In the New Yorker...

[Front-Ranger]

I happened to be looking through old issues from 2021 and I noticed something. There were ads on about every other page. But in the latest issue dated January 12, 2026, there was only one page with what could be described as an ad, and it was probably comped since it was an ad for a charity that supplies birth control to impoverished nations. The 2021 issue had about 100 pages, while this week's issue had about 60 pages. Sad.

[Jeff Wrangler]

The Willie Nelson profile (Dec. 29 & Jan. 5) is worth reading.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I was really surprised by Ian Parker's "profile" of the Trump toady Peter Navarro ("Yes, Boss," Dec. 29 & Jan. 5). I don't disagree with Parker, but I don't recall another New Yorker profile where the writer so openly despised its subject. That's what surprised me.

Right now, I'm in the midst of Charles Bethea's profile of Marjorie Taylor Greene in the Jan. 12 issue. I've figured for some time that the only thing Marjorie Taylor Greene really cares about is Marjorie Taylor Greene. She'll say and do anything, no matter how ridiculous, just to keep herself in front of the public.

[Front-Ranger]

Agreed. Are you starting to get tired of all these profiles of vile people? I am. Such a waste of ink.

And reporters' time.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Agreed. Are you starting to get tired of all these profiles of vile people? I am. Such a waste of ink.

And reporters' time.

I'm not tired of them, and we'll have to agree to disagree about the waste of ink and reporters' time. I want to know as much about the enemy as I can, and TNY is a trusted source.

[serious crayons]

I'm not tired of them, and we'll have to agree to disagree about the waste of ink and reporters' time. I want to know as much about the enemy as I can, and TNY is a trusted source.

Yeah, I agree with this. I am pretty close to my limit of terrible news (being in Minneapolis doesn't help), so I'm not sure I'll read these profiles of evil government figures, and I can see not reading them. But as far as the reporter's mission, it's important to keep the public informed about who's leading the country and TNY can go deeper than most newspapers or other magazines.

Speaking of evil, one of the few people in the federal government who is actually more evil than Trump, is Stephen Miller. Have they profiled him? I would probably have to flip past that one, too -- I can't even stand to look at his face.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Speaking of evil, one of the few people in the federal government who is actually more evil than Trump, is Stephen Miller. Have they profiled him? I would probably have to flip past that one, too -- I can't even stand to look at his face.

Yes, they did, and even that one wasn't as openly hostile its subject, as was the one of Peter Navarro, which is why I found the profile of Navarro so remarkable.