1lbGVjdGlvbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDYyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD05NjMxMiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMzc5NTMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmSck3SdZHL6UhRSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) Subscribe Today New York Times Opinion curates a wide range of views, inviting rich discussion and debate that help readers analyze the world. 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