Electronic Pen

William Greider While the mainstream press portrays newly reappointed Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke as a mild-mannered hero, the reality is he is responsible for much of the economic pain Americans are feeling.

John Nichols The investigation into torture could be thwarted by a GOP counter-attack and an echo chamber determined to protect Bush and Cheney.

• Ari Melber: Did Holder Do Enough?

Ari Melber After much anticipation and pressure from progressives, Attorney General Eric Holder appoints a special prosecutor to investigate Bush-era torture. But did he go far enough?

• John Nichols: Holder and Obama Should Focus on Accountability

Ange Mlinko Conlangs often succeed only in stripping language of its surprise.

• Barry Schwabsky: Beyond Exhaustion
• James Longenbach: A Music of Austerity

Barry Schwabsky Does the art of Dan Graham and his disciples promise deceptive simplicity or formulaic thinking?

• James Longenbach: A Music of Austerity

James Longenbach In his best poems, Wallace Stevens makes deprivation feel seductively like plenitude.

• Barry Schwabsky: Beyond Exhaustion

Robert Dreyfuss It's time to give up on a centralized state, and let Afghanistan be Afghanistan--namely, a diverse, decentralized collection of fiefdoms.

Joanna Scott A reconsideration of the fictive truths behind a storyteller's many masks.

• Dan Kaufman: La Despedida
• Stuart Klawans: Creatures of the Night

Leslie Savan A single-payer plan makes so much sense that even Joe Scarborough can't argue with it.

• Laura S. Boylan, MD & Joanne Landy: Single-Payer Will Win

Dan Bischoff Americans who've been bringing guns to public meetings about healthcare reform are really just responding to a media-wide casting call for crazies.