The Task Ahead The Task Ahead
“The biggest donors in the Republican Party are financing a new group to recruit seasoned candidates and protect Senate incumbents from challenges by far-right conservatives and Tea Party enthusiasts.” —The New York Times They mean to weed the wackos out, To stanch electoral bleeding. From what we’ve seen, it’s going to take Some mighty powerful weeding.
Feb 6, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Making Strange: On Victor Shklovsky Making Strange: On Victor Shklovsky
A Russian novelist’s fight, in life and art, to see the world afresh in all its cruelty and splendor.
Feb 5, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich
Noted Noted
Judith Long on Jane Sharples, Allison Kilkenny on the fight for Philly’s schools
Jan 30, 2013 / Various Contributors
Sarah Palin Will No Longer Be a Paid Commentator on Fox News Sarah Palin Will No Longer Be a Paid Commentator on Fox News
The word that Palin’s off the Fox News teat Will strike so many folks as bittersweet. For many, Palin’s just the sort of gal you Would hire for her entertainment value. Though Palin, Ailes may think, no longer fits, he Might never find a substitute as ditsy.
Jan 30, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Safety Net: On Thomas Bernhard and Siegfried Unseld Safety Net: On Thomas Bernhard and Siegfried Unseld
In his writing and life, Thomas Bernhard led a charge in the opposite direction. His publisher always broke his fall.
Jan 30, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Holly Case
Diagram This: On Adrienne Rich Diagram This: On Adrienne Rich
A new collection of Adrienne Rich’s poems does not show her at her best.
Jan 30, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Ange Mlinko
A Message From Americans to France A Message From Americans to France
“As French troops intervene in Mali, the French take pride in their military capacity and in their independence of action.” —The New York Times We’re pleased to hear you like to intervene. We praise both your commitment and your style. Ourselves, we’ve wearied of this sort of thing. Perhaps you could take over for a while.
Jan 23, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Shelf Life Shelf Life
Shawn Francis Peters’s The Catonsville Nine.
Jan 23, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Mark Oppenheimer
The Real American War in Vietnam The Real American War in Vietnam
In his new book Kill Anything That Moves, Nick Turse shows that what were often presented as isolated atrocities were in fact the norm.
Jan 16, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Jonathan Schell
Results of a Survey Asking the American People How They Feel About the Unending Discussion of the Fiscal Cliff, the Debt Ceiling, Restructuring Entitlements, Revenue Versus Spending, Etc., Etc., Etc. Results of a Survey Asking the American People How They Feel About the Unending Discussion of the Fiscal Cliff, the Debt Ceiling, Restructuring Entitlements, Revenue Versus Spending, Etc., Etc., Etc.
The subject is vital. We never would doubt it. We’d rather go broke, though, than hear more about it.
Jan 16, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin