Bethany McLean is a senior writer at Fortune. McLean joined Fortune as a reporter at 1995, and soon began writing pieces on everything from 401(k) plans to the latest innovations in biotechnology. In early 2001, she wrote a skeptical story about Enron, which was then a high-flying company with a stock price of around $80 a share. Her story asked the simple question, “How does Enron make money?” and is widely viewed as the first questioning story about the company to run in a national publication. Along with another senior writer at Fortune named Peter Elkind, she began to work on a book, and in the fall of 2003, Penguin published The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron.

Since March 1994, Larry Elder has hosted “The Larry Elder Show” on KABC Talk Radio in Los Angeles. A self-described fiscal conservative and social liberal, he presents himself as the “Sage From South Central.” Elder sizzles the airwaves with his thoughtful insight on the day’s most provocative issues, to the delight, consternation, and entertainment of Southern California listeners. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Elder attended Brown University, receiving a BA in political science in 1974. He then attended University of Michigan, School of Law, graduating in 1977.

One of the most prominent American political commentators, Dick Morris is almost universally credited with piloting Bill Clinton to a stunning comeback re-election victory in 1996 after the president lost Congress to the Republicans two years before. In addition to Clinton, Morris has handled the winning campaigns for more than 30 Senators or Governors, including Republican Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and former Governors Bill Weld of Massachusetts and Pete Wilson of California. In recent years, Morris has turned to foreign campaigns and served as chief strategist for Mexico’s reformer Vicente Fox in his upset victory in July, 2000 over the PRI after the party had ruled the nation for 71 years. He also handled the winning campaign for the new president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon.