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Before They Were Movies
Every weekend, Longform shares a collection of great stories from its archive with Slate. For daily picks of new and classic nonfiction, check out Longform or follow @longform on Twitter. Have an iPad? Download Longform?s app to read the latest picks, plus features from 70 of the world?s best magazines, including Slate.
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Rob Ford, Spam, and the Quintessential Summer Cocktail
?Obama?s Post-9/11 World: While the president said nothing new about drone strikes, he appears ready to take real risks to close Gitmo,? by Fred Kaplan. Kaplan analyzes President Obama?s counterterrorism speech on Thursday, writing that although the president?s renewed attention to closing the Guantánamo detention center is encouraging, his defense of drone strikes merely echoes a Justice Department white paper released in February. Elsewhere on Slate, Eric Posner writes that Obama?s speech underlines how similar the pesident?s national security policies are to those of George W. Bush.
The Cruz Missile
Sen. Ted Cruz doesn?t have as many friends as he says he does. In the latest round of  Cruz?s simmering debate with Sen. John McCain (who labeled Cruz a "wacko bird"), Cruz spoke of "my friend, the senior senator from Arizona" while painting him as out of touch with his party and country. It usually takes a while for senators to learn how to weaponize compliments and imprecations of friendship, but Cruz is a quick study. After a patient attack on McCain's understanding of history, Cruz said: "I know my friend from Arizona is well aware of that because he is such an esteemed historian of this body." Like use of the word "frankly," which in Washington means just the opposite, Cruz?s sentence is best read in reverse: McCain is neither a friend, esteemed, nor a historian. (He is still, however, from Arizona.)
Behind the Candelabra
After you've seen Behind the Candelabra, come back and listen to our Spoiler Special.
Before Midnight Isn?t About Us, but It Sure Feels That Way
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Before Midnight.
Immigration Lessons From the NBA
Saturday night, I?ll be watching the San Antonio Spurs attempt to go up 3?0 against the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA?s Western Conference Finals. Leading the charge will be the Spurs? Belgian-born point guard Tony Parker, Brazilian power forward Tiago Splitter, and Argentine sixth man Manu Ginobili.* Boris Diaw, also from France, should get major minutes off the bench as well. The Grizzlies have a much more heavily American roster, but their stifling defense is anchored by Spanish center Marc Gasol.
The an Apple a Day Keeps the Taxes Away Gabfest
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Scout?s Dishonor
In a clear effort to appease a divided membership, the Boy Scouts of America has voted to change its national policy on homosexuality: It will now allow gay youth to become and remain scouts, but it will still ban adult leaders ?who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA.? A spokesman told me the focus is on youth so as to ensure that the Scouts can ?provide kids a place to belong while they learn and grow.?
Scalia vs. Roberts
Last June, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Antonin Scalia went at each other over Obamacare. Roberts famously joined with the court?s liberals to uphold most of the health care law, handing the president a victory, while Scalia voted with the court?s conservative bloc to kill the law. In the process, Roberts celebrated judicial restraint, which counsels against striking down acts of Congress, and Scalia mouthed Tea Party talking points, which promote going after federal laws and regulation by any means necessary. Now the two conservative justices are dueling again?only they?ve switched sides.
Before Midnight
After you've seen Before Midnight, come back and listen to our Spoiler Special by clicking here.