Though it rarely fills our craving for new news in moments of chaos, longform journalism does lend us something in unprecedented (read: batshit wild) times. Thorough reporting combined with thoughtful writing offers the deep insight, meaningful context, and priceless salve that goes missing on Twitter and cable news. Sometimes even—as Jack Shafer’s pick this week, which we’ve elevated to the top of our letter, shows—when the piece was written 67 years ago.

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