Slate Articles

This Time, Scalia Doesn’t Want to See Your Papers

Emily Bazelon — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:10:46 GMT

By a surprising 7 to 2 majority, the Supreme Court on Monday struck down a bristly little ballot initiative that Arizona passed in 2004, requiring everyone who registers to vote to prove his or her citizenship. Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the majority opinion, and he had everyone on board besides Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito. Voter ID laws, including this one about voter registration from Arizona, are all about partisan politics. They pit Republicans who say they’re worried about voter fraud against Democrats who want to make it easier, not harder, for people to vote. These state-driven initiatives are especially bad for minority voters, and the young, poor, or disabled—groups that tend to stay off the rolls in larger numbers when there are more hoops to jump through.

The Whitey Bulger Trial

Seth Stevenson — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:04:54 GMT

John Martorano is a porpoise of a man inside a massive suit jacket. His face disappears into the fat of his neck. When he takes the stand today—tinted eyeglasses, polka-dot tie, pocket square—he tells us he is 72 years old, divorced, and unemployed. Also, he has murdered 20 people.

Obama Doesn’t Fight Like Bush

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:03:26 GMT

Whatever the long-term fallout from recent disclosures about the NSA’s data mining, the leaks from whistleblower Edward Snowden are, if nothing else, a stark reminder that the war on terrorism is still being waged aggressively on multiple fronts. They also offer more fodder for critics who say the Obama administration’s counterterrorism policies, including the ongoing use of drone strikes and the continued operation of the Guantanamo Bay prison, are merely a continuation of the overreach and missteps made by President Bush.

Hang Up and Listen: The Derecho Finals Edition

Stefan Fatsis — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:05:20 GMT

Listen to Hang Up and Listen with Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca by clicking the arrow on the audio player below:

Obama’s Gamble in Syria

Fred Kaplan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:04:19 GMT

It’s hard to assess President Obama’s decision to send arms to the Syrian rebels because we still don’t know what kinds of arms he’s sending, how long he’s willing to keep the stuff flowing, or what kind of outcome he’s seeking—both to the civil war in Syria and to the political balance in the region.

The Lockbox Lie

William Saletan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:42:00 GMT

You can also listen to William Saletan read this piece.

Let’s Make a Baby

David Weigel — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:01:20 GMT

The saddest “gaffe” is the one that nobody actually bothers to dispute with facts. Such a misstep was delivered in Washington over the weekend, when Jeb Bush faced an audience at Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority conference. Rushing through a speech, he decided to skimp on euphemisms.

Flogging the Issue

Emily Yoffe — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:42:00 GMT

Emily Yoffe, aka Dear Prudence, is on Washingtonpost.com weekly to chat live with readers. An edited transcript of the chat is below. (Sign up here to get Dear Prudence delivered to your inbox each week. Read Prudie’s Slate columns here. Send questions to Prudence at prudence@slate.com.)

Surprised by the Stork

Jordan G. Teicher — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:19:10 GMT

Trish Staine had just finished running 10 miles while training for a half-marathon when she started going into labor. The mother of three said she hadn't gained any weight or felt any fetal movement in the months before and had no idea she was pregnant. Is it possible for a woman not to know she's pregnant before she starts giving birth?

Mad Men, Season 6

Hanna Rosin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:45:00 GMT

Seth, Paul,