Republican Brawl Republican Brawl
First Palin said that Rove had spent a lot Of other people’s money, and had got For all of that a largely losing slate— Suggesting Rove’s gone past his sell-by date. So Rove, in search of subtle ways to hit her, Implied that she’d turned out to be a quitter. Then John McCain, with careful choice of words, Said Rand and Cruz behaved like “wacko birds.” O’Reilly said that Bachmann’s speech was trite. We can’t choose sides, since everyone is right.
Mar 27, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Made in the USA? Letter From London Made in the USA? Letter From London
Books about London in its Olympic year and after see Americanization eroding the city’s gift for democratic gradualism.
Mar 27, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Leo Robson
Shelf Life Shelf Life
Paul Hoover’s second edition of Postmodern American Poetry: A Norton Anthology.
Mar 27, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Ange Mlinko
Man in the Middle: On Philip Glass Man in the Middle: On Philip Glass
Philip Glass’s new opera, The Perfect American, is a mix of bluster and inspiration.
Mar 27, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Jonathan Blitzer
30 Seconds Over Toledo: How Political Ads Spell Trouble for TV News and Democracy 30 Seconds Over Toledo: How Political Ads Spell Trouble for TV News and Democracy
In the wake of Citizens United, big campaign donors are buying off not only politicians, but also the local news networks that cover them.
Mar 21, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Eric Alterman and Reed Richardson
On the Politics of ‘Scandal’ On the Politics of ‘Scandal’
ABC’s hit show, created by Shonda Rhimes and starring Kerry Washington, is a truly original political soap opera.
Mar 21, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Ken Tucker
One Issue That Seems to Be Getting Bipartisan Support in the Senate One Issue That Seems to Be Getting Bipartisan Support in the Senate
When Cruz begins a crude bombard, He speaks with reckless disregard. So even those who share his views Tend not to want to shmooze with Cruz.
Mar 20, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Unreal Choices: On The Feminine Mystique Unreal Choices: On The Feminine Mystique
For Betty Friedan, feminism was humanism: a question of growth, maturation and identity.
Mar 20, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Julia M. Klein
Neighborhood Neighborhood
Our brick houses had one floor, storm windows to install in October, heavy brass doorknockers, screened-in patios, lawn jockeys, and front porches with wrought iron railings. The rusty bicycles flopped on the driveways, the smell of peat moss in wheelbarrows, the hum of fans from Sears Roebuck, sidewalks turning the color of grocery bags when wet. The luck of a clover with one appended leaf. We had board games like Monopoly shared by three families, the little green hotels disappearing just like the old market and the Bargain Center. The braided oaks with crooked tree houses, the burnt leaves, black fish swimming in air. And on an unseasonably sunny day in late October, I found my mother's floral umbrella and went strolling into the breeze under its spinning canopy, sucking a lemon.
Mar 20, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Judith Harris
The Strange Arcane: On George Saunders The Strange Arcane: On George Saunders
In the short stories of Tenth of December, the impression of chaos belies a careful design.
Mar 20, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Aaron Thier