Gary Rivlin

Gary Rivlin

The gap between rich and poor ("Plutocracy Now") is a special obsession of MoJo political blogger Kevin Drum.

Former New York Times reporter Gary Rivlin ("1040 Slea-ze") immersed himself in the world of check-cashers, payday lenders, and others whose empires feed off low-income workers for his latest book, Broke, USA. He’s come across tax-prep chains that ask as much to do simple returns as his CPA charges to decode his daunting self-employed tax situation.

David Samuels

David Samuels

While shooting "Where the Buffalo Roam," Matt Slaby got close enough to the wild herd to nearly make himself a Darwin Awards contender. The story’s author, David Samuels, writes regularly for The New Yorker and The Atlantic.

Illustrator Bill Mayer ("Predator vs. Alien") has received numerous awards for his zany posters, calendars, children’s books, and erotic penguin comic, Bebo.

Bill Mayer

Bill Mayer

Jim Rendon ("Lone Star"), who has written for the New York Times Magazine and Outside, calls Dan Rather a "Southern gentleman."

Jim Rendon

Jim Rendon

Christopher Anderson

Christopher Anderson

Rather was shot by Magnum’s Christopher Anderson, author of the monographs Nonfiction and Capitolio.

Kiera Butler

Kiera Butler

Articles editor Kiera Butler, who braved the woods ("Ranches With Wolves") and deserts ("Death Panels") to report on threatened species for this issue, once had a pet tortoise named Gabe.