The 4.17.22 Issue

Highlights

Viola Davis, Inside Out
How she drew on a life of private hardship to become one of the greatest actors of her generation.
By Jazmine Hughes
CreditRuven Afanador for The New York Times
A.I. Is Mastering Language. Should We Trust What It Says?
OpenAI’s GPT-3 and other neural nets can now write original prose with mind-boggling fluency — a development that could have profound implications for the future.
By Steven Johnson and Nikita Iziev
Credit
‘This Was Trump Pulling a Putin’
Amid the current crisis, Fiona Hill and other former advisers are connecting President Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine to Jan. 6. And they’re ready to talk.
By Robert Draper
CreditTrent Davis Bailey for The New York Times
The Ethicist
Should I Have Lied to Help My Kid Brother Get Vaccinated?
The magazine’s Ethicist columnist on what we gain from making hard choices.
By Kwame Anthony Appiah
CreditIllustration by Tomi Um

This Cake Gives You a Moment of Warmth in the Middle of the Day
Chamomile cake is just right at teatime, an excuse to give yourself and friends an hour to sit down and linger.
By Eric Kim
CreditChris Simpson for The New York Times. Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop stylist: Sophia Pappas.
Eat
Rabbits Are Boring Pets. I Love Them Anyway.
My friends and family don’t get it. All I can do is try to describe what it’s like to be with them, the moments I’m not sure I can do without.
By Missouri Williams
CreditValerie Chiang for The New York Times
Letter of Recommendation
The Great Chicago Gas Giveaway and the Return of Stunt Philanthropy
Grand shows of largess may be back in style.
By Peter C. Baker
CreditPhoto illustration by Aaron Marin
Screenland
He Was Remarkably Healthy Until Chronic Diarrhea Nearly Killed Him
After weeks of having to rush to the bathroom day and night, the 77-year-old had lost 25 pounds. What was wrong?
By Lisa Sanders, M.D.
CreditPhoto illustration by Ina Jang
Diagnosis
How to Ask for an Extension
If possible, make your request in person. And if you think you need two more hours, say you need four.
By Malia Wollan
CreditIllustration by Radio
Tip

Poem: When My Gender is First Named Disorder
The speaker tries to show how language, particularly institutional medical language, has power and can cause violence.
By torrin a. greathouse and Victoria Chang
CreditIllustration by R. O. Blechman
Poem
Judge John Hodgman on Stupid Dog Names
A couple disagrees on how to introduce their pet.
By John Hodgman
CreditIllustration by Louise Zergaeng Pomeroy
Judge John Hodgman