Worries about the fiscal cliff are beginning to sound like predictions from the Mayan calendar. Dave Weigel, political reporter from Slate, tries to demystify the smoke and mirrors of Washington politics.

In the days since the shooting in Aurora, Colorado, the National Rifle Association hasn’t engaged with the debates about gun control. But the organization has been busy elsewhere: At the United Nations.

The results are in. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney edged a narrow victory in Ohio, the most hotly contested state, and Massachusetts, Virginia, Vermont, Idaho and Alaska. Elsewhere, Rick Santorum won Oklahoma and Tennessee and Newt Gingrich won his home state of Georgia. But what do these results mean for the rest of the GOP campaign? And do they tell us anything about how the country will vote in November?

After Super Tuesday, the GOP contest is no longer all over the map. The candidates' speeches last night reflected their current status: Romney as the tentative frontrunner, Santorum the conservative with a headwind, Gingrich a factor but probably not a player, and Ron Paul as the embodiment of voter anger.