Radio Atlantic

The AI race between the United States and China heated up in a different way this week: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admitted to having an affair with a woman who is reportedly a Chinese spy. Days later, news of a second affair broke, this one with an Nvidia executive who reports to Huang. The board met on Wednesday to consider the future of the man who’s seen as indispensable to his company and the American AI effort at large. What would happen with his ouster? And what do we know about how far the alleged espionage went? The Atlantic’s staff writers Shane Harris, who covers national intelligence, and Charlie Warzel, who covers tech and hosts the Atlantic podcast “Galaxy Brain,” explain how this may have happened, how Silicon Valley’s responded, and why this could destabilize the U.S. economy. - - - Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week’s midterms were clear: American voters are not happy with the war in Iran. Less clear, though, is what President Trump can or will do now. After elevating his hard-line adviser Stephen Miller to chief of staff and shielding Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth against impeachment calls, Trump seems unlikely to back down from the conflict. But he is about to lose Congress—and Iran knows it. Our staff writers Nancy Youssef and Tom Nichols join Adam Harris to discuss where the administration goes from here, what options exist to get out of Iran, what to make of Hegseth’s  potential impeachment, and how the Defense Secretary has changed the relationship between American democracy and the American military. - - - Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a resounding rebuke to President Trump, voters this week gave Democrats control over both the House and Senate. Call it a blue wave or a blue tsunami. The power has suddenly shifted to a party that just two years two ago was decimated by Trump and the MAGA movement—and didn’t seem to know how to respond. Hanna Rosin talks with the Atlantic staff writers Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer about how Democrats pulled it off and what comes next for both parties.- - - Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The midterms elections are finally here—but not without some last-minute drama. In Michigan, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens changed her mind about her primary opponent Abdul El-Sayed over the weekend, and endorsed the Republican candidate for Senate instead. And Monday, President Trump delivered his closing message in front of the Reflecting Pool. “Radio Atlantic” host Adam Harris talks to the Atlantic staff writers David A. Graham and Gabby Deutch about the symbolism of that—and how anti-corruption messages are resonating with voters in the homestretch.  - - - Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Rio Grande Valley in Texas was a Democratic stronghold for decades before it went for Donald Trump in 2024. Now polls show it swinging to Democrats again. The Atlantic staff writer Nick Miroff traveled to the region and talked with people whose family members or employees had been targeted by ICE. He also spoke with Latino men about how much it costs now to fill up their trucks. Miroff discusses the wild political swings in the Rio Grande Valley and what they might reveal about the statewide Texas races and the Latino vote in the rest of the country.  --- Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices