Reasonably Optimistic

Will Leitch, a contributor to The Washington Post and occasional grocery store encounter of R.E.M. members, examines the band's remarkable choice to retire at their peak. He discusses how this decision contrasts with many bands that continue for fame. Their legacy endures through the music, free from the pressures of endless tours. Leitch reflects on the balance of commercial success versus artistic integrity, highlighting the nostalgia and contentment found in knowing when to step away.

A new immigrant detention center in Florida has been dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by Republicans, who are now selling merch around the pop-up prison. It’s just one more stunt in a long line of immigration performance from President Trump and his administration. But is all this just a distraction from the difficulty of actually fulfilling his mass deportation campaign promises? And what happens to public support as Trump’s policies become more extreme? Dana Milbank, Eduardo Porter and Monica Hesse discuss. Read more from our columnists:Monica Hesse: Alligator Alcatraz turns serious matters into cheap entertainmentEduardo Porter: The profound hypocrisy underlying America’s immigration policy

Last month, Post columnist Dana Milbank hiked part of the Appalachian Trail with his brother. Along the way, he detached from the news and reacquainted himself with nature. In the process, he received a real-life lesson about how the world around us can reduce cognitive fatigue and enhance well-being. He reflects on his journey in a recent essay.Check out some of the other columns about Milbank’s adventures in nature:Dana Milbank: Technology broke our connection to nature. Here is a way back.Dana Milbank: Nature’s lesson for the politically worried: Spring will come againDana Milbank: My new tractor will either extend my life or end it quicklySubscribe to The Washington Post here.

Additional reading by our columnists:Ramesh Ponnuru: The Republican shell game on tax cutsNatasha Sarin: This senator’s comment on Medicaid cuts was brutal but accurateSubscribe to The Washington Post here.

Democratic socialism has notched another victory. Zohran Mamdani’s win over the establishment is just the latest in a line of self-proclaimed socialist candidates who’ve been invading the Democratic Party for the past decade. See: Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But are people actually drawn to the policies and ideology of socialism, or is it about something else? Molly Roberts, Drew Goins and Philip Bump discuss what Mamdani’s victory tells us about the power of young voters.Read more from our columnists:Philip Bump: The Democrats’ generational rift just got harder to ignoreSubscribe to The Washington Post here.

After much hemming and hawing, President Trump joined the Israeli attack on Iran over the weekend. He’s now declared a ceasefire, but it’s off to a shaky start. So was the U.S. bombing a success and what’s next in the Middle East? Can the current leaders in Iran and Israel ever actually come together? Columnist Dana Milbank talks with Jason Rezaian, former Tehran correspondent at the Post, and Emily Harding from the Center of Strategic and International Studies about what’s going on in the Middle East. Read more from our columnists:Dana Milbank: War with Iran? Let’s run it up the flagpole!Emily Harding: The Iran strike was probably the right move. We may need to do it again.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

AI has become the one-stop solution to most of the problems we face. But can it truly substitute for human relationships? Drew Goins is joined by Post Opinions editor at large Bina Venkataraman and inclusion strategist Charlotte Marian Pearson to discuss the rise of AI companionship and what could be lost as more and more people get closer to this new technology.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

With Israel’s relentless attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites and top military leaders, the country is on the verge of catastrophe and major change. But what are Israel’s end goals, and does it need the United States to achieve them? Dana Milbank is joined by Jason Rezaian and Keith Richburg to talk through what’s happening in the Middle East and how the politics are playing out in an interesting way back in the U.S. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Theodore R. Johnson, a Navy veteran and contributing columnist, joins the discussion on the politicization of the military. He tackles the use of troops in domestic protests and immigration enforcement, raising ethical concerns for service members. The conversation digs into the financial and political ramifications of military parades and their true purpose in shaping public perception of patriotism. Johnson also challenges the evolving identity of the military, urging a reassessment of its role in national identity and foreign policy.

León Krauze, a columnist at The Washington Post, and James Hohmann, a member of its editorial board, dive into the surge of immigration protests sparked by ICE raids in Los Angeles. They discuss the implications of Trump's immigration policies and his controversial decision to involve military forces. The conversation touches on the balance between authority and public dissent, historical parallels with past protests, and questions surrounding democracy's resilience against authoritarianism. Their insights reveal the rising community energy and potential for peaceful protest.