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July 25, 2008

Slammed: Welcome to the Age of Incarceration What happens when you lock up 1 in every 100 American adults? —By Jennifer Gonnerman MORE FROM MOJO: The MoJo Prison Guide Convicting California
Iraq Contract Fraud A GAO report estimates that the Army Material Command loses about $43 million each year providing free meals to contractors—the same ones that receive per diem food allowances. —By Bruce Falconer Blackwater Retreats? Blaming negative press coverage, the controversial security firm has signaled that it's pulling out of the security field. But there's more to the story. —By Daniel Schulman Semiautomatic for the People In which a MoJo reporter goes to a gun show in search of some serious firepower. With audio. —By Bruce Falconer Is McCain Refighting Bush's War on Social Security? When the GOP candidate called Social Security a "disgrace," he mobilized the labor and seniors groups that successfully fought off the president's failed privatization gambit. —By Jonathan Stein Lieberman: Trading Facts for Fear Blasting Obama's Iraq stance, the top McCain surrogate mangles the historical record on Al Qaeda. —By David Corn Congress Atwitter Over MySpace Inside the arcane rules governing Capitol Hill's use of social networking sites. —By Bruce Falconer After the FISA Fight: An Interview with Sen. Russ Feingold Why did some Democrats cave to the administration's wiretapping demands? "A constantly pulsating fear of being accused of being soft on terrorism." —By Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium The GOP's December Surprise Is the GOP cooking the books to avoid recession till after Election Day? —By James K. Galbraith Rove to Congress: You Can't Touch Me Flouting a congressional subpoena, the former White House political director claims he's "immune" from providing testimony on Justice Department politicization. —By Stephanie Mencimer MoJo Interview: The Angola 3 Meet the Black Panther Party members who spent 36 years of solitude in a Louisiana state pen—and who a federal magistrate now says should be freed. —By Brooke Shelby Biggs Shalom, Hamas Tweedy, unapologetically hawkish ex-spymaster Efraim Halevy may just be the only Israeli capable of legitimizing talks with Hamas. —By Laura Rozen Obama on Patriotism: Getting Past the '60s? In a speech on patriotism, Obama defends his own love of country and says dissent—the right kind of dissent—is patriotic. —By David Corn MoJo Convo: Iran Panic We asked an Israeli intel correspondent, an Iranian American activist, an arms expert, and a former peace negotiator: How likely is a scenario in which the US or Israel bombs Iran? Talk to them all week about their responses. A Citizen's Guide To the Post-Bush Globe Quaker and foreign policy wonk Helena Cobban cheers Bush's North Korea diplomacy, skewers "daddy-knows-bestism," and offers some worldly advice for Americans. —By Justin Elliott Supreme Court Shoots Down DC Gun Ban In the ruling—opposed by the Bush administration but supported by Cheney—Scalia says the issue is hunting, not gun violence. —By Stephanie Mencimer America, Over Big Oil's Barrel What's really driving up your gas prices? Oil companies say it's government regulators, foreign dictators, and those pesky polar bears. —By James Ridgeway Avoiding Torture's Taint Don't let the Red Cross find out—and other military advice on the use of harsh interrogation techniques. —By Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium GAO: U.S. Lacks Post-"Surge" Plan For Iraq Violence in Iraq has dropped precipitously since January 2007, but, a new report warns, the Bush administration has yet to formulate a strategy to keep the peace. —By Bruce Falconer 'If the Detainee Dies, You're Doing it Wrong' A Senate investigation uncovers how torture entered the military's post-9/11 playbook. —By Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium McCain's Slippery History With Offshore Drilling The Republican nominee is taking a pointless and environmentally dangerous position in order to pander to voters hit by high gas prices. It may hurt him come November. —By Jonathan Stein Foreclosure Phil Years before Phil Gramm was a McCain campaign adviser and a lobbyist for a Swiss bank at the center of the housing credit crisis, he pulled a sly maneuver in the Senate that helped create today's subprime meltdown. —By David Corn Office of Special Counsel's War On Whistleblowers OSC is investigating Karl Rove's political machine. But until recently OSC head Scott Bloch's policy was to ignore whistleblowers' tips on murder, espionage, and terrorism, while vigorously rooting out any signs of the "homosexual agenda." —By Daniel Schulman No Congress, No Peace in Iran If the United States spreads its Middle Eastern disaster into Iran, it won't be the fault of George W. Bush alone – a Democratic Congress will share some of the blame. Fortunately, the legislative branch has effective options for stopping war before it starts. —By Jonathan Schwarz Fight Different: Politics 2.0 The halls of power will belong to whoever can tap the passion of the online masses. That kid with a laptop has Karl Rove quaking in his boots. And if you believe that, we've got some leftover Pets.com stock to sell you. Mother Jones Meet The Wonder Twins Of Rikers Island More From Mother Jones 8 Tips for an Easier Prison Stay Why Prisons Banned This Magazine				From the Mother Jones D.C. Bureau Iran Red Lines Mother Jones has learned that a parade of high-level Israeli officials are on their way to the White House over the next two weeks to discuss Iran policy. Here's where the two countries differ on what to do next. July 10, 2008 The Persian Paradox Why is so much sensitive US military technology winding up in Iran? July 9, 2008 McCain Campaign Screening Questioners? Political reporters are wondering if McCain aides are vetting the journalists who ask questions during campaign conference calls for the media. The evidence suggests they are; the campaign won't say. July 8, 2008 What's John McCain's Technology Policy? Surprise—he doesn't have one. And how does that compare to Barack Obama? July 7, 2008 What Family Leave? The nation's workplace policies are on par with those of some Third World countries. Does the Bush administration want to keep it that way? June 23, 2008 Investigation Update: Three Days In Rome Does an investigation of the Pentagon’s channel to an Iran Contra arms dealer continue? A Mother Jones intel scoop. June 20, 2008 Three Days in Rome Redux: The Cocktail Napkin Plan for an Iran Coup More on the covert meetings between Pentagon officials and shady Iranian expats, plus other intel details from a new Senate report. June 7, 2008 All You Need to Know About Obama's VP Options Now that Obama has nearly clinched the nomination, who's on tap to be his running mate? Your guide to the contenders. June 3, 2008 The John McCain School for Lobbyists While the Arizona senator was decrying Washington's "revolving door," his own staffers were zipping back and forth through it. May 27, 2008 Armed and Humanitarian Lately, the Pentagon has made relief work a military priority. So why are NGOs bracing for a disaster? May 19, 2008 The Big Farm Scam The President of the Environmental Working Group explains why the farm bill that just passed Congress represents a monumental opportunity lost. May 16, 2008 more... AP Politics Feed: 7/25/08 11:17 am (PST) McCain steps up criticism of Obama over Iraq Obama urges Iran to accept EU nuke proposal Israeli paper publishes Obama Western Wall prayer Today on the presidential campaign trail Obama beats McCain in Europe donations Analysis: Bush's policy shifts affect Obama Obama speech draws praise from chancellor's office Allies of Phoenix mayor fight recall effort AP Exclusive: Secret Service wants more money Analysis: GOP chose base, not Bush in housing vote No Good Veep Choices for McCain? When Blacks Get Their American Dream 'Burb On Cow Poo Power Redux Compare and Contrast: McCain Has His Own Awesome Poster Russian Lawmakers Draft Bill to Ban Emo, Immediately Turning Everyone Emo The Dust Off: The House That Crack Built Little Britain to Set Its Sights on America Obama in Berlin: Another Great Communicator? Former Iraqi P.M. Says Surge Not So Great Carbon Offsets: Laughing off Climate Change? more...