“A confidential trove of government documents obtained by The Washington Post reveals that senior U.S. officials failed to tell the truth about the war in Afghanistan throughout the 18-year campaign, making rosy pronouncements they knew to be false and hiding unmistakable evidence the war had become unwinnable.”
Search results
Longreads Best of 2020: Writing on COVID-19
Our top story picks in COVID-19 reporting this year.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Ben Taub, Paige Blankenbuehler, Alex Horton, Victoria Gannon, and Gustavo Arellano.
Around The Pit
Circling billions of gallons of toxic water at America’s largest Superfund site.
The Thrill (and the Heavy Emotional Burden) of Blazing a Trail for Black Women Journalists
Dorothy Butler Gilliam remembers how exciting it was to integrate The Washington Post, but also how lonely — and often attacked — she felt as the first black woman reporter in the newsroom.
‘The American People Have Been Constantly Lied To’
“U.S. officials constantly said they were making progress. They were not, and they knew it.”
The State We Are In: Neither Here, There, nor in Heaven
On vaccine privilege in America and COVID-19 inequities in India.
Before You Eat or Drink Anything, Ask An Expert
Now tat certified taste experts specialize in a range of foods, from hot sauce to honey, is taste becoming too codified?
Messy, Messy Love: A Reading List for Star-Crossed Lovers
It’s complicated: A tribute to real love stories, in all their weird and chaotic glory.
Longreads Best of 2019: Business Writing
We asked writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here is the best in business writing.

