Former Coal Mining CEO Found Guilty in Deadly Mine Explosion Case

Chris Thompson · 12/03/15 08:15PM

The former Chairman and CEO of the Massey Energy Company was convicted Thursday of a federal charge of conspiring to violate mine safety standards, in the case of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in 2010, in which 29 miners were killed in a coal dust explosion.

Is This a Dick or What?

Ashley Feinberg · 12/03/15 01:01PM

This morning, an all white marble bust of Dick Cheney was unveiled after what amounted to a series of very uncomfortable jokes tip-toeing around the former Vice President’s role in 9/11. It was a beautiful ceremony.

Emails: Politico’s Mike Allen Repeatedly Promised “No Surprises” Interview to Senior Democratic Lawmaker

J.K. Trotter · 12/03/15 12:16PM

Politico correspondent Mike Allen has insisted that his obsequious attempts to secure an interview with Chelsea Clinton, in which Allen promised to conduct a “no risk” exchange and to clear interview questions beforehand, did not reflect his normal practices or Politico’s editorial standards. New emails obtained by Gawker, however, indicate Allen has repeatedly offered similar terms to at least one politician on Capitol Hill.

A Theological Debate

Hamilton Nolan · 12/03/15 11:48AM

Here are today’s front pages of New York City’s two tabloid newspapers. Which one is “better?”

Gutting the IRS Is a Remarkably Bad Idea

Hamilton Nolan · 12/03/15 10:48AM

The IRS—the department that collects all the money that funds everything the U.S. government wants to do—is being slowly gutted. What could go wrong?