Economist, Nov. 6

The cover story celebrates the 10^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Twenty-seven countries have sprouted out of the former Soviet bloc, and ethnicity has replaced ideology as Europe's primary source of friction. Despite the growing pains of economic reform, including income contraction and worsening public health, a "free-market consensus" has emerged in the ex-Communist countries. ... A survey argues that Britain is dematerializing. Power is being passed upward to the European Union and downward to new parliaments in Scotland and Wales. ... A column claims that America has gone too far in its war against "the new evil empire"--tobacco. Anti-smoking billboards clog the streets, and smokers are ostracized.

New Republic, Nov. 22

The cover story claims that the Reform Party is kaput. After Ross Perot's 1992 run, the mainstream parties assimilated his deficit-reduction platform. Campaign-finance reform was also co-opted. Without a cogent contrarian platform, a protest party is doomed. ... A piece declares John McCain the victor in last week's Republican debate. His congeniality made him look presidential next to the loony Alan Keyes. The piece also argues that George W. Bush's draft-dodging, triangulating, and poll-tracking allow his Republican opponents to tar him as Clintonian. (Read Slate's review of the debates.)

New York Times Magazine, Nov. 7

A cover package on Eastern European dissidents, 10 years after revolution. A profile of Adam Michnik traces how Solidarity's key strategist steered Poland through "a reasonable revolution." Michnik forged the worker-intellectual-church alliance that peacefully overturned Poland's Communist regime. As the "conscience of the new Poland" and the editor of a successful newspaper, Michnik rationalizes economic growing pains as "the inevitable cost of joining the West" and advocates reconciliation with former Communists. ... In an interview, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa faults the West for not doing enough to rebuild Poland's economy and complains that ex-Communists have prospered. ... An article argues that Americans are pessimistic, despite plummeting crime and unemployment rates, because the ideologically entrenched will not accept that the country can thrive without religion in the classroom or a paleoliberal in the White House.

American Prospect, Nov. 23

The liberal policy magazine switches from a quarterly to a glossy biweekly. An article predicts that George W. Bush will not be the next president. The affable, backslapping governor is too much like Bill Clinton. Voters disillusioned with the current president will elect the anti-Clinton--perhaps John McCain. ... A piece argues that a Bush presidency would dramatically alter constitutional law. The Republican jurists who are on deck for Supreme Court nominations--J. Michael Luttig, Emilio M. Garza--are ultraconservative. A rightward tilt in the Rehnquist court could jeopardize abortion rights and the separation between church and state. ... An essay argues that television has reversed childhood and adulthood. Shows such as Dawson's Creek feature teens who act like adults, while shows such as Ally McBeal portray adulthood as "an extended adolescence."

Time, Nov. 8

The first of five special issues about the 21^st century imagines health and environment in the future. An item speculates that sex "will be more for recreation than procreation," because parents will choose to clone themselves or genetically engineer "designer babies." ... A piece predicts that microscopic sensors in everything from toilets to toothbrushes will provide "automated checkups" and enable physicians to consult with patients through the Web. ... An exclusive report reveals that controversial feminist Naomi Wolf is advising the Gore campaign on how to win the women's vote. Wolf, whose $15,000 per month retainer was just cut to $5,000, urged Gore to condemn President Clinton for his sexual foibles and to become an "alpha male." ... An article reports that five tits-and-action TV shows are following in the profitable footsteps of Pamela Anderson Lee's V.I.P., including Relic Hunter, starring Tia Carrere as a female Indiana Jones, and Amazon, featuring former model Carol Alt as a babe in the jungle.