Economist , Feb. 8 (posted Saturday, Feb. 8) The cover story deplores the "outrageous" sums spent on U.S. elections, which are more expensive than any nation's but Japan's. The United States should consider campaign-spending caps and give the Federal Election Commission teeth to enforce campaign laws, the Economist writes. The accompanying editorial scoffs at the First Amendment claim that campaign spending is speech ("ridiculous") and suggests that the United States ban political television ads. Also, several Russia articles. One applauds Al Gore and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin's frequent, unpublicized summits, which have resulted in 150 small agreements on critical issues such as nuclear-weapons disposal. Another says Alexander Lebed would win a new presidential election if Yeltsin died (Lebed is still keeping company with thugs, warns the magazine). And an article claims that while Britain is more socially and residentially integrated than the United States, minorities have fewer economic opportunities there. New Republic , Feb. 24 (posted Friday, Feb. 7) Last month, the Standard wondered whether women belong in the military. Now it's TNR 's turn. The cover story, "Sex and the Soldier," is less polemical than the Standard 's article, but agrees that women are too weak for many military jobs, and that pregnancy disrupts training and deployment. TNR also argues that the military is overdoing gender integration in order to placate civilian politicians (namely: Pat Schroeder). An article claims that Clinton "sandbagged" Jesse Jackson in 1995 and 1996 to prevent a primary challenge: The president courted black mayors, refused a budget deal with the Republicans, and steered funding to Jesse Jackson Jr.'s congressional campaign in order to forestall a Jackson Sr. presidential run. Also, a story argues that the much-touted Religious Freedom Restoration Act is unconstitutional (its excellent headline: "Anti-antidisestablishmentarianism"). Vanity Fair, March 1997 (posted Friday, Feb. 7) A profile lionizes tycoon/World Jewish Congress President Edgar Bronfman Sr. for his campaign to recover Holocaust victims' savings from Swiss banks. Bronfman, whom some consider the "Jewish pope," is portrayed as a relentless crusader who single-handedly "unhinged" Switzerland. Like Time (see below), Vanity Fair investigates the truly weird saga of Madalyn Murray O'Hair, America's most notorious atheist. After 30 years as a troublemaker, bully, and media hound, O'Hair vanished in late 1995 along with her son and granddaughter. About $700,000 of her foundation's money, stashed in New Zealand, also seems to have disappeared. The author claims O'Hair is lying low in New Zealand; others think she's dead; God has no comment. VF pays tribute (for 25 pages?!) to "swinging" London, which has recaptured its 1960s hipness: Oasis and Blur are much admired; so is fashion enfant terrible Alexander McQueen. Also, Slate is panned: "familiar names like Joe Queenan, Katha Pollitt, Wendy Kaminer, Louis Menand, Paul Berman, Nicholas Lemann--all-purpose oxygen depleters who wash up everywhere." (Articles by all these oxygen depleters are available in Slate's "Compost.") New York Times Magazine , Feb. 9 (posted Thursday, Feb. 6) Why has crime plummeted in New York City? The two-story cover package credits the police. A profile of a rookie cop says police work is improving because street officers have been given more responsibility. It warns that Mayor Giuliani's proposed pay freeze could destroy the NYPD's new esprit de corps. A sidebar attributes the decline to "quality-of-life" policing and a crime-tracking program called COMPSTAT. An article celebrates the return to favor of jazz pianist Keith Jarrett, whose sharp tongue is nearly as famous as his music (he disses Wynton Marsalis as a "talented high-school trumpet player"). And a bizarre photo essay depicts a husband and wife who have worn matching outfits every day for the last 17 years. Time and Newsweek , Feb. 10 (posted Tuesday, Feb. 4) Time has more Star Wars hype on the cover. "The Force Is Back" rehashes recent articles in The New Yorker and Newsweek , concluding that the movie is mythic and wholesome but made Hollywood care more about special effects than about acting. Only new tidbit: Time locates the almost-forgotten Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), who now stars in CD-ROM games. The magazine also chronicles the Madalyn Murray O'Hair saga (see Vanity Fair above). And an article on the upcoming trial of Timothy McVeigh says the defense will emphasize FBI-lab incompetence and witnesses' confusion over John Doe No. 2 (who the FBI now says does not exist). Newsweek 's cover profile of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright admires her charm, toughness, and PR skills. Its lone criticism: Albright has no grand Kissingerian vision. A columnist says that Albright's European-history background will help her set Asia policy, since 21 st -century East Asia will resemble 19 th -century Europe: rich, expanding, and fractious. Also, Newsweek describes the vicious debate about whether there was life on Mars: Pro-life scientists (many at NASA) are ignoring extensive evidence that casts doubt on their claims. And a gruesome story about sexual molestation of boys in Welsh reform schools. U.S. News & World Report , Feb. 10 (posted Tuesday, Feb. 4) The cover story, "The Business of Pornography," salutes the hard-working entrepreneurs of the American sex industry, who gross $8 billion a year--more than Hollywood does at the domestic box office. There are no salacious photos, but amazing statistics abound: U.S. producers churn out 150 new porn videos a year; actresses earn $300 per sex scene and try to shoot two a day; an $8,000 movie can net more than $200,000. The article concludes that porn's popularity would diminish if it were less illicit. Also, "Harlem's Next Renaissance" predicts an economic comeback for the New York neighborhood: Retailers, who have saturated the suburbs, are rushing to Harlem, which is huge (520,000 people), underserved, and surprisingly prosperous. The New Yorker , Feb. 10 (posted Tuesday, Feb. 4) Federal Appeals Court Judge (and former Slate "Diary" author) Alex Kozinski writes about how it feels to deny a death-penalty appeal. A story examines the anti-government protests in Serbia. While protestors do seek democracy, they are wildly nationalistic and refuse to acknowledge Serbia's responsibility for Bosnia's destruction. An article chronicles the funny conflict between archaeologists and New Agers over the Sphinx and Pyramids: The New Agers want access to the monuments to test their woolly theories about Atlantis, secret passageways, and undiscovered ancient civilizations. The archaeologists despise the New Agers, but need their money to fund research and preservation. Weekly Standard , Feb. 10, and The Nation , Feb. 17 (posted Tuesday, Feb. 4) The right-wing and left-wing weeklies both criticize appeasement of China. But the Standard 's target is the Clinton administration, while The Nation 's target is big business. A Standard editorial urges the Senate not to ratify an extradition treaty with Hong Kong. A Nation article exposes how American corporations are lobbying for China: Boeing, AT&T, the Big Three automakers, and other megacompanies have hired PR firms and lobbyists to burnish China's image on Capitol Hill, mostly in hopes of winning it permanent MFN status. A Standard cover profile anoints George Bush (the son) as a presidential prospect for 2000. Why? The Texas governor has championed favorite conservative issues--welfare reform and tort reform, to name two--and he's pushing a huge tax cut. He's also more charismatic than his father. Also, an article endorses the reigning view that Trent Lott is a compromiser, not an ideologue. The Nation , meanwhile, tries to save public education. Eight writers propose their remedies, which include smaller schools, charter schools, literacy programs, and--of course--more money. Also, a story on how abortion is fracturing the African National Congress. --Compiled by David Plotz and the editors of Slate .