Isaac Chotiner
Isaac Chotiner is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he is the principal contributor to Q. & A., a series of interviews with public figures in politics, media, books, business, technology, and more. Before joining The New Yorker, Chotiner was a staff writer at Slate and the host of the podcast “I Have to Ask.” He has written for The New Yorker, the Times, The Atlantic, the Times Literary Supplement, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. After graduating from the University of California, Davis, Chotiner worked at The Washington Monthly before joining The New Republic, in 2006, as a reporter-researcher. He went on to run the magazine’s online books section and later became a senior editor.
How Donald Trump Has Transformed ICE
A former D.H.S. oversight official on what, legally, the agency can and can’t do—and the accountability mechanisms that have been “gutted beyond recognition.”
What Makes the Iranian Protests Different This Time
Unrest has spread across the Islamic Republic as it faces economic disaster at home and a profound weakening of its network of regional allies.
The Former Trump Skeptics Getting Behind His War in Venezuela
A onetime adviser to Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney argues that the U.S. has been “too cautious” in its use of force since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Maduro Regime Without Maduro
A political scientist explains how the Venezuelan President ran the country, why he was so unpopular, and, after his seizure by the Trump Administration, who might take over.
The Brazen Illegality of Trump’s Venezuela Operation
A scholar of international law on the implications of the U.S. arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.
Gaza After the Ceasefire
A Palestinian businessman on the persistent humanitarian crisis in the territory, and what he hopes might change.
In the Wake of Australia’s Hanukkah Beach Massacre
A conversation about the country’s unique Jewish community and rising levels of antisemitism.
The Legal Consequences of Pete Hegseth’s “Kill Them All” Order
A former military judge on the Trump Administration’s contradictory—and likely unlawful—justifications for its Caribbean bombing campaign.
How M.B.S. Won Back Washington
After the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi leader became a pariah. He’s been slowly rehabilitated, and is now being celebrated in the Oval Office.
How the Conflict in Sudan Became a Humanitarian Catastrophe
After a coup devolved into open warfare, countries across the region have pursued their own policy and commercial interests by backing one side or the other.
What the Democrats’ Good Night Means for 2026 and Beyond
The senior elections analyst at RealClearPolitics on what the Party might’ve learned, and how the electorate is changing.
Why Biden’s White House Press Secretary Is Leaving the Democratic Party
Karine Jean-Pierre feels that Democrats were so mean to Biden that she is becoming an Independent.
What Israel and Hamas Actually Want from the Gaza Ceasefire
And how the fantasies and delusions of the major players could torpedo the deal.
What Palestinians and Israelis Have Learned Since October 7th
Despite the ceasefire in Gaza, prospects for long-term peace seem worse than ever.
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Why Hamas Agreed to Release the Hostages
And why it might not matter much for Gaza’s future, or for Palestinian statehood.
Why Israel and Hamas Might Finally Have a Deal
How an Israeli strike on Qatar, Hamas’ shifting calculus, and Donald Trump’s impatience could change the trajectory of the two-year war.
The Stunning Reversal in U.S.-India Relations
Why is Donald Trump turning on his ideological ally Narendra Modi?
Can Liberalism Be Saved?
The legal scholar Cass Sunstein argues for a more expansive definition of an ideology under threat.
The Grave Threat Posed by Donald Trump’s Attack on Jimmy Kimmel
The President and his allies are using the power of the state to silence speech they dislike.
