Cover Story

Obama's Moment

The candidate discusses how George W. Bush messed up, why John McCain turned ugly and what he learned from Bill Clinton. By Eric Bates

PHOTOS: Barack Obama Through the Years
COVER STORY: The Machinery of Hope
COVER STORY: A Conversation With Barack Obama
ARCHIVE: All Barack Obama stories in Rolling Stone

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Can the Republicans Steal the Election?

The GOP is at it again, deterring new voters and discarding Democratic ballots.
By Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Greg Palast

REPORT: The 10 congressional races to watch

INVESTIGATION: Was the 2004 Election Stolen?
VIDEO: Behind the story with Kennedy Jr. and Palast

The Death of a Red State

One rural Colorado voting district is poised to turn left. Is America outgrowing the politics of bigotry?
By Matt Taibbi

NEW BLOG: Taibbi Unbound

FEATURES

The Schooling of Nick Jonas

The teen idol gets a master class from his own idol, Elvis Costello. By Jenny Eliscu

Memo to Hollywood

Give Tom Cruise a reality show, hire Judd Apatow to direct the next Sex and the City, and eight more tips to save pop culture from sucking.

Blitzen Trapper's American Pastoral

How the Oregan band is shaping a new rock scene with hippie anthems for troubled times.
By Brian Hiatt

DOWNLOAD: The title track from Furr

The Nomad Warriors of Ethiopia

A trip among remote African tribes reveals an ancient way of life.
Photo porfolio by Sebastião Salgado

The Last Days of David Foster Wallace

The literary superstar's family and friends reveal the struggles that led to his tragic suicide.
By David Lipsky

AUTHOR Q&A: David Lipsky on reporting the David Foster Wallace story
2000 FEATURE: "The Weasel, Twelve Monkeys and the Shrub: Seven Days in the Life of the Late, Great John McCain" by David Foster Wallace
2001 FEATURE: "The View From Mrs. Thompson's," David Foster Wallace Reflects on 9/11

Inside the Taliban

Scenes from behind the lines of America's latest failed war. By Nir Rosen

PHOTO GALLERY: Nir Rosen's annotated guide to his desert odyssey
VIDEO: Nir Rosen on his experience in Afghanistan

Rock & Roll

Bruce Rocks for Obama

As the election nears, musicians are turning out in full force for candidate Barack Obama, including Bruce Springsteen, who performed for 10,000 people on October 5th in Columbus, Ohio. Get the full story on Springsteen, Jay-Z, the Beastie Boys and other musicians' efforts to get out the vote.

LIVE REPORT: Springsteen Inspires Voters With Passionate Acoustic Set in Philly
LIVE REPORT: Springsteen, Billy Joel Form Supergroup for Obama in NYC

REPORT: Darius Rucker, Bon Jovi Go Nashville

REPORT: G n' R Album Finally Arrives

REPORT: Smashing Pumpkins Prep New Album, 20th-Anniversary Tour

VIDEO: Trailer for Pumpkins DVD If All Goes Wrong

BOOKSHELF: Slim Shady Breaks His Silence: Where He's Been and What's Next

BOOKSHELF: The Untold Stories of John Lennon's Epic Life

INFLUENCES: Ryan Adams: Highlights From His Record Collection

REPORT: New Book Reveals the Private Life of Kurt Cobain

PHOTO GALLERY: Rare photos, journal entries, guitars and more from Cobain Unseen

IN THE STUDIO: David Cook Crafts Heaviest 'American Idol' Album Yet

ON THE ROAD: Kings of Leon Take Manhattan

ON THE ROAD: Madonna Defies Age, Sarah Palin

PHOTOS: Madonna Launches Sticky & Sweet Tour

ON THE ROAD: Austin City Limits and the Rock & Roll Diary

REPORT: Rock Daily's Coverage of Austin City Limits

GUIDE: 2008's Five Best Rock Festivals

Q&A: Lou Reed

PROFILE

How Lucinda Got Her Joy Back

Done with "bad boys," Lucinda Williams found a good man — and crafted her most upbeat album ever

BREAKING

Rachael Yamagata: Piano Girl, Ready to Rock

After a streak of bad luck, the singer-songwriter rebounds with gritty CD

Reviews

AC/DC's Black Ice

Refusing to evolve beyond their classic sound, AC/DC remain timeless.

PLUS: New discs from Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Kaiser Chiefs, Eagles of Death Metal, Queen and Paul Rodgers, T.I., Deerhunter, John Legend, Gang Gang Dance, Snow Patrol, Pink, Ray LaMontagne, Deerhoof, Hank Williams III, Department of Eagles, Aterciopelados, Waylon Jennings, Keane, Raphael Saadiq, The Cure, Brett Dennen, Thenewno2, Ingrid Michaelson, Juana Molina and Jolie Holland

REISSUES: Buena Vista Social Club, Jimmy Hughes, The Replacements, Arthur Russell

VIDEO: Watch Buena Vista Social Club recording landmark 1997 album

ALL REVIEWS

KEY TRACKS: Hear the best of this issue's review section

Movies

A Dog Has Its Day

Can Oliver Stone play fair with George W. Bush without driving you nucular? By Peter Travers

PLUS: Changeling, Filth and Wisdom, I've Loved You So Long, What Just Happened?, Pride and Glory and Let the Right One In

Also In This Issue...

Fricke's Picks

A Better Bang: Norwegian trio BigBang
Recovered Folk-Rock Treasure: Fotheringay

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

FIRST LISTEN: New Bob Dylan radio shows — exclusive previews from Dylan's third season on satellite radio. The topics this time out: money and war.

TINA TURNER IN ROLLING STONE: Revisit Ike and Tina at home in 1971, and follow Kurt Loder on the road with Tina in 1984.

THE POLITICS COVERS: From Nixon to Obama: four decades of National Affairs.

BLOGS: Get ripped with the Smoking Section — New music from George Harrison's son, Dhani. Plus: Rising star Gemma Hayes live.

VIDEO: Queen tour opens to 350,000 people — footage of the band's massive tour opener in Ukraine. Also, hear Queen's greatest tracks, and read a classic Rolling Stone account of the band's 1981 South American tour.