Conor Friedersdorf

Conor Friedersdorf is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he focuses on politics and national affairs. He lives in Venice, California, and is the founding editor of The Best of Journalism, a newsletter devoted to exceptional nonfiction.

The Wildly Insufficient 'Kill-List' Reforms of John Brennan

The Wildly Insufficient 'Kill-List' Reforms of John Brennan

He's reportedly proposed making drone strikes less objectionable in much the same way Bush Administration official Steven Bradbury made torture less objectionable. More »

In 2012, Did Conservatives Lose a Battle or the War?

In 2012, Did Conservatives Lose a Battle or the War?

And is militarism even an appropriate way to assess the state of partisan politics in America today? More »

The Decline and Fall of the Tea Party

The Decline and Fall of the Tea Party

Support for the conservative protest movement has dropped by two thirds since 2010. Here's why that's bad news for the country. More »

Does It Matter if John Brennan Was Complicit in Illegal Torture?

Does It Matter if John Brennan Was Complicit in Illegal Torture?

President Obama's pick to head the CIA was in a senior position at the spy agency during the Bush years. More »

Instapundit Is Too Controversial for These Utah Republicans

Instapundit Is Too Controversial for These Utah Republicans

One of the most popular conservative bloggers had a speaking gig cancelled because he favors gay marriage. More »

The Ascendant 'Smear Wing' of the Conservative Movement

The Ascendant 'Smear Wing' of the Conservative Movement

The right once inveighed against "Borking" and race-baiting. In opposing Chuck Hagel, a part of its neoconservative wing is doing both. More »

A Short Video Summary of the Government Spying Debate

A Short Video Summary of the Government Spying Debate

The question of when the government needs warrants to eavesdrop hasn't gotten the attention it deserves in part because it's so complicated and difficult to explain. More »

Inside the Conservative Debate About Why Mitt Romney Lost

Inside the Conservative Debate About Why Mitt Romney Lost

A symposium in Commentary magazine illuminates the deep, ongoing disagreements about the last presidential election. More »

What Andrew Sullivan's New Venture Could Teach Us About the Web

What Andrew Sullivan's New Venture Could Teach Us About the Web

He hopes to prove that "an independent site, if tended to diligently, can grow an audience large enough to sustain it indefinitely." More »

The Paradox That Prevents Courts From Enforcing the Constitution

The Paradox That Prevents Courts From Enforcing the Constitution

A federal judge says contradictory laws permit Obama "to proclaim as perfectly lawful" actions that seem unconstitutional "on their face." More »

The Strangest Conservative Priority: Prepping a '2nd Amendment Solution'

The Strangest Conservative Priority: Prepping a '2nd Amendment Solution'

The Bill of Rights offers much smarter, more effective ways to safeguard liberty than preparing for armed insurrection. More »

The Worst Holiday: New Year's Eve Is Over-hyped and Anti-Climactic

The Worst Holiday: New Year's Eve Is Over-hyped and Anti-Climactic

An absurd mix of international traditions would be better than how we celebrate it in America. More »

This Week's Senate Scandal: Scorn for the 4th Amendment

This Week's Senate Scandal: Scorn for the 4th Amendment

Crucial attempts to rein in government spying failed Thursday, guaranteeing that the privacy of more innocent Americans will be violated. More »

Why NYC Drops an 11,875 Pound Ball on New Year's Eve

Why NYC Drops an 11,875 Pound Ball on New Year's Eve

The tradition dates back to December 31, 1907, though the balls have changed along with technology. More »

The Pro-Gun Movement Is Too Often Anti-Liberty

The Pro-Gun Movement Is Too Often Anti-Liberty

Its recent suggestions include imposing armed guards on every school in America and deporting a critic of the Second Amendment. More »

Why Robert Bork Didn't Belong on the Supreme Court, in 85 Words

Why Robert Bork Didn't Belong on the Supreme Court, in 85 Words

Any jurist so ready to gut the First Amendment's protections couldn't be trusted to safeguard the balance of the Bill of Rights. More »

Is the Ivy League Fair to Asian Americans?

Is the Ivy League Fair to Asian Americans?

An admission officer's uncomfortable explanation for why they don't get in as often as their test scores would predict suggests it's not. More »

Marijuana Laws Enforced, Poor Hit Hardest

Marijuana Laws Enforced, Poor Hit Hardest

An opponent of legalization says it would exacerbate inequality in the United States. But he fails to account for the impact of jail time on inequality under currents laws. More »

Scandal Alert: Congress Is Quietly Abandoning the 5th Amendment

Scandal Alert: Congress Is Quietly Abandoning the 5th Amendment

Meet the prominent legislators who think it's okay to throw Americans in jail forever without charges or trial. More »

The Guilty Conscience of a Drone Pilot Who Killed a Child

The Guilty Conscience of a Drone Pilot Who Killed a Child

May his story remind us that U.S. strikes have reportedly killed many times more kids than died in Newtown -- and that we can do better. More »

The Biggest Story in Photos

Photos of Tornado Damage in Moore, Oklahoma

Subscribe Now

SAVE 65%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)