Charles Bethea
@charlesbethea.bsky.social
New Yorker staff writer in Atlanta Reporting mostly from the South https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/charles-bethea
“What he did was an act of intellectual and spiritual fraud.” The rise & fall & rise again of Rick Bragg, whose downfall involved writing a @nytimes.com story from #Florida that he didn't actually report. www.newyorker.com/culture/pers... via @newyorker.com
How Rick Bragg Became His Generation’s Bard of the South
The Alabamian writer Rick Bragg has published multiple acclaimed memoirs about his humble roots and is at work on another, which may be his last. His writing has also been dogged by controversy.
newyorker.com
The Alabamian writer Rick Bragg has published multiple acclaimed memoirs about his humble roots and is at work on another, which may be his last. His writing has also been dogged by controversy. www.newyorker.com/culture/pers...
How Rick Bragg Became His Generation’s Bard of the South
The Alabamian writer Rick Bragg has published multiple acclaimed memoirs about his humble roots and is at work on another, which may be his last. His writing has also been dogged by controversy.
newyorker.com
SPY magazine is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a free substack! All the best Trump bits in one place! You know what they say: show me the bankrupt 1980s casino operator and I’ll show you the corrupt 2020s president. Follow the link to subscribe… spymagazine.substack.com/p/coming-soo...
Coming Soon — Spy at 40
Spy Magazine’s Anniversary Chronicle of a Certain Short-Fingered Vulgarian
spymagazine.substack.com
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…