David Isenberg, 03/08/12

Author, 'Shadow Force: Private Security Contractors in Iraq'

Given that some of the people the Koch brothers want to put on CATO's board are firmly in the neocon camp, one doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to see that a Koch-controlled CATO Institute is one big win for unbridled militarism and one big setback for those advocating small government and individual liberty.

Bill McKibben, 03/08/12

Author of a dozen books, including 'The End of Nature' and 'Deep Economy'

A year ago almost no one had heard of the pipeline. Even four months ago, a poll of 300 "energy insiders" still found 97 percent predicting it would get its permit. But it didn't -- TransCanada can of course re-apply, but that will be another battle, down the road.

Regina Weinreich, 03/08/12

Co-producer and director, 'Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider'

For the same reasons that Sarah Palin is a riveting figure in American politics, the HBO movie Game Change is an astonishingly smart look at her and the world that put her in the position of John McCain's running mate in the 2008 presidential election.

Rep. Frank R. Wolf, 03/07/12

U.S. Representative for Virginia's 10th District

I recently returned from several days in South Sudan -- specifically Yida refugee camp, where I encountered bone-chilling stories of the nightmare unfolding in the Southern Kordofan.

Tom Fox, 03/06/12

Vice President, Partnership for Public Service's Center for Government Leadership

Do men and women working for the federal government have different perceptions of their jobs and work environments?

Richard (RJ) Eskow, 03/07/12

Host of "The Breakdown," Writer, and Senior Fellow, Campaign for America's Future

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer is determined to advance his own career at the expense of middle-class Americans -- so much so that he's ignoring political common sense and the desires of most Americans, including most Republicans.

Susanna Murley, 03/07/12

Web Editor, Planet Forward

Trees and plants help cool the city, which reduces the need for energy-hogging air conditioners while also providing valuable ecosystem services like reduced water runoff, filtration, and habitats for city critters.

Tom Vander Ark, 03/08/12

Blogger, GettingSmart.com

D.C. is an edtech hotspot with a rich mixture of great universities, incubators, venture capital, and talent. Companies like Learn Zillion are improving schools and cities.

Laura Kumin, 03/07/12

Blogger, Mother Would Know

Experienced cooks may not find much new in these tips. But for those who find the array of cooking oils in the grocery store to be mystifying, if not confounding, these tips may help.

Patricia McGuire, 03/08/12

President, Trinity Washington University

If the school reformers truly believe that teachers are the key to the success of children --- and I agree, they certainly are one of the keys --- then the reformers must reconsider the mindless application of the deadly algorithm.

Michael B. Keegan, 03/06/12

President, People For the American Way

How hard is it to say that women who advocate for insurance coverage for contraceptives should be heard and shouldn't be called prostitutes for stating their position on the topic? Is it really worth compromising basic decency to stay in the good graces of Rush Limbaugh?

Tamar Abrams, 03/08/12

Communications Strategist

If you want to sign legislation that makes abortions difficult for the women of Virginia to obtain, just admit to it. But don't pick and choose who has a "right to know" what and when and why.

Eyal Press, 03/06/12

Author, Beautiful Souls: Saying No, Breaking Ranks and Heeding the Voice of Conscience in Dark Times

What's worse: to be persecuted and indicted for trying to expose an act of wrongdoing -- or to be ignored for doing so?

Scott Mendelson, 03/06/12

Film critic at Mendelson's Memos, Valley Scene Magazine

Detachment works as a powerful character study and a searing indictment of the institutional disinterest in education that allows seemingly dedicated educators to eventually become as much a problem as a solution.