Maureen Ryan

TV critic, The Huffington Post

It's not just that Gandolfini was transfixing as Tony Soprano -- he was transfixing in so many ways.

Robert Reich

Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley; Author, 'Beyond Outrage'

It's as if they didn't learn a thing from 2012. Republicans are on the same suicide mission as before -- trying to block immigration reform, roll back the clock on abortion rights, and stop gay marriage wherever possible.

Fred Rich

Author, 'Christian Nation'

A fanatical fundamentalist minority is a dangerous thing in any culture, and even the strongest democracy can become vulnerable when buffeted by economic distress and external shocks, such as major terrorist attacks.

Will Bunch

Author, 'Tear Down This Myth'

In both Turkey and Brazil, it has been the reckless brutality of the security forces -- captured on smartphones and broadcast to a whole world that's watching -- that has caused the protests to grow. Will the United States go down the same road?

Melissa Sher

Writer and blogger, Mammalingo.com

Just like famous folks have to put up with their share of difficulties (Gwyneth Paltrow told USA Today the Met Ball was soooo hot and crowded this year), pregnant women have to put up with some common annoyances too. Ours come in the form of people.

Nina Bahadur

Assistant Editor, HuffPost Women

I feel for Miss Utah. I can't imagine what it's like to have millions of people on the Internet discussing what an idiot you are and saying it's a good thing you're pretty since your brains won't get you far. Here are four reasons we should just leave her alone.

Christopher Hayes

Host, 'All In with Chris Hayes'

The 33-year-old reporter and author died early Tuesday morning in a car wreck -- a brutal, tragic loss that has robbed the world of an exemplary journalist, and singularly talented writer. He wrote detailed, diligent, riveting reportorial prose and he was also kind, generous, charming and earnest.

Martha Burk

Money Editor, Ms. magazine; director, Corporate Accountability Project, National Council of Women's Organizations

House Speaker John Boehner told reporters the GOP's abortion ban that passed the House 228-196 on Tuesday won't change the party's relationship with women. He's half right. It won't change the party's relationship with women, because women already hate the GOP.

Foodbeast

Gone are the days of dirtying piles of cups, crying over spilled milk, and failed attempts to fit your cookie into an uncooperative glass.

Melinda Gates

Co-chair, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

When Germany and other wealthy nations came together to create the Global Fund a decade ago, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria were leading causes of death in developing countries. But world leaders recognized that they could make dramatic gains against these three diseases.

Eric Boehlert

Senior Fellow, Media Matters for America

There's been surprisingly little media discussion about whether Chicago's strict gun laws, routinely ridiculed by the right-wing, might actually be working. While it's difficult to determine why crime rises and falls, to blame a policy when rates rise and ignore it when they drop doesn't make sense.

Liftopia

Who you should be following on Instagram for breathtaking pictures from the slopes to the surf.

Jared Bernstein

Fmr. Obama administration economist; CNBC and MSNBC contributor

Opponents who wanted to make the case that comprehensive reform of our current "system" would be a net cost just got some pretty bad news.

Susan Campos

Beautyundercover.com

Last week, my ex-husband and his wife took residence in a shiny new split-level some 15 short steps from the Los Angeles home I share with my teen-aged son. When I informed my friends and family they thought we were crazy. But isn't it better to make an ex an ally rather than an enemy?

Howard Fineman

Editorial director, Huffington Post Media Group

It's a crucial statistic, and it animates the ferocious debate about immigration now consuming Congress: Of the 12 million Hispanic Americans who voted in 2012, only some 4 million voted for the Republican presidential candidate.

Rep. Steve Israel

Congressman from New York's 3rd Congressional District

I'm proud to represent an area of Long Island that has been the location for many famous movies and TV shows. Shamefully, it's also now the location for a show whose characters are disgraceful, misleading, and fuel anti-Semitic stereotypes: Princesses: Long Island.

Sharyn Bires

Publisher, 'San Francisco Brides'

While you're saving yourself for your crush, he's out there living his life -- and you're wasting your time.

Nell Minow

Co-founder, GMI Ratings; Movie critic

What's the very first thing you do when you wake up? If your answer is "check my email," "curse my alarm clock," or "start making a to-do list," you are missing the chance to begin your day with the sense of peace and purpose that will give you focus.

Joyce McFadden

Psychoanalyst, author of 'Your Daughter's Bedroom: Insights for Raising Confident Women'

As her father, you have the power to make certain she knows your love is steadfast, and that she won't have to choose between your love and her maturation.

Chelsea Clinton

Board member, Clinton Foundation

The astounding number of disconnected youth also creates long-term risks for our country. To address the significant challenges posed by youth disconnection, we must develop and implement effective solutions targeting specific needs of specific populations.

Mike Hogan

Executive Arts and Entertainment Editor, The Huffington Post Media Group

Don Draper doesn't kill people. He doesn't cook or deal drugs. He doesn't oversee an organized-crime syndicate. Hell, he doesn't even use the F-word. But there's no question he's a bastard. He lies. He cheats. He undermines his colleagues in ways both overt and underhanded. And yet, in spite of it all, there has always been something about Don that makes us love him anyway. We know what a scoundrel he is, but we just can't quit him.

Julie Jensen

Wife, mother, digital media veteran, stroke survivor

I'm sure I'd still be searching for fulfillment if I didn't receive a wake-up call on September 30, 2004. I was 26 when I was wheeled into the ER and a nurse asked if I knew what was happening. "I think I had a stroke," I muttered. "Ma'am, you are HAVING a stroke."

William Astore

Writer, Professor, Retired Lt. Colonel, Air Force

How about some truly fresh thinking on national security? Here are five ideas that are more visionary than anything our sclerotic and self-absorbed bureaucracy will ever produce.

Bonnie Fuller

President & Editor-in-Chief, HollywoodLife.com

Miley Cyrus, you may take heat for your adventurous new video that boldly celebrates the joys of being young, female and sexy. But ignore the dissers -- "We Can't Stop" is an anthem you deserve to be proud of!

Janus Adams

Emmy Award-winning journalist, historian and producer

This Freedom Day reminds us that only by confronting what is wrong can we make things right. To see ourselves as part of the struggle is to empower ourselves as part of the solution.

Elia Saikaly

Adventure Filmmaker/Social entrepreneur, Founder of FindingLife

My goal was to bring to life the majestic beauty of the Himalayas and draw attention away from the negativity that has surrounded Everest in the past years. I wanted to remind people of the infinite possibility that the tallest mountain on Earth symbolizes in each of us.

Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Photographer and filmmaker

It was California Proposition 8 that pushed us to make -- perhaps angered us to make -- The Out List in the first place. It airs on HBO, June 27th, the 44th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

Barbara Lee

President, Barbara Lee Political Office and Barbara Lee Family Foundation

Asking if men -- for whom societal structures have been working pretty favorably forever -- can "have it all" strikes a nerve with some women. Rightfully so. Perhaps it is because women are what's missing from this budding Daddy Wars conversation.

Marcus Byrne

U.S. Army officer

I've survived 30 months of deployment, jumping out of airplanes, field time in Germany in the winter. Anxiety is something that happens to other people, to weaker people, not me.