McKay Coppins
@mckaycoppins.bsky.social
Staff Writer, The Atlantic. Author of NYT bestseller ROMNEY: A RECKONING.
I had a great conversation with Jeff Flake about America’s evolving (eroding?) global reputation. At the end of the episode, we also get into a little debate about what will happen to the GOP after Trump. mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/jeff-flake...
Jeff Flake on Trump and America's Global Reputation
A conversation with the former Republican senator and U.S. ambassador on American decline, global instability, and the future of the GOP.
mckaycoppins.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:16 PM
I had a great conversation with Jeff Flake about America’s evolving (eroding?) global reputation. At the end of the episode, we also get into a little debate about what will happen to the GOP after Trump. mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/jeff-flake...
Reposted by McKay Coppins
Where did Stephen Miller's politics develop?
"The thing that most struck me in talking to him years ago when I was profiling him was how much of his political worldview was forged in opposition to his upbringing," said @mckaycoppins.bsky.social.
"The thing that most struck me in talking to him years ago when I was profiling him was how much of his political worldview was forged in opposition to his upbringing," said @mckaycoppins.bsky.social.
February 14, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Where did Stephen Miller's politics develop?
"The thing that most struck me in talking to him years ago when I was profiling him was how much of his political worldview was forged in opposition to his upbringing," said @mckaycoppins.bsky.social.
"The thing that most struck me in talking to him years ago when I was profiling him was how much of his political worldview was forged in opposition to his upbringing," said @mckaycoppins.bsky.social.
For this week's Deseret Voices podcast, I talked to my brilliant Atlantic colleague Caitlin Dickerson about Minneapolis, the flood of Trump-era recruits to ICE, and what it's like to be an immigrant in America right now. Highlights in my newsletter: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/trumps-new...
Trump's New ICE—and What It's Doing to America
A conversation with Caitlin Dickerson, the Pulitzer-winning immigration reporter, about Minneapolis, the flood of Trump-era recruits to ICE, and what it's like to be an immigrant in America right now.
mckaycoppins.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:07 PM
For this week's Deseret Voices podcast, I talked to my brilliant Atlantic colleague Caitlin Dickerson about Minneapolis, the flood of Trump-era recruits to ICE, and what it's like to be an immigrant in America right now. Highlights in my newsletter: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/trumps-new...
Reading the new biography of Harry Reid, I found a lot to admire about the late senator’s relentlessness. But the same thought kept occurring to me: Do we really want more of this in politics?
My conversation with author Jon Ralston on Deseret Voices: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/do-we-real...
My conversation with author Jon Ralston on Deseret Voices: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/do-we-real...
Do we really need more "fighters" in politics?
A conversation with Jon Ralston, the author of a new biography of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
mckaycoppins.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Reading the new biography of Harry Reid, I found a lot to admire about the late senator’s relentlessness. But the same thought kept occurring to me: Do we really want more of this in politics?
My conversation with author Jon Ralston on Deseret Voices: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/do-we-real...
My conversation with author Jon Ralston on Deseret Voices: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/do-we-real...
Boots on the ground in Caracas? Regime-change operations in Cuba or Colombia? An invasion of Greenland?
For this week's episode of Deseret Voices, I talked to Richard Fontaine about the fall of Maduro, the future of Venezuela, and what Trump might do next. open.substack.com/pub/mckaycop...
For this week's episode of Deseret Voices, I talked to Richard Fontaine about the fall of Maduro, the future of Venezuela, and what Trump might do next. open.substack.com/pub/mckaycop...
Now What?
A conversation with foreign policy expert Richard Fontaine about the fall of Maduro, the future of Venezuela, and which regimes Trump might try to topple next.
open.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Boots on the ground in Caracas? Regime-change operations in Cuba or Colombia? An invasion of Greenland?
For this week's episode of Deseret Voices, I talked to Richard Fontaine about the fall of Maduro, the future of Venezuela, and what Trump might do next. open.substack.com/pub/mckaycop...
For this week's episode of Deseret Voices, I talked to Richard Fontaine about the fall of Maduro, the future of Venezuela, and what Trump might do next. open.substack.com/pub/mckaycop...
If you’re looking for last-minute Christmas presents, I wrote in my newsletter about my favorite books that I read in 2025. mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/trump-feed...
December 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
If you’re looking for last-minute Christmas presents, I wrote in my newsletter about my favorite books that I read in 2025. mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/trump-feed...
Had a great time talking to @sarahlongwell25.bsky.social for this week’s episode of Deseret Voices—what worries her about America’s future, what gives her hope, and what we get wrong about Trump voters. mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/trump-feed...
December 19, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Had a great time talking to @sarahlongwell25.bsky.social for this week’s episode of Deseret Voices—what worries her about America’s future, what gives her hope, and what we get wrong about Trump voters. mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/trump-feed...
For this week's episode of Deseret Voices, I had a great, delightfully weird conversation with Ross Douthat about flying saints, atheism's failures, and why he thinks "God is up to something interesting with the LDS story."
More in my newsletter: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/the-ration...
More in my newsletter: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/the-ration...
The Rational Case for Being Religious
A conversation with New York Times columnist Ross Douthat about atheism's failures, flying saints, why everyone should go to church, and what he thinks "God is up to" with the LDS story
mckaycoppins.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
For this week's episode of Deseret Voices, I had a great, delightfully weird conversation with Ross Douthat about flying saints, atheism's failures, and why he thinks "God is up to something interesting with the LDS story."
More in my newsletter: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/the-ration...
More in my newsletter: mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/the-ration...
For this week's episode of Deseret Voices, I talked to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox about how he's been "radicalized" against social media companies, his own Twitter addiction, and the startling things he’s learned from Utah’s legal fight with big tech. mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/how-spence...
How Spencer Cox was "radicalized" against social media companies
A conversation with the Utah governor about why he thinks algorithms are "evil," his addiction to Twitter, and his state's legal fight with the big-tech companies he accuses of wrecking the country.
mckaycoppins.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
For this week's episode of Deseret Voices, I talked to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox about how he's been "radicalized" against social media companies, his own Twitter addiction, and the startling things he’s learned from Utah’s legal fight with big tech. mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/how-spence...
Reposted by McKay Coppins
I assume you’ve read the seminal @mckaycoppins.bsky.social work from 2013: www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mcka...
Inside The Meltdown At America’s Most Conservative, Most Christian Political Consulting Firm
Rex Elsass built a Republican empire on his faith. But he found himself battling his closest allies over his immortal soul.
www.buzzfeednews.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I assume you’ve read the seminal @mckaycoppins.bsky.social work from 2013: www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mcka...
The president continues to behave in ways that not a single parent I know would tolerate from their elementary-school-aged kids.
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
November 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The president continues to behave in ways that not a single parent I know would tolerate from their elementary-school-aged kids.
Reposted by McKay Coppins
🎁 Forty-one days until Christmas. A perfect day to buy someone a gift subscription to The Atlantic: accounts.theatlantic.com/products/gif...
The Atlantic
accounts.theatlantic.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
🎁 Forty-one days until Christmas. A perfect day to buy someone a gift subscription to The Atlantic: accounts.theatlantic.com/products/gif...
For my first episode of Deseret Voices, I talked to @SenMarkKelly about the plague of political violence, how to stop it, and why he thinks ICE agents should stop following unlawful orders from the Trump Administration.
youtu.be/ExpTt31hfTI?...
youtu.be/ExpTt31hfTI?...
Full Podcast: How to end the plague of political violence
YouTube video by Deseret News
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 1:21 PM
For my first episode of Deseret Voices, I talked to @SenMarkKelly about the plague of political violence, how to stop it, and why he thinks ICE agents should stop following unlawful orders from the Trump Administration.
youtu.be/ExpTt31hfTI?...
youtu.be/ExpTt31hfTI?...
Flying down to Austin this morning for the Texas Tribune Festival, where I’ll be interviewing former Sen. Joe Manchin and appearing onstage with several of my esteemed Atlantic colleagues. BBQ and taco recs welcome. Come say hi if you’re in town! festival.texastribune.org/event/c17d2d...
The Texas Tribune Festival 2025. Online registration by Cvent
Texas' breakout politics and policy event, The Texas Tribune Festival, is making its return to downtown Austin Nov. 13-15. 2025
festival.texastribune.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Flying down to Austin this morning for the Texas Tribune Festival, where I’ll be interviewing former Sen. Joe Manchin and appearing onstage with several of my esteemed Atlantic colleagues. BBQ and taco recs welcome. Come say hi if you’re in town! festival.texastribune.org/event/c17d2d...
Grateful to the Deseret News for this profile, which covers my greatest professional achievement: my stewardship of the student newspaper at my kids' elementary school, The Sunshine Times.
(There's some other stuff in the story, too.)
www.deseret.com/politics/202...
(There's some other stuff in the story, too.)
www.deseret.com/politics/202...
Meet McKay Coppins, the Trump-provoking journalist and podcaster whose observations are ‘minor’ no more
Known for his work at BuzzFeed and The Atlantic, Coppins will be part of the new “Deseret Voices” podcast.
www.deseret.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Grateful to the Deseret News for this profile, which covers my greatest professional achievement: my stewardship of the student newspaper at my kids' elementary school, The Sunshine Times.
(There's some other stuff in the story, too.)
www.deseret.com/politics/202...
(There's some other stuff in the story, too.)
www.deseret.com/politics/202...
Excited to share that I’ll be co-hosting a new interview podcast, Deseret Voices. I wrote on Substack about why I’m taking this on, and my goals for the show.
We’ve got some great guests lined up, but also taking suggestions—who should I interview?
mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/some-excit...
We’ve got some great guests lined up, but also taking suggestions—who should I interview?
mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/some-excit...
Some exciting news
A new podcast that brings together my reporting, my curiosity, and hope for better conversations.
mckaycoppins.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Excited to share that I’ll be co-hosting a new interview podcast, Deseret Voices. I wrote on Substack about why I’m taking this on, and my goals for the show.
We’ve got some great guests lined up, but also taking suggestions—who should I interview?
mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/some-excit...
We’ve got some great guests lined up, but also taking suggestions—who should I interview?
mckaycoppins.substack.com/p/some-excit...
I’ll have something cool to share soon. If you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter to get the announcement: mckaycoppins.substack.com/about
About - McKay’s Substack
My personal Substack. Click to read McKay’s Substack, by McKay Coppins, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
mckaycoppins.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:41 PM
I’ll have something cool to share soon. If you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter to get the announcement: mckaycoppins.substack.com/about
On the death of a prophet, a church shooting in Michigan, and what I learned from President Russell M. Nelson. This was a difficult piece to write. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Shooter and the Prophet
Russell M. Nelson, the Latter-day Saint prophet who preached the need for peacemakers in an angry world, died over the weekend. Then a gunman opened fire on a church in Michigan.
www.theatlantic.com
September 30, 2025 at 8:40 PM
On the death of a prophet, a church shooting in Michigan, and what I learned from President Russell M. Nelson. This was a difficult piece to write. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Shortly after Utah Governor Spencer Cox's news conference yesterday, he got a call from the president. "You know, the type of person who would do something like that to Charlie Kirk would love to do it to us," Cox says Trump told him. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Trump Has a Warning for Spencer Cox
Utah’s grieving governor opens up about his state, the country’s dangerous spiral, and a haunting conversation with the president.
www.theatlantic.com
September 13, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Shortly after Utah Governor Spencer Cox's news conference yesterday, he got a call from the president. "You know, the type of person who would do something like that to Charlie Kirk would love to do it to us," Cox says Trump told him. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Reposted by McKay Coppins
Today is a good day to read @mckaycoppins.bsky.social on the mind games, sibling rivalry, and war for power that culminated in Lachlan Murdoch winning his family’s succession fight:
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Growing Up Murdoch
James Murdoch on mind games, sibling rivalry, and the war for the family media empire
www.theatlantic.com
September 8, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Today is a good day to read @mckaycoppins.bsky.social on the mind games, sibling rivalry, and war for power that culminated in Lachlan Murdoch winning his family’s succession fight:
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Life is complicated, human experience is varied, some people shouldn't be parents, etc.—I understand the aversion to having kids. But it's kind of amazing that "parenthood is good and makes people happy" is considered such a counterintuitive take in 2025.
From a new survey of 3,000 American women ages 25 to 55, controlled for age, family income, and education:
"Married mothers are actually happier than unmarried women and married women without children."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
"Married mothers are actually happier than unmarried women and married women without children."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Marriage Effect
A common narrative has it that commitment and motherhood make women unhappy. New data suggest the opposite is true.
www.theatlantic.com
September 4, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Life is complicated, human experience is varied, some people shouldn't be parents, etc.—I understand the aversion to having kids. But it's kind of amazing that "parenthood is good and makes people happy" is considered such a counterintuitive take in 2025.
From a new survey of 3,000 American women ages 25 to 55, controlled for age, family income, and education:
"Married mothers are actually happier than unmarried women and married women without children."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
"Married mothers are actually happier than unmarried women and married women without children."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Marriage Effect
A common narrative has it that commitment and motherhood make women unhappy. New data suggest the opposite is true.
www.theatlantic.com
September 4, 2025 at 5:55 PM
From a new survey of 3,000 American women ages 25 to 55, controlled for age, family income, and education:
"Married mothers are actually happier than unmarried women and married women without children."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
"Married mothers are actually happier than unmarried women and married women without children."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Number of times I’ve heard a KPop Demon Hunters song in Mexico City this week: 3 (and counting)
August 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Number of times I’ve heard a KPop Demon Hunters song in Mexico City this week: 3 (and counting)
Photos: Starvation and Chaos in Gaza
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
Photos: Starvation and Chaos in Gaza
Israel’s blockade of most food and aid, along with distribution difficulties inside the Gaza Strip, have driven many of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians to the brink of starvation.
www.theatlantic.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Photos: Starvation and Chaos in Gaza
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
www.theatlantic.com/photography/...