Sunday Best: What’s worse than war?

For Europe, Putin's scheming could prove more damaging.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 6, 2022 Last week, the rift between Russia and the United States widened after President Biden decided to deploy about 3,000 troops to Eastern Europe to support NATO allies. The message was clear: He considered a Russian invasion of Ukraine increasingly likely. The puzzling thing is that neither Ukraine nor other European countries appear to share that view, despite the fact that thousands of Russian troops are stationed along Ukraine's border. Why? "Europeans and Ukrainians are skeptical of a major Russian invasion in Ukraine not because they have a more benign view of Mr. Putin than their American counterparts," writes Ivan Krastev in a guest essay. "On the contrary, it's because they see him as more malicious." It makes little sense to embark on such a risky endeavor, after all, when Russia can achieve its aims through far simpler means. — Jennifer Brown Illustration by Tyler Comrie; Photograph by Getty Images Guest Essay I Am Not Proof of the American Dream For poor kids today, the path I took through education no longer exists. By Tara Westover Lindsay Byrnes/Getty Images Guest Essay Why I've Decided to Take My Podcast Off Spotify Joe Rogan can continue to air misinformation. Spotify can continue to look the other way. Today at least, I won't. By Roxane Gay Meet the People Getting Paid to Kill Our Planet American agriculture is ravaging the air, soil and water. But a powerful lobby has cleverly concealed its damage. By Kirk Semple, Adam Westbrook and Jonah M. Kessel GHI/Universal History Archive — Universal Images Group, via Getty Images Guest Essay What We Can Learn From How the 1918 Pandemic Ended Overconfidence, indifference and weariness are perhaps the biggest dangers. By John M. Barry Janet Mac If Everything Is 'Trauma,' Is Anything? "Love bombing," "gaslighting," "emotional labor." On the pathologizing of everyday behaviors. By Jessica Bennett Subscribe Today New York Times Opinion curates a wide range of views, inviting rich discussion and debate that helps readers analyze the world. This work is made possible with the support of subscribers. Please consider subscribing to The Times with this special offer. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Sunday Best from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018