How to Govern When Government Seems Broken

Gretchen Whitmer is running Michigan from her living room.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story June 27, 2020 We followed Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a Democrat, for two turbulent months — through the pandemic, the street protests, even a dam collapse — to provide a front-row account of governing in a time of unprecedented crisis. This is what it’s like to guide a state in the absence of executive leadership, amid eroding faith in government itself, Jonathan Mahler writes. Philip Montgomery for The New York Times   A Governor on Her Own, With Everything at Stake From her living room, Gretchen Whitmer has led Michigan through a pandemic, an economic meltdown and even a dam collapse — all at a time when government itself seems broken. By Jonathan Mahler Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THIS WEEK’S MAGAZINE Chester Higgins   From the Magazine: ‘It Is Time for Reparations’ Nikole Hannah-Jones explains the history of economic injustice and argues that if black lives are to truly matter in America, the nation must finally pay its debts. By Nikole Hannah-Jones Ted Soqui/Corbis via Getty Images   Feature Trump Didn’t ‘Send In the Troops.’ They Were Already There. Police officers today can turn out with more weaponry than I had in 1992, as a Marine deployed to a burning Los Angeles. What does it mean to project this much force at home? By C. J. Chivers Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times, via Associated Press   Talk Lori Lightfoot, Mayor of Chicago, on Who’s Hurt by Defunding Police “You are eliminating one of the few tools that the city has to create middle-class incomes for black and brown folks.” By David Marchese Illustration by Christiana Couceiro   Feature The Rebel Physicist Trying to Fix Quantum Mechanics For a century, quantum theory has been scientific orthodoxy. The Italian physicist Angelo Bassi is certain it isn’t the full story — and that he can prove it. By Bob Henderson MORE FROM THE MAGAZINE Illustration by Lydia Ortiz   Letter Of Recommendation This Time-Management Trick Changed My Whole Relationship With Time Was I wasting my life — my fragile, fleeting life — on activities I neither cared about nor enjoyed? By Dean Kissick Gentl and Hyers for The New York Times (Photography and Styling)   Eat The Secret to Perfect Pizza at Home? Cast Iron It took months to develop this foolproof deep-dish recipe with a crispy crust. Quarantine made it a breakout star. By Tejal Rao Illustration by Radio   Tip How to Rename a Street Changing street names cannot fix injustice, but don’t underestimate its power, either. By Malia Wollan Illustration by Tomi Um   The Ethicist Should I Call the Cops on My Stepson? The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on calling the cops when you think your stepson has a drug addiction, giving your sibling money — and more. By Kwame Anthony Appiah Photo illustration by Mike McQuade   Screenland Sarah Cooper Doesn’t Mimic Trump. She Exposes Him. Her videos pull back the curtain on a president who, amid historic crises, has found almost nothing meaningful to say. By ZZ Packer Stay in touch: Follow us on Twitter (@NYTmag) or check us out on Instagram. Appreciated this email? Forward it to a friend and help us grow. Loved a story? Hated it? Write us a letter at magazine@nytimes.com. Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up here to get the magazine newsletter. Listen to narrated versions of our articles every week. Download Audm for iPhone or Android. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The New York Times Magazine from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018