Have We Reached Peak Testosterone?
From The Atlantic.
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Politics has seemed obsessed recently with performing masculinity. If there’s one factor that animated Donald Trump’s reelection and continues to animate the political right in general, it’s “masculinism,” a movement to fight back against the advances of feminism and reassert the primacy of men, as the Atlantic staff writer Helen Lewis wrote in her June cover story (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/06/conservative-masculinism-misogyny/686939/) .
As the midterms approach, though, the administration—and masculinism with it—seems deflated. Have we reached “peak testosterone” already?
Hanna Rosin talks with Lewis and her fellow staff writer Sophie Gilbert at a live taping from last month’s The Atlantic Festival about the evolution of the manosphere, why both Republicans and Democrats have put masculinity on a political pedestal, and where that leaves feminism.
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As the midterms approach, though, the administration—and masculinism with it—seems deflated. Have we reached “peak testosterone” already?
Hanna Rosin talks with Lewis and her fellow staff writer Sophie Gilbert at a live taping from last month’s The Atlantic Festival about the evolution of the manosphere, why both Republicans and Democrats have put masculinity on a political pedestal, and where that leaves feminism.
- - -
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 (https://theatlantic.com/listener) .
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices)
