Features

• Do Ask, Do Tell: Freak Talk on TV

  Joshua Gamson

  Daytime television has become a "freak show," but it's also an opportunity (and not an entirely bad one) for gays and others with nonconforming lives to talk directly with the public.

• Political Snipers

  Robert Dreyfuss

  The National Rifle Association knew its stance on assault weapons was unpopular, so in 1994 it went underground, took advantage of loopholes in the campaign finance laws, and waged a stealth campaign to unseat Democrats in vulnerable districts.

• Can't Touch This?: The Pentagon's Budget Fortress

  Karen Paget

  Defense experts with impeccable conservative credentials say we could cut the Pentagon budget without endangering our security. So why is no one listening?

• Devil in the Details

  Jesse Angelo

• Constitutional Amendmentitis

  Kathleen Sullivan

  The rash of amendments being proposed by Republicans has profound -- and dangerous -- implications for our system of government.

• The Ideologically Invested

  Jonathan Chait

• How Low Can You Go?

  Paul Starr

• Between a Swing and a Lock

  Paul Starr

• The Smoldering Electorate

  David Lauter

  Three books about American politics help illuminate the deep frustration of voters -- and suggest how much of a change Democrats must undertake to reach them.

• Delusions of Charity

  Julian Wolpert

  Conservatives say that if we reduce government spending on the poor, charity will fill the gap. The evidence shows they're wrong.

• The Future of Black Representation

  Carol Swain

  Good riddance to racial gerrymandering. The Supreme Court's ruling against race as the predominant factor in districting is good news for blacks and Democrats.

• Affirmative Actions' California Afterlife

  Peter Schrag

  The debate about affirmative action at the University of California isn't over yet.

• Who Deserted the Democrats in 1994?

  Ruy Teixeira

  Analysts have pronounced 1994 an ideological election because the economy was growing overall. But look who was swinging Republican.

• After the Republican Surge

  Stanley Greenberg

  On the heels of a major conservative surge, Republicans have overplayed their political hand and created an opportunity the Democrats can seize.

• Rising Tides, Sinking Wages

  Lawrence Mishel

  The economy has grown, productivity is up, profits are soaring. There's just one problem: Americans' standard of living.

• Nice Work If You Can Get It: The Software Industry as a Model for Tomorrow's Jobs

  Rosabeth Kanter

  Some high-tech firms are redefining the relationship between employer and employee.