On the debut of Washington Squares, Adam Serwer reframes the contraception debate by explaining that women go on the pill for a variety of health reasons, not just to avoid pregnancy. Plus: The Catholic case against contraception culture.

Israeli historian Gershom Gorenberg tells Glenn Loury that rabid support of settlements would put Santorum and Gingrich on the “tin-hat radical right” of Israeli politics.

Matthew Yglesias explains the idea behind his new book about housing. Plus: Speaking ill of Andrew Breitbart.

Will Andrew Breitbart have a lasting influence comparable to William F. Buckley’s? Bill Scher and Matt Lewis discuss.

Conn Carroll and polling guru Steven Shepard ponder whether an improving economy might not help Obama. Plus: Will Super Tuesday be super bad for Mitt?

On the premiere episode of Fireside Chats, host Mark Schmitt and guest William Voegeli debate whether Obama was wrong to promise not to raise taxes on those with incomes below $250,000.

Robert Farley and Justin Logan wonder whether the serious Republican foreign policy expert is a dying breed. Plus: The GOP foreign policy divide.

A piece by James Poulos with that provocative title sparked an online firestorm. Conor Friedersdorf and Elizabeth Nolan Brown discuss what Poulos really meant. Plus: Does Washington make you sell out?

How much should politicians tell the public about their religious beliefs? Sarah Posner and Sean Faircloth debate the question.

Glenn Loury and Jodie Kantor, author of the new book The Obamas, discuss a telling moment when Obama reacted negatively to criticism. Plus: Michelle Obama’s controversial shorts.