Russell Berman

New York

Staff writer at The Atlantic, covering all things politics. Send tips/spin/spam to [email protected]. Emeritus of @thehill, @aolnews, @nysun

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Articles

The New Danger in Trump’s Washington: Honoring Federal Employees

1 week ago | theatlantic.com | Russell Berman

In some ways, last night’s Sammie awards—also known as the Oscars for federal employees—proceeded just as they do every year. In a packed auditorium a few blocks from the White House, government luminaries handed out medals to some of the nation’s most talented civil servants, recognizing groundbreaking research, major improvements in customer service, and top-notch stewardship of taxpayer money.
How to Ensure Iran Never Gets the Bomb After Israel's Strike

1 week ago | nationalsecurityjournal.org | Russell Berman

Key Points – The endgame of the current Israel-Iran conflict presents two distinct goals: preventing a nuclear Iran and achieving regime change in Tehran. -While regime change is a hope for many, the primary and more achievable objective for Israel and the US should be the complete and verifiable dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program. -As Israel gains military dominance, it should not settle for a simple return to diplomacy.
America’s Most Famous Escalator, a Decade Later

1 week ago | aol.com | Russell Berman

The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. America’s most famous escalator is a bit of a tourist trap these days. Exactly a decade ago, the gold-rimmed conveyor carried Donald Trump into the basement of his eponymous New York tower and down into the bowels of American politics.
Inside the Trump-Musk Breakup

2 weeks ago | sueddeutsche.de | Jonathan Lemire |Ashley Parker |Michael Scherer |Russell Berman

The president tried to give his billionaire benefactor a dignified exit. It didn’t work. First published in The Atlantic on June 6, 2025 by Jonathan Lemire, Ashley Parker, Michael Scherer, and Russell Berman, The Atlantic June 12, 2025 | reading time: 8 Min.
The Maritime Middle East And Challenges For American Strategy

2 weeks ago | hoover.org | Russell Berman

Asia, Africa and Europe meet in the Middle East. The region has long been the crossroads of the world and the home of empires. Its importance will not wane. Yet the intersection of the three continents does not offer a simple geography. It is marked by inland seas bordered by often contested coastlines–the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea, the Red Sea, and of course the Mediterranean, with a name that declares it the center of the earth.
The Real Problem With the Democrats’ Ground Game

2 weeks ago | theatlantic.com | Russell Berman

They called it the “Big Send.” Democrats gathered in living rooms, libraries, and coffee shops across the country to write letters to millions of potential voters in swing states and competitive congressional districts, urging them to vote in November.
Inside the Trump-Musk Breakup

3 weeks ago | theatlantic.com | Jonathan Lemire |Ashley Parker |Michael Scherer |Russell Berman

For once, President Donald Trump was trying to be the adult in the room. Trump and Elon Musk, two billionaires with massive egos and combustible temperaments, had forged an unlikely friendship over the past year, one built on proximity, political expediency, and, yes, a touch of genuine warmth. Relations between the president and his top benefactor had grown somewhat strained in recent weeks, as Trump began to feel that Musk had overstayed his welcome in the West Wing.
Have Republicans Read the Big, Beautiful (1,100-Page) Bill?

1 month ago | theatlantic.com | Russell Berman

When Democrats reshaped the American health-insurance system in 2010, Republicans accused them of all manner of legislative foul play: Middle-of-the-night votes. Backroom deals. An enormous, partisan bill jammed through Congress before anyone could find out what was in it. “Have you read the bill? Hell no you haven’t!” an indignant then-House Minority Leader John Boehner thundered on the House floor. The GOP’s claims were exaggerated.
Will Republicans Say No to Trump?

1 month ago | theatlantic.com | Russell Berman

Representative Tim Burchett is fond of saying no. The fourth-term Tennessean was one of the eight renegade Republicans who helped oust Kevin McCarthy, and when Speaker Mike Johnson tries to rally the party around legislation, many times Burchett is one of the last holdouts.
The MAGA-World Rift Over Trump’s Qatari Jet

1 month ago | theatlantic.com | Jonathan Lemire |Russell Berman

As Air Force One glided into Doha today, it was easy to imagine President Donald Trump having a case of jet envy. Hamad International Airport, in Qatar’s capital, is sometimes home to the $400 million “palace in the sky,” a luxury liner that Trump is eyeing. Qatar’s royal family plans to give the plane to Trump as a temporary replacement for the aging Air Force One and then to his future presidential library after he leaves office.