Ezra Klein

This is the worst news we’ve had on HIV in a long while: On Friday, New York City health officials issued this chilling announcement: A man is infected with a form of the AIDS virus that is not only resistant to three of the four classes of anti-HIV drugs, it is apparently so virulent that […]

Matt’s observation that the media, in discussing Iraq’s future, is conflating a pro-Iranian government with an Iranian-style government misses the point, I think. The conversation isn’t really about the institution of velayet-e faqih (Khomeini’s philosophy that only those steeped in Islamic jursiprudence can rule) or friendly relations with their Shi’a neighbor. The commentary on Iran […]

I’m always amazed at the twisted logic, or at least outcomes, of Bush administration policies. When pushing policies that have no relation to reality, they change reality so it relates to their policies. They mismanage government finances and blow through a budget surplus creating what they call a “crisis” in Social Security, propose a plan […]

Steve Clemons brings up a good point: Iran and North Korea know that America’s bark is loud but bite is probably pretty soft right now. And the Europeans are doing their best to take on a global strategic dilemma — their very first — without the U.S. in the lead. The EU is in the […]

I’m going to disagree with Jeff Dubner’s assertion that the Bush administration has committed too much to pivot on Social Security reform. Indeed, they’ve committed virtually nothing. The plan we all attack is a phantom, a combination of leaks, divination, and reading between the lines. The President has repeatedly argued that he wants to see […]

As Justin Logan notes, Kerry’s comment that we really had a “coalition of the bribed, the coerced, the bought and the extorted” turned out to be spot-on, with the newly elected Bush administration no longer even bothering to hide the payoffs: The $80 billion war-funding request that President Bush plans to send Congress next week […]

It was 16 years ago to this day that the Ayatollah Khomeini issued his fatwa against Salman Rushdie. And, thanks to a kind reader who used my wish list, I actually found the offending tome, Satanic Verses, in my mailbox this morning. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the anniversary of Khomeini’s […]

I hadn’t understood why Rove was promoted to deputy chief of staff, seemed like codifying what he already had, which would make no sense. Of course, I was looking for devious reasons when the actual rationale was obvious and mundane. Andrew Card is going to retire soon. When he does, the deputy chief of staff […]

With the Iraqi ballots counted and the results released, things look good. Sistani’s list did well, but not well enough to act like democratically-elected dictators. They’ll probably need to forge good relations with the Kurds, whose second place finish is karmically positive (after the endless oppression they’ve undergone, they deserve some power) and politically advantageous. […]

I hear that the weekend saw Eason Jordan resign? Really? Wow, I take a few days off and you guys totally drop the ball. As if. Is someone out there actually impressed by the Jordan’s resignation? Yes, yes, I know Hugh Hewitt is going to print out a picture of a scalp and staple it […]