Ta-Nehisi Coates on the DSA, Mayor Mamdani, and Why Donald Trump Is the Dominant Figure of Our Age

David Ellison eyes journalists for his CNN editorial board; Kate Berlant is open to being less niche; The crown prince of the French far right

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October 15, 2026

I was planning to start this introduction by calling Ta-Nehisi Coates a “public intellectual”—until I read the transcript of his new interview with VF editorial director Mark Guiducci and learned that Coates is not a huge fan of that term. In fact, he tells Mark in the latest episode of Vanity Fair’s podcast Fair Game, “I fucking hate it.” Well, sorry, Ta-Nehisi: You’re just going to keep hearing people use those words to describe you because it’s increasingly rare in this day and age for a man to be famous simply because he is so often both smart and correct. For a healthy dose of public intellectualism, read or watch Mark and Ta-Nehisi’s full interview, which covers everything from Donald Trump’s place in history to the journalistic genre Ta-Nehisi has had enough of: “If I read another scene from a DSA party in Brooklyn where people are drinking beer and doing whatever, I’m going to scream.” Elsewhere, Max Adler tries to handicap the editorial independence board that will be tasked with keeping David Ellison in check, and Chris Murphy has a long chat with the always great Kate Berlant. More tomorrow!

HILLARY BUSIS FEATURES EDITOR

MEDIA   This Is CNN? Everyone Is Whispering the Same Journalists’ Names for David Ellison’s Board   By Maxwell Adler   The Skydance chief needs five respected journalists to oversee CNN and CBS News. Vanity Fair’s Maxwell Adler spoke with industry veterans, media insiders, and one state attorney general about who might be asked—and why recruitment could be a folly. Read more

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COMEDY   Kate Berlant Is Open to Being Less Niche   By Chris Murphy   The beloved comedian spoke to Vanity Fair about her new HBO special Parmesan, discovering her sexuality in her 30s, and the hardest joke she’s had to write. Read more

POLITICS   The Crown Prince of the French Far Right Is Losing His Throne   By Olivier Bouchara   Jordan Bardella is something like the French Charlie Kirk, a right-wing prodigy who many believe could someday be president. Now he stands accused of antisemitism, but it’s the return of his mentor Marine Le Pen from political exile that’s ruining all his big plans. Read more

FAIR GAME   Ta-Nehisi Coates on the DSA, Mayor Mamdani, and Why Donald Trump Is the Dominant Figure of Our Age   By Mark Guiducci   In a wide-ranging conversation with Mark Guiducci, Coates discusses his latest column for Vanity Fair and why Trump is “the most visionary politician of his era.” Read more

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How Donald Trump Made Himself Into the Dominant American of Our Age The 45th and 47th president has been called consequential, imaginative, influential—sometimes for better, mostly for worse. Ta-Nehisi Coates takes it one beat further in a bid to examine just how pivotal this president will prove to have been.

Harry and Meghan in Nottingham: Their First Public Appearance Since Returning to the United Kingdom The Sussexes are back in the spotlight in Nottingham, taking part in charity visits and community events while King Charles is in Wales.

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