Read Thomas Paine’s 250-year-old essay, “Common Sense,” and you see few things bothered Colonial men more than servitude to geopolitical nepo-babies.

"Common Sense" awakens the American colonies to the idea of true independence. On January 9th, 1776, the pamphlet "Common Sense" is published in Philadelphia. The pamphlet immediately becomes a ...

The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. America’s year of ...

The idea of "common sense" has been central to American politics since the founding of the United States. Politicians still use the phrase all the time — and perhaps none more so than President Donald ...