Charles Bethea
@charlesbethea.bsky.social
New Yorker staff writer in Atlanta Reporting mostly from the South https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/charles-bethea
This story about highway guardrails -- yes, highway guardrails -- by @charlesbethea.bsky.social is amazing. It's got tragedy, redemption, and an all-too uncommon bit of successful public policymaking for the public good. I highly recommend it www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
One Man’s Quest to Fix Every Deadly Guardrail
In 2016, Steve Eimers’s daughter died when she hit a defective guardrail. Then he learned that the country was full of them.
newyorker.com
Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., a Presidential sidekick from Atlanta and a triumphal-arch enthusiast, is just back from Russia, where he hung out with Putin and Steven Seagal. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
The Man Who Green-Lighted Trump’s Ballroom
Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., a Presidential sidekick from Atlanta and a triumphal-arch enthusiast, is just back from Russia, where he hung out with Putin and Steven Seagal.
newyorker.com
In 2016, Steve Eimers’s daughter died when she hit a defective guardrail. Then he learned that the country was full of them. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
One Man’s Quest to Fix Every Deadly Guardrail
In 2016, Steve Eimers’s daughter died when she hit a defective guardrail. Then he learned that the country was full of them.
newyorker.com
In his lifetime, the M.L.B. manager has won multiple World Series, shared a joint with Jimi Hendrix, and co-invented the high five. Will he add Hall of Famer to the mix? www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Dusty Baker Plays the Long Game
In his lifetime, the M.L.B. manager has won multiple World Series, shared a joint with Jimi Hendrix, and co-invented the high five. Will he add Hall of Famer to the mix?
newyorker.com
What a treat to be able to guest edit today's @thesundaylongread.bsky.social. . Checks it out! @charlesbethea.bsky.social, @nathanielpopper.bsky.social, @mariepastora.bsky.social, @benjij.bsky.social, @davidjroth.bsky.social, and many others. mailchi.mp/sundaylongre...
☀️ The Sunday Long Read: Danny Funt, Stanford, YouTube in Schools
The week's best journalism. Every Sunday.
mailchi.mp
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has a better understanding of foreign policy and the Middle East than the Trump Administration and many DC pro-war pundits. www.newyorker.com/news/the-new...
Sat down with Steve Kerr for two hours, a few days ago, for this wide-ranging @newyorker.com interview: www.newyorker.com/news/the-new...
Has Steve Kerr Had Enough?
The Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr on his future, coaching Draymond Green, the potential benefits of eliminating the three-point shot, and whether he might give politics a try.
newyorker.com
I was always too scared to tweet during its heyday but I'm curious to meet anyone this article might shake out!
Fact-Checkers Anonymous
Getting a job at The New Yorker felt like an arbitrary stroke of luck. Getting fired was quite the opposite.
thenation.com
Weekend reading from this week's issue: "The Camps Promising to Turn You—or Your Son—Into an Alpha Male" by Charles Bethea (@charlesbethea.bsky.social). https://newyorkerest.com/issue/2026/04/06?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=weekend_reading
The Camps Promising to Turn You—or Your Son—Into an Alpha Male
At the Men of War Crucible, you bear crawl through rivers. At Warrior Week, you dig your own grave. At the Squire Program, your teen-ager can take part, too.
newyorkerest.com
In this week's Top 5: · Chasing manhood @newyorker.com · Naming the dead @wired.com · Searching the stacks @altajournal.bsky.social · Leaving music @hazlitt.bsky.social · Opting out @nytimes.com longreads.com/2026/04/03/t...
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week - Longreads
Highlighting excellent stories by Charles Bethea, Mahmoud Mushtaha, Geoffrey Gray, Luke Ottenhof, and Matthew Shaer.
longreads.com
"I watched a small son get pummelled. 'That was fun,' he said flatly when it was over. Heading back to the gym, one notably silent son told me that his father had made him come." — @CharlesBethea.bsky.social for @newyorker.com www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
The Camps Promising to Turn You—or Your Son—Into an Alpha Male
At the Men of War Crucible, you bear-crawl through rivers. At Warrior Week, you dig your own grave. At the Squire Program, your teen-ager can take part, too.
newyorker.com
Inside the programs and camps that promise to turn regular men into “alpha males.” www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
The Camps Promising to Turn You—or Your Son—Into an Alpha Male
At the Men of War Crucible, you bear crawl through rivers. At Warrior Week, you dig your own grave. At the Squire Program, your teen-ager can take part, too.
newyorker.com
“I don’t care what occupation you have in life,” Kevin McCarthy tells @charlesbethea.bsky.social. “When people know you by a three-letter acronym, you’ve really built a following.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Big Breakup
The congresswoman split with the President over the Epstein files, then she quit. Where will she go from here?
newyorker.com
Why did Marjorie Taylor Greene split with Donald Trump? She may have belatedly educated herself, a longtime Georgia G.O.P. operative suggested: “My theory is she’s not actually a dumbass anymore.” www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Big Breakup
The congresswoman split with the President over the Epstein files, then she quit. Where will she go from here?
newyorker.com
Went on "Fresh Air" this week to talk about the MTG era: www.npr.org/programs/fre...
Fresh Air for Jan. 6, 2026: Marjorie Taylor Greene's political transformation
Hear the Fresh Air program for Jan 06, 2026
npr.org
Some January 6th insurrectionists have re-offended. Others have run for office. Cleveland Grover Meredith, Jr., is campaigning to get reparations—from “the deep state” and his parents.
How One J6er Has Been Emboldened by His Pardon
Some insurrectionists have re-offended. Others have run for office. Cleveland Grover Meredith, Jr., is campaigning to get reparations—from “the deep state” and his parents.
newyorker.com
When Charles Bethea climbed the world’s tallest volcano with the help of an altitude-sickness pill, he wondered: Had he denied himself some deeper experience or insight?
What It’s Like to Get Really, Really High
Climbers are often chasing a rush. Was I cheating by using some help to get there?
newyorker.com
A former senior official and two current staff members describe the turmoil at the C.D.C. under R.F.K., Jr.,’s stewardship. “Everyone has a limit,” the employees said, “and there are many of us being pushed to the brink.”
Inside the Chaos at the C.D.C.
A former senior official and two current employees describe the turmoil at the agency under R.F.K., Jr.,’s stewardship.
newyorker.com
this... absolutely this... @charlesbethea.bsky.social #RSDI #Balls #TheBallsInitiative #DogeII www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
The DOGEfather Part II
Joe Gebbia, a RISD grad and an Airbnb billionaire, may soon lead the federal cost-cutting effort known as DOGE. Could there be clues to his methods in his art-school days?
newyorker.com
The saddest shortest short story ever written-- For Sale: Used Tesla, Never Driven
At @thirdactorg.bsky.social some of us are old enough to remember when Richard Nixon almost lost his job as veep for a $16,000 slush fund and the gift of a cocker spaniel puppy. I guess with inflation we’ve gotten to a $400 million plane…
Brian Steel is expected to cross-examine Casandra Ventura, the main accuser in the Sean Combs sex-trafficking and racketeering case. (Follow @meghanncuniff.bsky.social's excellent coverage of the trial.) My profile of Steel: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
A Lawyer Freed Young Thug. Now He’s Defending Diddy
Since the Young Thug trial, Brian Steel has modelled for the rapper’s fashion brand and had a Drake song named after him. Sean Combs took note.
newyorker.com
Meghann Cuniff@meghanncuniff.bsky.social · last yr.Young Thug's longtime lawyer Brian Steel is voicing objections during Cassie's testimony in Diddy's trial, which indicates he'll be the attorney cross-examining her. Defense wants witnesses prohibited from communicating with their lawyers during cross. Prosecutors oppose.
Incoming head of the U.S. Treasury doesn't know where January 6 medals went. That and more on Brandon Beach in today's @newyorker.com lede story: www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
How an Election Denier Became the U.S. Treasurer
Brandon Beach was a state senator in Georgia who got involved in Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Now his name will be on our money.
newyorker.com
This is Young Thug's dog, Schneebly, a french bulldog-poodle mix. I met Schneebly -- a good boy -- in March when I spoke to YT in Miami for my profile of Brian Steel, his lawyer, in this wk's @newyorker.com www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Today’s edition of Why Haven’t You Subscribed to the Print Edition of @theonion.com yet: every single ad in the latest issue is a lil shower of pee on Mr Roll Of Nickels. Two faves:
