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.

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 Right's Short Memory When It Comes to Candidates and Religion

The Right's Short Memory When It Comes to Candidates and Religion

Think there's a problem with coverage of Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann's religious ties? Just look at how Obama and Rev. Wright were treated. More »

When Rick Perry Praised HillaryCare

When Rick Perry Praised HillaryCare

The Texas governor hasn't always regarded federalized health care as unconstitutional and noxious to liberty More »

Former Official: Interrogations Were Geared to Link Iraq, Al Qaeda

Former Official: Interrogations Were Geared to Link Iraq, Al Qaeda

Colin Powell's ex-chief of staff made the accusation in a televised interview and said he'd testify against former colleagues More »

New York City's Nanny State Targets Dogs in Bars

New York City's Nanny State Targets Dogs in Bars

The health department has overstepped government's role with a new crackdown on canine-friendly establishments More »

Dick Cheney's Latest Lie About Torture

Dick Cheney's Latest Lie About Torture

The former VP insisted the Bush administration didn't do anything to its prisoners that hadn't been done to train U.S. troops More »

A Reminder That America Is Improving: Sodomy Is not a Crime

A Reminder That America Is Improving: Sodomy Is not a Crime

Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association is calling for its recriminalization. And he'll never get his way. More »

How Christine O'Donnell Went from Tea Party Favorite to Outcast

How Christine O'Donnell Went from Tea Party Favorite to Outcast

Before she lost her Senate race, criticizing her was considered tea party heresy. Now she's barely permitted to speak at rallies. More »

How Rick Perry Got Rich While Working Government Jobs

How Rick Perry Got Rich While Working Government Jobs

The Texas Republican is either an incredibly savvy real estate investor, or adept at leveraging his political connections for profit More »

Obama DOJ: John Yoo Memos on Spying Must Stay Secret

Obama DOJ: John Yoo Memos on Spying Must Stay Secret

The American people should be allowed to know the legal reasoning offered to justify warrantless surveillance during the Bush Administration More »

Rick Perry's Foreign-Policy Pandering

Rick Perry's Foreign-Policy Pandering

Confronting a Republican Party that is divided on matters of war, the Texas governor is pretending to agree with everyone More »

Remembering Why Americans Loathe Dick Cheney

Remembering Why Americans Loathe Dick Cheney

As the former vice-president releases his memoir, it's useful to recall the many reasons Americans disapproved of his tenure More »

The Obama Administration vs. the War on Terror Critics

The Obama Administration vs. the War on Terror Critics

Going after whistleblowers and memoirists suggests a campaign to prevent Americans from finding out the truth about counterterrorism More »

The Biggest Story in Photos

Picking up the Pieces After the Tornado in Moore, Oklahoma

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