The Plank
Tnrtv: Income Inequality Battle Royale--Chait Vs. Wilkinson
In his latest "TRB From Washington" column, TNR senior editor Jonathan Chait rips apart a paper on income inequality by the Cato Institute's Will Wilkinson. Chait and Wilkinson settle their differences face-to-face in this TNRtv special. READ MORE >>
What's North Korea Really Like
Sarah Wang writes up her four days there--as the member of a group of "potential investors" from China--for Slate. The saddest part? North Koreans' hunger: I brought 150 Kit-Kat bars into the country, and I always took several out of my bag when I was alone with a North Korean. They would hesitate for a few seconds, look around to make sure that no one else was watching, and then stuff the Kit-Kats into their pockets. Wang's photos pack a punch, as well. READ MORE >>
Survivor: Saudi Royal Edition
The Right's Blindness
National Journal's Jonathan Rauch writes movingly of a cousin, Bill, his partner, Mike, and a life-threatening illness: Having just been told, at 3 a.m., that his partner of three decades might die within hours, Mike Brittenback was told something else: Before rushing to Bill's side, he needed to collect and bring with him documents proving his medical power of attorney. This indignity, unheard-of in the world of heterosexual marriage, is a commonplace of American gay life. READ MORE >>
Ibd: Mendacious Or Just Stupid?
Ezra Klein is up in arms about this Investors Business Daily editorial which makes the following claim: People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless. Ezra writes: READ MORE >>
Maybe Unemployment Won't Hit Double-digits
By far the biggest factor driving the success of President Obama's agenda, and the political landscape in 2010 (which itself may determine how much Obama can do starting in 2001), is the unemployment rate. For quite a while, nearly everybody has been predicting unemployment to top 10%. The Wall Street Journal today makes a fairly convincing case that employment will bounce back strong. The most interesting point to me was the nature of job losses: READ MORE >>
Lee Hamilton Questions Afghanistan Plan
As David Ignatius noted earlier this year, the views of former Congressman Lee Hamilton hold considerable sway within the Obama national security team. READ MORE >>
Credit Conditions In The Absence Of Consumer Protection
Even some of our most sophisticated commentators doubt a link between consumer protection and any macroeconomic outcomes. Consumer protection, in this view, is microeconomics and quite different from macroeconomic issues (such as the speed and nature of our economic recovery). Officially measured interest rates are down from their height in the Great Panic of 2008-09 and the financial markets, broadly defined, continue to stabilize. But are retail credit conditions, i.e., the terms on which you can borrow, getting easier or tougher? READ MORE >>
Is Baitullah Alive?
There's some evidence for it, unfortunately. What first seemed a real morale-booster for the U.S. and Pakistan could wind up a costly embarassment. But the truth is still murky. --Michael Crowley READ MORE >>
