(FORTUNE Magazine) – So Bill's still here, Newt's all gone, and Jesse "the Body" is the hottest new face in politics. For unexpected thrills and chills, nothing beats an American election. But what fascinates Jeffrey Birnbaum, our man in Washington, D.C., is the action that occurs between electoral rounds, when the lights die down and legislators, congressional staffers, and White House aides--joined by former legislators, staffers, and aides (i.e., lobbyists)--quietly gather to raise money, trade votes, argue policy, and cut deals.

That's the political news that matters to business, and nobody covers it better. In "The Influence Merchants," Jeff serves up his second annual Washington Power 25, the ultimate guide to clout in the capital. Alongside ratings of the top special-interest groups, he's added a ranking of individual firms on K Street, plus loads of delicious details on how lobbying really works.

Beyond the doings of the town's permanent establishment, there's a new show in Washington: the Microsoft antitrust trial. Covering this epochal event is Joe Nocera, a masterful teller of business sagas. You'll find his latest trial diary on page 122. Also check out "Closing In on the Cancer Vaccine," by David Stipp, who just shared a prestigious National Association of Science Writers award for a pre-Viagra story on impotence. Like Jeff and Joe, David's a guy you can trust to cut through the hoopla--and get it right.