'Flags are talismans of national pride, but their absence can also reflect a venomous divorce'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'Behind Russia's absence at the Olympics, a deepening fury'
Lee Hockstader at The Washington Post
Russia has not "disguised its rage at having been all but excluded from the 2024 Summer Games," says Lee Hockstader. The 15 neutral Russian athletes reflect the "extent to which the Kremlin is convinced, and has persuaded Russians, that the war in Ukraine is a proxy for a long-term struggle with the West." Russia has become an "increasingly galvanized society led by elites who see the Western powers as Moscow's sworn enemy," which is a "recipe for generational struggle."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'I'm from Appalachia. JD Vance isn't. He got our story wrong.'
Riley Crabtree at USA Today / Columbus Dispatch
J.D. Vance "painted Appalachia as a place to escape" and "insinuated Appalachians were stubborn folks with no value and no real culture," says Riley Crabtree. His "portrayal of my part of America was personal — not universal," and for many Appalachians, "achieving even a career that can provide for your family is difficult." Because of Appalachia, "I have lived a wonderful life" with a "tight-knit family," which is "quite different from Vance's image of the region."
'Hochul's Covid report leaves NY still lacking answers four years later'
New York Post editorial board
Four years after Covid began, New Yorkers "still have no reliable, independent assessment of how well their leaders responded," says the New York Post editorial board. Without this, it's "hard to hold anyone accountable for failures and to better prepare better for the next epidemic." This is a "serious problem, because many" of these policies "were monumentally tragic mistakes." There should be an "independent commission, with subpoena power, to provide the comprehensive accounting New Yorkers want."
'Trump's crypto turnaround heralds an economic nightmare'
David Gerard at Foreign Policy
Donald Trump's crypto courting is a "surprise given Trump's previous strong opposition to crypto," says David Gerard. What "Trump wants from the crypto industry is money," and "many in Silicon Valley would like an authoritarian who they think will let them run free with the money." If Trump "allowed crypto free rein, it might help further the collapse of the U.S. economy." But it's "more likely that Trump will be happy to take crypto's money and run."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
5 hilariously sparse cartoons about further DOGE cuts
Cartoons Artists take on free audits, report cards, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in China
The Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: March 30, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why does Donald Trump want Greenland?
The Explainer Trump is not the only US president who has tried to gain control of Greenland
By The Week UK Published
-
'How quickly misogynistic videos show up in users' TikTok and YouTube feeds'
instant opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
What dangers does the leaked Signal chat expose the US to?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The White House's ballooning group chat scandal offered a masterclass in what not to say when prying eyes might be watching
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Americans deserve immigration officials who are transparent about what they do and why'
instant opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
'Even authoritarian regimes need a measure of public support — the consent of at least some of the governed'
instant opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
USPS Postmaster General DeJoy steps down
Speed Read Louis DeJoy faced ongoing pressure from the Trump administration as they continue to seek power over the postal system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published