The Debt Problem Is Worse Than You Think


Even alarmists may be underestimating the magnitude of the government's debt problem. It will lead to two huge challenges: reducing the annual budget deficits, and pulling off a U-turn in monetary policy.

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Energy and Environment

Outsiders Inside The Climate Debate

Global-warming skeptics are using new evidence to try to weaken confidence in the quality and openness of international climate research.

Civil Rights

A Growing Battle Over The Sexes

Advocates say that civil rights are overdue for transgender people. Opponents fear that blurring distinctions between sexes will hurt society.


Clive Crook: Wealth Of NationsSaturday, Nov. 7, 2009

Execs' Pay Limits Don't Cure All

Wall Street's psychotic insensitivity to popular opinion throughout the economic crisis continues to astonish. Exhibit A: executive pay.

Bruce Stokes: Economic InterestsSaturday, Nov. 7, 2009

Efficient Markets? Ha!

Britain's chief banking watchdog says that capitalism, if left on its own, will destroy itself.

Ronald Brownstein: Political ConnectionsSaturday, Nov. 7, 2009

Pols Stand On Unstable Ground

The Democratic decline among independents should really be seen as part of the party's dismal showing among whites.

Congress

Parsing The Grand Energy Bargain

Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, discuss the prospects for global-warming legislation and the upcoming global climate summit in Copenhagen in December.

The Week on the Hill

Brief looks at action on health care reform, economic stimulus, and appropriations.


Lobbying

Election Spending: Reformers On Flood Watch

Advocates of campaign finance reform are planning in case the Supreme Court overturns two precedents that limit the way that corporations can spend money on elections.

PR For Pariahs: ACORN's Long Road Back

ACORN has been cut off by Congress and abandoned by allies. It's a cautionary tale -- and a PR nightmare.

Politics

The O Team Stayed Home

Barack Obama was unable to mobilize his supporters in Virginia and New Jersey the way he did just a year ago, but that may not have been much of a reflection on him.

Congressional Insiders Poll

Insiders discuss the impact of unemployment on the 2010 elections, and speculate on whether Congress will enact cap-and-trade legislation to curb global warming.


Education

Tuition and Fees Can Be Lowered

Two-year colleges and Christian-centered schools lead the way in cutting students' costs.


Bill Schneider: Political PulseSaturday, Nov. 7, 2009

Obama's War Room Options

What do the American people want to do in Afghanistan? They don't seem to know.

Charlie Cook: The Cook ReportSaturday, Nov. 7, 2009

Democrats' Woes Confirmed

The only really instructive contest on Tuesday was the gubernatorial race in Virginia.

Online Exclusive

Expert Blogs

See what the experts have to say on critical issues like the economy and health care.

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Under The Influence

Learn more about the lobbying industry, who the players are, and their influence on politics and policies.


Resources

National Journal Magazine Article Indexes

Comprehensive magazine archives in PDF form, ready to print and save.

Last Week's Cover Story

Countdown To Copenhagen

The solutions to climate change promise to be horrendously expensive and will face technical and political obstacles at every turn. But most nations say that action is essential.


 New FeatureThursday, Sept. 17, 2009

3121 Launches

Introducing National Journal's new online professional network exclusively for Capitol Hill.

 Special ReportSaturday, June 20, 2009

Decision Makers 2009

Profiles of 366 executive branch members -- from senior White House aides and Cabinet department assistant secretaries to heads of independent agencies.

Brian Friel and Richard E. Cohen: CongressSaturday, Feb. 28, 2009

2008 Vote Ratings

Lawmakers ranked on how they vote on a conservative-to-liberal scale.