Related Content: Molly Ball

Will the Border Ever Be Secure Enough for Immigration Hawks?

Essential Reads

Border security could be the issue that kills immigration reform. And yet, by most measures, the U.S.-Mexico border has never been safer.
 
The bipartisan group of U.S. senators seeking comprehensive immigration reform have proposed a "trigger" mechanism, whereby a path to citizenship would be contingent on increased border security. President Obama and liberals have not endorsed the idea, although the president is "committed to increasing our border security further," according to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

A More Perfect Poll

Essential Reads

In the 2012 presidential election, we all thought we were smarter than the pollsters. Conservatives flocked to a site called UnskewedPolls.com, whose proprietor reconstituted the polls of major media organizations in proportions better suited to his vision of the American electorate—that is, one with more Republicans in it. Liberals, for their part, elevated to demigod status the statistician and New York Times blogger Nate Silver, who poured those same polls into a meat grinder and produced a neatly encased pronouncement that Barack Obama was overwhelmingly likely to win.

State of the Union: What Do You Want Obama to Say?

Essential Reads

What is the point of the State of the Union?

The president's annual address to Congress tends to be a laundry list of policy priorities that fails to make much of a splash either inside the Capitol or with the broader public. His opponents are only listening to find things to take issue with, and his allies are mostly just hoping he tosses a mention to their pet causes.

November 23, 2012

Weekly Show

The panelists review the role of the Obama administration in brokering the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire agreement in Gaza.  Also, we examine the post-election politics behind the looming fiscal cliff crisis. Plus, what factors could slow down the U.S. economic recovery. Joining Pete Williams of NBC News: Peter Baker, New York Times; Molly Ball, The Atlantic; and Jim Tankersley, National Journal.  

October 26, 2012

Weekly Show

With less than two weeks to go, the roundtable takes a look at the candidates’ swing-state campaign sprint. Also, we analyze the foreign policy plans of both candidates after the final debate. Plus, we examine the battle for Senate control which rests in the hands of a few states.  Joining Gwen:  James Kitfield, National Journal; Gloria Borger, CNN; Molly Ball, The Atlantic; Susan Davis, USA Today.