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Explainer

Beer Barrel Politics

When did alcohol become so heavily taxed?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at 3:59 PM ET

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Democracy or Gerontocracy

Is Congress getting older?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at 2:05 PM ET

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How Many Times Can You Recycle a Piece of Paper?

And why does China buy your crumpled Christmas-present wrappings?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at 11:40 AM ET

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Capitol Christmas Gifts

Do ethics rules ruin Christmas for our legislators?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012, at 11:35 AM ET

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What Would Jesus Burn?

Whatever happened to frankincense and myrrh?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, at 1:06 PM ET

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Is the Second Amendment the Second Most Important?

The order of the Bill of Rights is an argument for gun control.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, at 3:45 PM ET

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Does Anyone Still Practice the Mayan Religion?

If the world ends Friday, someone should get to take the credit.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at 4:08 PM ET

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Do Armed Citizens Stop Mass Shootings?

A history of intervention attempts.

Forrest Wickman | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at 7:27 PM ET

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Where Can I Fire My Gun?

A mini-Explainer on how states regulate the discharge of firearms.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at 5:49 PM ET

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Why Is the NRA So Powerful?

How the gun lobby leverages modest resources into outsized influence.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at 3:33 PM ET

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The Unanswered Questions, 2012 Edition

Why do the rich and famous always sunbathe topless? Plus other bafflers from the Explainer's year-end roundup.

Daniel Engber | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at 9:15 AM ET

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The Gun Glossary

What’s a semi-automatic? What counts as an assault weapon?

Mark Joseph Stern | EXPLAINER | Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, at 6:14 PM ET

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Is John Boehner Allowed To Lower the Flag to Half-Staff?

A mini-Explainer on who controls the height of Old Glory.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, at 3:26 PM ET

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What Did Kids Read Before Hans Christian Andersen?

Homer, among other things.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, at 3:43 PM ET

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Whose Smile Is It, Anyway?

Can researchers reconstruct the smile of the real Mona Lisa from skeletal remains?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, at 4:14 PM ET

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Why Are Anti-Union Laws Called “Right To Work”?

A mini-Explainer on the history of management’s favorite political catchphrase.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at 4:51 PM ET

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All the Pontiff’s Men

How do you get a job on a Vatican council?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at 3:16 PM ET

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Congratulations. Tell No One.

How secretive are awards for CIA agents?

Forrest Wickman | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, at 6:32 PM ET

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Is It Better To See a Younger Doctor or an Older Doctor?

A mini-Explainer on youth versus experience in medical practice.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, at 1:49 PM ET

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The Season of Renewal and Suicide

Why are people more likely to kill themselves in springtime than during the holidays?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at 3:12 PM ET

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Rocky Mountain Contact High

A mini-Explainer on the potency of secondhand marijuana smoke.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, at 3:34 PM ET

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When Felines Attack

Do house cats ever kill people?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, at 1:49 PM ET

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Terrible Swimmers

Why are men so bad at making sperm cells?

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at 3:52 PM ET

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Can You Really Drink Yourself Blind?

Bonus: Can you cure yourself by drinking even more?

Forrest Wickman | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, at 6:34 PM ET

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What Should You Do if You’re Pushed Onto Subway Tracks?

Think fast.

Brian Palmer | EXPLAINER | Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, at 4:26 PM ET

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Explainer

When did alcohol become so heavily taxed?

Is Congress getting older?

And why does China buy your crumpled Christmas-present wrappings?

Do ethics rules ruin Christmas for our legislators?

Whatever happened to frankincense and myrrh?

The order of the Bill of Rights is an argument for gun control.

If the world ends Friday, someone should get to take the credit.

A history of intervention attempts.

A mini-Explainer on how states regulate the discharge of firearms.

How the gun lobby leverages modest resources into outsized influence.

Why do the rich and famous always sunbathe topless? Plus other bafflers from the Explainer's year-end roundup.

What’s a semi-automatic? What counts as an assault weapon?

A mini-Explainer on who controls the height of Old Glory.

Homer, among other things.

Can researchers reconstruct the smile of the real Mona Lisa from skeletal remains?

A mini-Explainer on the history of management’s favorite political catchphrase.

How do you get a job on a Vatican council?

How secretive are awards for CIA agents?

A mini-Explainer on youth versus experience in medical practice.

Why are people more likely to kill themselves in springtime than during the holidays?

A mini-Explainer on the potency of secondhand marijuana smoke.

Do house cats ever kill people?

Why are men so bad at making sperm cells?

Bonus: Can you cure yourself by drinking even more?

Think fast.

From The Root & Foreign Policy