Molly Ball

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

Bill Clinton Shows How It's Done

Bill Clinton Shows How It's Done

In an era of substance-free rhetoric, Clinton blew away the Democratic convention with a dense, didactic act of political persuasion. More »

Colorado's Beer-Brewing Governor Critiques the White House Beer

Colorado's Beer-Brewing Governor Critiques the White House Beer

John Hickenlooper, the nation's first brewer-turned-governor, is a bit skeptical of President Obama's newly disclosed home brew recipes. More »

Julián Castro's Rebuttal to the GOP

Julián Castro's Rebuttal to the GOP

The much-hyped keynoter launches the Democratic counterargument to Republicans' "We Built It" fervor. More »

Ted Strickland's Romney-Bashing Comedy Routine

Ted Strickland's Romney-Bashing Comedy Routine

The former governor of Ohio riles up the Democratic convention crowd with a series of zingers mocking Mitt Romney. More »

The Expert's Guide to Party-Crashing

The Expert's Guide to Party-Crashing

Fred Karger, the openly gay former presidential candidate, has crashed everything from Republican conventions to the Oscars. Here are his secrets. More »

Obama's Tricky Convention Task

Obama's Tricky Convention Task

What can the president hope to accomplish with his weeklong infomercial in Charlotte? The answer is complicated. More »

Godly American Businessman: How the RNC Marketed Mitt Romney

Godly American Businessman: How the RNC Marketed Mitt Romney

Seeking to define himself to voters at long last, Romney showcases the two most complicated parts of his profile: Mormonism and Bain Capital. More »

Class Is in Session at Newt University

Class Is in Session at Newt University

The GOP also-ran's latest venture has him seeking a return to his roots as the party's resident educator-cum-traveling salesman. More »

Paul Ryan and Condi Rice: A Tale of 2 Speeches

Paul Ryan and Condi Rice: A Tale of 2 Speeches

At the Republican convention, the former secretary of state was graceful and serious. The vice-presidential nominee came off as callow and glib. More »

'As Maine Goes ....': The Ron Paul Movement's Last Stand

'As Maine Goes ....': The Ron Paul Movement's Last Stand

Ron Paul-supporting Republican delegates staged a protest march and walked out of the convention hall -- and Romney supporters wished them good riddance. More »

The Cheesehead Mafia: Paul Ryan and the Rise of Wisconsin Republicans

The Cheesehead Mafia: Paul Ryan and the Rise of Wisconsin Republicans

How Ryan, Scott Walker and Reince Priebus came out of the Badger State together to reshape American conservative politics. More »

Ann Romney Lifts Republicans Out of Their Rancor

Ann Romney Lifts Republicans Out of Their Rancor

In a night filled with edgy, resentful rhetoric, the nominee's wife spoke of love. More »

Ann Romney Is Not Her Husband's 'Softer Side'

Ann Romney Is Not Her Husband's 'Softer Side'

Mrs. Romney's personality isn't necessarily the sweet, nurturing, maternal caricature that's being portrayed. More »

The Incredible Shrinking Political Convention

The Incredible Shrinking Political Convention

Are the conventions just an expensive waste of time? Not to activists, undecided voters, and the history books. More »

Tiny Explainer: Mitt Romney's Taxes

Tiny Explainer: Mitt Romney's Taxes

Romney has steadfastly refused the calls for more information, which have come from many fellow Republicans as well as Democrats. More »

Mitt Romney's Birth Certificate 'Joke'

Mitt Romney's Birth Certificate 'Joke'

Campaigning in Michigan, the GOP nominee makes an ugly and politically ill-advised gesture toward the conspiracy theory surrounding the president's origins. More »

Why Todd Akin Could Still Win Missouri (Seriously)

Why Todd Akin Could Still Win Missouri (Seriously)

Remember Sharron Angle? Some of the things she said were just as out-there as "legitimate rape" -- and she almost beat Harry Reid in 2010. More »

Why Todd Akin Isn't Dropping Out—and What It Means

Why Todd Akin Isn't Dropping Out—and What It Means

The Missouri Republican's decision to stay in the race hurts the GOP at all levels, from Missouri to the national ticket. More »

Why the Campaign Is So Nasty

Why the Campaign Is So Nasty

Why should politicians respect one another when nobody respects politicians? More »

Wacky Florida Political Ad Warns of Robot-Car Menace

Wacky Florida Political Ad Warns of Robot-Car Menace

A Florida state senate candidate gets attacked over his support for driverless cars. More »

The Biggest Story in Photos

Photos of Tornado Damage in Moore, Oklahoma

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