VANITY FAIR

FEATURES

112 THE MCKINNON REPORT

ByLILI ANOLIK Playing Hillary Clinton on Saturday Night Live brought Kate McKinnon a new level of fame. It also taught her just how personal the political can be. Photographs by Annie Leibovitz.

118 FRENEMY OF THE STATE

ByADAM CIRALSKY Billionaire venture capitalist and contrarian Peter Thiel has been quietly advising the Trump administration. Steve Bannon, White House officials, colleagues, friends, and foes gauge Thiel’s motivations, and his Washington mojo.

122 HIS MARSHALL PLAN

Spotlight on Chadwick Boseman, Marvel’s Black Panther, who plays another hero in this month’s Marshall, By Krista Smith. Photograph by Art Streiber.

124 THE POTEMKIN PRINCE

ByRICH COHEN Jared Kushner has the president’s ear, a choice office in the West Wing, and a vast portfolio, from Middle East peace to re-inventing government. But the real-estate scion’s influence rests on a hollow foundation.

128 REFLECTIONS IN A CAMERA

Spotlight on photographer Annie Leibovitz, who explains why her new book—collected images from the past decade—doesn’t end as planned.

FOR DETAILS, GO TO VF.COM/CREDITS

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132 GOOD GOLLY, MISS MARLEY!

On leave from N.Y.U., this month’s “It Girl,” model Selah Marley, is taking a gap career. By Derek Blasberg. Photograph by Jennifer Livingston.

134 FATAL INITIATION

ByBENJAMIN WALLACE Since more than a dozen frat brothers at Penn State were charged after the death of a pledge last winter, the university has come under renewed lire. An investigation details the alcohol-fueled events that were officially condemned, yet still occurred. Photograph by Gasper Tringale.

142 BUTTERFLY STROKE

Spotlight on the Broadway revival of M. Butterfly, directed by Julie Taymor and starring Clive Owen. By Doug Stumpf. Photograph by Julian Broad.

144 BETWEEN THE COVERS

ByJOE HAGAN John Lennon rescued Jann Wenner's struggling music magazine in 1970. A decade later, after Lennon’s assassination, the Rolling Stone editor would become keeper of the flame. An adaptation from a biography of Wenner relives their drama of bonding and betrayal.

151 THE KEYS TO MARGARITAVILLE

Spotlight on the Broadway-bound musical Escape to Margaritaville, opening in New Orleans this month. By Jimmy Buffett. Photograph by Sandro Miller.

152 BOZZ M FOR MURDER

ByJAMES ELLROY It was a murder that gripped New York and would reverberate to the Supreme Court: the brutal 1963 slaying of two "career girls" on the Upper East Side. One of the greatest living crime novelists resurrects the investigation, creating a new voice in the landmark case. Photo illustrations by Sean McCabe.

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VANITIES

59 WE LOVE LUCY

Keep time in style. My Desk: Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood’s fearless leader. Haute News.

FANFAIR

69 30 DAYS IN THE LIFE OF THE CULTURE

Harry Benson: Persons of Interest is a visual celebration of a photographer’s incomparable career. Hot Type. According to Kaitlin Olson; what to watch. Hot Tracks: Jason Isbell and St. Paul & the Broken Bones revive the sound of southern soul.

COLUMNS

80 THE TYRANT TRAP

By JAMES WOLCOTT The time has come to start imagining life after Trump. Step one: figure out how to avoid a replay, or worse. Photo illustration by Darrow.

82 AMERICA NEEDS TALENT

By MICHAEL KINSLEY “America’s Got Talent,” proclaims the country’s most popular TV show. But much of its star power comes from abroad, mirroring the reality of immigration. Illustration by Ross MacDonald.

87 THE NEW ESTABLISHMENT 2017

This year, V.FAs power-player roundup foreshadows a turbulent future as moguls elbow into one another’s businesses and transform the status quo. Plus: Nick Bilton on the coming upheaval and Walter Isaacson on why it pays to be human.

ET CETERA

42 CONTRIBUTORS

46 EDITOR’S LETTER The Reckoning

50 THE COASTER CORRESPONDENCE

54 LETTERS Men Behaving Badly

78 IN THE DETAILS Beck

178 PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE Shonda Rhirnes