Molly Ball

Molly Ball is a staff writer covering national politics at The Atlantic.

A Former Cyclist Reflects: I Would Have Done What Lance Armstrong Did

A Former Cyclist Reflects: I Would Have Done What Lance Armstrong Did

Why my dad, a former Olympic racer, sympathizes with the disgraced former champ. More »

Don't Call It 'Gun Control'

Don't Call It 'Gun Control'

Proponents, including the president, are looking for a less politically charged term for firearm regulation, but none has managed to catch on. More »

How Obama Is Winning Debt-Ceiling Politics—and Why It Doesn't Matter

How Obama Is Winning Debt-Ceiling Politics—and Why It Doesn't Matter

The president holds a press conference to keep the heat on Congress, but Congress may be impervious to public opinion. More »

How the Fiscal-Cliff Deal Will Define Obama's Second Term

How the Fiscal-Cliff Deal Will Define Obama's Second Term

Constant crisis, a more aggressive president, maybe even a more accommodating Republican Party: What last week's agreement tells us about the road ahead More »

What Would Nixon Say to Today's Republican Party?

What Would Nixon Say to Today's Republican Party?

The disgraced former president, born 100 years ago Wednesday, was a perpetual comeback artist who's still not done being reinvented. More »

Cabinet Shuffle: Labor Secretary Hilda Solis Is Out

Cabinet Shuffle: Labor Secretary Hilda Solis Is Out

The unexpected departure puts another potentially contentious confirmation battle on the horizon. More »

What I Learned From Richard Ben Cramer

What I Learned From Richard Ben Cramer

Why What It Takes, whose author died Monday at age 62, remains a touchstone for political writers 20 years after its publication More »

Are People Being Unfair to the House Republicans?

Are People Being Unfair to the House Republicans?

From the ill-fated "Plan B" to hurricane relief, John Boehner and the House GOP have had a bad run. A former congressman attempts to justify their actions. More »

This Is What Happens When You Cross Chris Christie

This Is What Happens When You Cross Chris Christie

The Republican New Jersey governor unloads on his party for failing to pass the Hurricane Sandy relief bill. More »

Why Everyone Hates the Fiscal-Cliff Deal

Why Everyone Hates the Fiscal-Cliff Deal

It passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support, but liberals and conservatives alike found something to loathe in the final agreement. More »

What You Need to Know About the Fiscal Cliff Before You Go to Your New Year's Party

What You Need to Know About the Fiscal Cliff Before You Go to Your New Year's Party

Yes, we're going over the cliff. Yes, there's probably going to be a bipartisan deal. No, you shouldn't freak out. Now go ahead and have some champagne. More »

Why the NRA Wants to Wear the Black Hat in the Gun-Control Debate

Why the NRA Wants to Wear the Black Hat in the Gun-Control Debate

The National Rifle Association came out swinging in its first comments since the Newtown shooting, a sign the group sees a tough fight ahead. More »

Your Fiscal-Cliff Questions, Answered

Your Fiscal-Cliff Questions, Answered

Is a deal still possible? Can John Boehner survive as speaker? Why did he try this Plan B idea, anyway? A guide to what to expect in the weeks ahead. More »

Why Eric Cantor's Absence Is Reason for Hope for the Fiscal-Cliff Talks

Why Eric Cantor's Absence Is Reason for Hope for the Fiscal-Cliff Talks

Once a major thorn in the side of House Speaker John Boehner, the majority leader has fallen into line after a struggle for dominance. More »

Can Sandy Hook Really Change the Politics of Guns?

Can Sandy Hook Really Change the Politics of Guns?

There's more passion behind the prospect of new gun-control legislation than advocates have seen in a decade -- but they still don't have the votes. More »

Rick Snyder Explains Himself—Sort Of

Rick Snyder Explains Himself—Sort Of

In signing anti-union legislation, Michigan's moderate Republican governor inflamed the left and damaged himself politically. Was he really painted into a corner? More »

The Marriage Plot: Inside This Year's Epic Campaign for Gay Equality

The Marriage Plot: Inside This Year's Epic Campaign for Gay Equality

How activists rewrote the political playbook, reversed decades of defeat, and finally won over voters. More »

Sorry, Democrats: 4 Ways Progressives Are About to Have Their Hopes Dashed

Sorry, Democrats: 4 Ways Progressives Are About to Have Their Hopes Dashed

Liberals are fired up about Obama's second term and Elizabeth Warren's election. They're about to be disappointed. More »

Did Citizens United Help Democrats in 2012?

Did Citizens United Help Democrats in 2012?

Much as they decried the Supreme Court's campaign-finance decision, progressive groups may have exploited it most in this year's election. More »

Down and Out With Ted Cruz and the GOP

Down and Out With Ted Cruz and the GOP

As Republicans regroup from electoral disaster, some -- including a rising star in the Senate -- insist conservatism was not to blame. 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)