Behind the Issue with The Atlantic

Politics and Prose at The Wharf has partnered with *The Atlantic* for a special evening centered on the magazine’s July 2026 issue, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States under the theme “How to Tell the American Story.” The event brings together two of the magazine’s journalists—staff writer Clint Smith and deputy executive editor Yoni Appelbaum—to discuss their contributions to the issue. Smith will talk about his report “Being Black in Pete Hegseth’s Military,” and Appelbaum will discuss his piece “How America Gave Up on Its Own History.” The conversation will also explore their research and writing methods, and then broaden to consider the state of America at its semiquincentennial.

When: Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 7:00pm.

Tickets: Price not available.

Lineup: Clint Smith (staff writer at *The Atlantic*, author of *How the Word Is Passed*, *Counting Descent*, and *Above Ground*); Yoni Appelbaum (deputy executive editor of *The Atlantic*, former lecturer at Harvard University, author of *Stuck*).

Ages: Not specified.

Venue: Politics and Prose at The Wharf, 610 Water St SW, Washington DC, 20024.