The mayor of New York on his soda ban, why he doesn't worry about approval ratings, governing in the age of Twitter, and the dumbed-down media
The U.S. government is surreptitiously collecting the DNA of world leaders, and is reportedly protecting that of Barack Obama. Decoded, these genetic blueprints could provide compromising information. In the not-too-distant future, they may provide something more as well—the basis for the creation of personalized bioweapons that could take down a president and leave no trace.
If progressives can't find effective foils to develop their ideas, that's because they're not looking in the right places.
Reuters
Comprehensive immigration reform is on the agenda for 2013, but it should be coupled with revamped civics education, national service, and more.
Associated Press
Sure, everyone loves Clinton now. But first she had to survive a decade-and-a-half of right wing attacks.
A healthy city requires a holistic approach to caring for its citizens and a commitment to developing the infrastructure to support change.
Not until now had he been notable for his footwear.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
The man dissented when the Supreme Court ruled that gay sex was not a moral crime. His views on the issue are longstanding and plain.
Wikimedia Commons
Democrats have almost totally surrendered after decades of debate on tax rates. But the GOP has also conceded on entitlements. Are the sides too close to make a deal?
Princeton University Press
Robert Kuttner with an appreciation of an influential economist and an exhortation to a serving president
Reuters
A hard-fought presidential election, sea changes on gay rights and marijuana, and intractable disputes over the budget are standout stories in a busy year.
Screenshot
Forget falling off the fiscal cliff -- one professor has to watch out for falling pieces of scenery.
Associated Press
While there is increased communication between the two chief negotiators, they remains hundreds of billions of dollars apart.
Reuters
The clash between Republican legislators and unions, two groups facing major demographic challenges, will be replayed across the nation.
Reuters
Fiscal cliff chatter about slashing the venerable program ignores its fundamental potential and underlying strength.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The Cold War is over, the national budget is overstretched, and voters are on board. Will the president follow through on his chance to shrink the Pentagon?
Reuters
The federal government had to thumb its nose at states to end slavery and Jim Crow. Now it's the reverse: States are leading the way against Washington's myopic drug policy.
Getty Images/The Atlantic
How activists rewrote the political playbook, reversed decades of defeat, and finally won over voters.
Reuters
The conservative columnist justifies Obama's secretive killing spree in the abstract, but he grievously ignores how the war is actually carried out.
Getty Images
At a Washington holiday celebration Sunday night, he shook hands with the "Gangnam Style" rapper. Was that a mistake?
Reuters
The president aims to win the fiscal-cliff debate the same he won the election -- barnstorming through battleground states and email-blasting supporters.
Was a frequent Atlantic correspondent "affiliated" with the Obama campaign?
Reuters
Some Democrats want the president to raise it by himself. But the 14th amendment offers him a much better strategy.
The Court decided Friday that it will rule on two crucial cases related to equal marriage rights.
Reuters/The Atlantic
Liberals are fired up about Obama's second term and Elizabeth Warren's election. They're about to be disappointed.
Reuters
Think you had seen the extreme limits of filibuster abuse? Think again!
Associated Press
The Senate minority leader is a known tactician, but in misjudging the Democratic hand he may have weakened his fiscal-cliff position.
Reuters
Suggestions for the Tea Party-affiliated non-profit's fundraising pitch as its leadership changes
myllissa/Flickr
Events that occur in coming months could determine the outcome of what will surely be called "the most important election of our lifetime."
Reuters
A conservative group wants to engineer his ouster. It's a long shot -- but not impossible.
Reuters
The comedian could shake up the Palmetto State primary, The Atlantic reported five years ago. Why not the Senate?
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The president's hard line on the Bush tax cuts represents the first major test case for his theory that the GOP "fever" can be broken in his second term.
Reuters
The solution must come from the grassroots -- it can't be imposed from above by reform-minded members of Congress.
Kitt Walker/Flickr
A coda on population decline and the alleged decadence of those who'd let the population fall to mere billions
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Fixing Health Care
Medical providers, local communities, and the public wellness movement Read more › |
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The Year in Review
The stories that defined 2012, the best moments in pop culture, and more. Read more › |
James Fallows explains why the future of industry is in America, Jeffrey Goldberg makes the case for more guns, Ann Patchett describes her battle with Amazon, Isaac Chotiner laments Salman Rushdie's decline, and more
_1/channel-curation-featured-small.jpg?mez3vu "The Year in Politics: 2012's Top 10 Stories")
Blowing Up the Hindenburg 
Re-Imagining a 1969 Mustang 
The Great Transition