This week, Nation editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel reflects on the role of independent media in turbulent political waters.

How can Barack Obama--or any candidate--overcome the sad hypocrisy of our public discourse?

Why is the media ignoring one of the biggest political scandals in recent memory?

Why does the American public think John McCain is a maverick? Because the mainstream media told them so.

Journalism can still make a difference, but the truth matters more. And if you can't get to the truth through journalism, there are other ways to get there.

A principled academic gets ground up in the media hypocrisy machine.

The Spitzer affair's obvious rationality continues to elude the therapists, sexperts and pundits for whom shame is the game.

False claims about Obama intended to stoke racial and religious fear are trickling from the far right to the mainstream media.

Ahmadinejad's triumphal visit to Baghdad highlights the abject failure of the Bush doctrine. But US media yawned.

The New York Times editorial page endorses McCain, while its news department works to discredit him. And there's nothing wrong with that.