# What's the best source of information for extremely complex legal/political issues? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-source-of-information-for-extremely-complex-legal-political-issues/397338 "2007-03-24T17:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-source-of-information-for-extremely-complex-legal-political-issues/397338/1 "2007-03-24T17:42:03Z")
I would like to understand more about the current U.S. Attorneys/Gonzales/We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Transcripts scandal but, as I’m sure is the case with many Dopers and most Americans, it’s simply not easy to play along at home when you have no expertise in the highly complex field of Constitutional law. It’s not the first time that I’d like to understand something much better than I do but can’t really find a “The Least You Need to Know for Dummies & Idiots” style primer. I’ve used wikipedia but I’m never sure of their reliability and due to the wikinature the quality of writing and content varies widely and frequently. Can anybody recommend any sources other than Wikipedia that give good “user friendly” backgrounds and introductions to current events? Thanks j ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-source-of-information-for-extremely-complex-legal-political-issues/397338/2 "2007-03-24T18:09:33Z")
You might explore: [talkingpointsmemo.com](http://talkingpointsmemo.com) I suppose I’ll be laughed at, for recommending it but I think the people there make an effort to speak the truth. And at the top of the list is an article entitled, **White House: Fredo still has the President’s support.**. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-source-of-information-for-extremely-complex-legal-political-issues/397338/3 "2007-03-24T18:27:43Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] I would like to understand more about the current U.S. Attorneys/Gonzales/We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Transcripts scandal but, as I’m sure is the case with many Dopers and most Americans, it’s simply not easy to play along at home when you have no expertise in the highly complex field of Constitutional law. It’s not the first time that I’d like to understand something much better than I do but can’t really find a “The Least You Need to Know for Dummies & Idiots” style primer. I’ve used wikipedia but I’m never sure of their reliability and due to the wikinature the quality of writing and content varies widely and frequently. Can anybody recommend any sources other than Wikipedia that give good “user friendly” backgrounds and introductions to current events? Thanks j [/QUOTE] I seem to recall that you’re a librarian. Probably the best source for unbiased coverage of current political events is Congressional Quarterly. Try [http://library.cqpress.com/](http://library.cqpress.com/) and I’ll bet you’ll have access to a host of databases through your school. Also look at CQ Weekly for coverage of current events on the Hill. There is a good short article on there right now titled "U.S. Attorneys Walk Thin but Bright Lines ". ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-source-of-information-for-extremely-complex-legal-political-issues/397338/4 "2007-03-24T18:31:08Z")
My recommendation would be journals or textbooks that are well-respected in whatever field you’re trying to study. Most journals have websites and some offer free articles but to get the best content you may have to hie yourself to your local university’s reading room. Here’s the [Librarian’s Internet Index](http://lii.org/) which is an extensive collection of reviewed sites. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-source-of-information-for-extremely-complex-legal-political-issues/397338/5 "2007-03-25T01:51:45Z")
This political blog has pretty good coverage on the issue: [http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/](http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-source-of-information-for-extremely-complex-legal-political-issues/397338/6 "2007-03-25T02:54:54Z")
There are a few places I use that may help. [Balkinization](http://balkin.blogspot.com/), a blog from a Yale Law Professor (and his contributors). It’s pretty good for quick and dirty analysis of most legal issues. Another blog that sometimes helps me is [The Volokh Conspiracy](http://volokh.com/#contact) which is much more theoretical and covers more obscure legal issues. Just a couple of ideas to help out. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-source-of-information-for-extremely-complex-legal-political-issues/397338/7 "2007-03-25T06:23:44Z")
Why not here?