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David Bernstein
The Coronation
By David Bernstein
Todd Stroger’s reign as county board president has been marred by chaos, scandal, and deeply unpopular decisions. Here’s the story behind the maneuvering that elevated a political lightweight to one of the most powerful posts in local government  Read more
Chicago Straight
By David Bernstein
The arrest of Governor Rod Blagojevich in December cast a shadowy light on the relationships among four leading players in the Illinois Democratic Party—Blagojevich, Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, and David Axelrod. The new president and his two aides would like to minimize their dealings with the disgraced ex-governor. But the record tells a more complex story Read more
Daley vs. Daley
By David Bernstein
For much of the past half century, a mayor named Daley has towered over Chicago. We compare the reigns of father and son, assessing their triumphs and failures, their impact on the city—and what their enduring dominance at the polls says about us Read more
Political Calculus
By David Bernstein
How the race for president would be different if the Democrats had followed the GOP's lead Read more
Mr. Un-Popularity
By David Bernstein
From our February 2008 issue: Rod Blagojevich was something of a golden boy when he became the governor of Illinois—a young, charismatic champion of change with powerful backers and presidential aspirations. Now he may be the most unpopular governor in the country. A look at how things fell so completely apart Read more
Biography of a Gun
By David Bernstein
FROM OUR ARCHIVES: Tracking the history of a gun used in a recent Chicago shooting provides a revealing account of how guns get into criminals' hands, and how unapproved purchases easily evade the state's gun-control laws. Read more