Ben Jacobs and Harry Siegel explore the nexus of big money and elite narcissism that is New York politics. Plus: Will Cory Booker challenge Chris Christie?
Paul Bloom and Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature, consider the causes of crime. Plus: Why is America more violent than Europe?
Can liberals save America’s families? Adam Serwer and E.J. Graff discuss. Plus: Same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court.
Megan McArdle argues that going over the fiscal cliff would ultimately hurt the Democrats. Plus: Are Democrats overplaying their hand?
Jason K. Stearns reports from the eastern Congo on the powerful role the international community plays there. Plus: The real problem with Susan Rice.
Bill Scher argues that the fiscal cliff is playing out exactly as Obama and Boehner wanted it to. Plus: Boehner’s (bad) options.
Khaled Elgindy says now is not the time to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Plus: Israel’s lousy “punishment.”
Alyssa Rosenberg and Maureen Ryan contend that shorter TV seasons would allow for more creative storytelling. Plus: Burned out on TV drama.
Glenn Loury, talking to Corey Brettschneider, considers his current and former positions on affirmative action. Plus: Racism in private.
When is it wrong to alter children to make them more “normal”? Tamar Gendler and Andrew Solomon, author of the new book Far from the Tree, discuss dwarfism and deafness. Plus: A mother’s love.