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.

How a Third Party President Could Successfully Govern

How a Third Party President Could Successfully Govern

A thought experiment that contains lessons about the power of the presidency to act, even without congressional support More »

The Simple Technologies the Spanish Use to Save Energy

The Simple Technologies the Spanish Use to Save Energy

In Iberia's biggest cities, the motion censor is helping to keep businesses green without much cost or ado More »

Behind the Scenes at Fox News, Purveyor of Reality TV

Behind the Scenes at Fox News, Purveyor of Reality TV

Before the last GOP debate, the network plotted to create conflict better suited to the Real Housewives of DC than the 2012 election More »

What Kind of Country Would We Be Without Social Security?

What Kind of Country Would We Be Without Social Security?

President Obama posed it as a rhetorical question. One answer, based on our history: a place where states ran old age pensions. More »

What If Citizens Chosen at Random Carried Out Executions?

What If Citizens Chosen at Random Carried Out Executions?

The GOP debate audience that applauded capital punishment revealed a polity too removed from the reality of the death penalty More »

The Hard Right Skewers Sarah Palin, Vindicates Kathleen Parker

The Hard Right Skewers Sarah Palin, Vindicates Kathleen Parker

The former Alaska governor is under attack from her former champions, who owe her earlier critics some apologies More »

With the 9/11 Anniversary, Political Correctness Comes Full Circle

With the 9/11 Anniversary, Political Correctness Comes Full Circle

In The Weekly Standard, writer Charlotte Allen skewers American universities for failing to commemorate the terrorist attacks with sufficient moralizing and self-righteousness More »

A Plausible Thought About the Future: Safeguarding Privacy With Deception

A Plausible Thought About the Future: Safeguarding Privacy With Deception

What if the key to anonymity is putting more information out there rather than less? More »

Wandering the Ancient Streets of Andalusia in Southern Spain

Wandering the Ancient Streets of Andalusia in Southern Spain

The Andalusian city of Cordoba reminds visitors that cultivating enjoyment of everyday pleasures has a lot to do with living right More »

Flashback: Ronald Reagan and George Bush Debate Illegal Immigration in 1980

Flashback: Ronald Reagan and George Bush Debate Illegal Immigration in 1980

Republican rhetoric on undocumented workers used to be shockingly restrained compared to what GOP voters demand today More »

Worried About Big Government? Then You Should Worry About War

Worried About Big Government? Then You Should Worry About War

The the national security state is the biggest threat to American liberty, but the tea party is blind to the danger -- and so's the Obama left More »

John Yoo's Weak Defense of Post-9/11 Counterterrorism Policy

John Yoo's Weak Defense of Post-9/11 Counterterrorism Policy

For him, the fact that we haven't suffered another major attack is everything. But what about the moral standing we've lost? More »

What Gary Johnson Would Say If He Were Debating

What Gary Johnson Would Say If He Were Debating

He won't be on stage tonight, but the former New Mexico governor has questions and a zinger or two for his fellow candidates More »

Is Sarah Palin for Sale?

Is Sarah Palin for Sale?

The former Alaska governor chose the least objectionable way to get rich from politics, and her critique of corporate cronyism is praiseworthy More »

When 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Ends, Our Military Will Be Stronger

When 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Ends, Our Military Will Be Stronger

Scores discharged under the policy will try to reenlist later this month, when gays are officially allowed to serve openly More »

Huntsman Touts His Jobs Record, Compares Romney to Obama

Huntsman Touts His Jobs Record, Compares Romney to Obama

The former Utah governor says he did more for employment than Mitt did in Massachusetts. But it's misleading to compare the two states. More »

How a Young Dick Cheney Fixed Prices for Millions

How a Young Dick Cheney Fixed Prices for Millions

In the Nixon White House, he helped Donald Rumsfeld implement wage and price controls at the urging of their boss More »

What America Looks Like: Lafitte, Louisiana as It Floods

What America Looks Like: Lafitte, Louisiana as It Floods

The United States as seen by its residents More »

Is Sarah Palin Returning to Her Roots?

Is Sarah Palin Returning to Her Roots?

She won office in Alaska as a good government reformer. On Saturday, she returned to the themes that fueled her rise. More »

What America Looks Like: Burning Man

What America Looks Like: Burning Man

The United States as seen by its residents More »

The Biggest Story in Photos

Photos of Tornado Damage in Moore, Oklahoma

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