All DC Decoder
Chuck Todd kicks off 'Meet the Press' gig with Obama. Can he boost ratings?NBC鈥檚 'Meet the Press' has seen its ratings drop in recent years. Can new moderator Chuck Todd turn things around, or will be it the same old Sunday TV talking heads?
Jobs report: not necessarily a job-killer for Democrats facing votersUS job growth fell short of expectations just two months away from an election. But it's not likely to be fatal for Democrats. The economy is still a top priority for voters, but not at the previous level of intensity.
Kansas shakeup could ruin GOP Senate takeoverThe Democrat has suddenly quit the race, leaving Sen. Pat Roberts (R) to face Greg Orman, a well-funded independent. The Orman factor adds new uncertainty.
What if Republicans take over the Senate?If Republicans control both houses of Congress, gridlock might only worsen. But it's possible GOP leaders and Obama find a way to deal. Republican senators are already working on an agenda for 2015.
Michigan Senate race: Can outsider millions make climate change an issue?Outside groups backed by the Koch brothers on the right and environmentalist billionaire Tom Steyer on the left are pumping millions into a race that tests whether climate issues can play well for Democrats in moderate states.
Islamic State 101: What the US is doing to counter the threat Pentagon officials have a mantra when it comes to taking on the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL: The US military may be able to use American weapons to blunt the advance of IS, but any lasting change will have to come through political reform.
Obama ponders action against Islamic State extremists. What do Americans think?Pew finds most Americans think President Obama is 'not tough enough' on foreign policy and national security. But most also are war-weary and don鈥檛 think the US has a responsibility to 'do something about the violence in Iraq.'
No Islamic State strategy? Obama gets lots of unsought advicePresident Obama says 'We don鈥檛 have a strategy yet' for confronting the Islamic State extremist group in Iraq and Syria. That鈥檚 left him open to criticism and unsolicited advice.
Bob McDonnell: Is once popular Virginia governor headed for prison?Former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen face federal charges involving bribery and conspiracy for accepting lavish gifts from the promoter of a dietary supplement. The case goes to the jury next Tuesday.
Why is Jimmy Carter speaking at Muslim convention?Top Bush and Obama figures have also addressed the Islamic Society of North America. But former President Carter attracts criticism because he has called for the US to recognize Hamas, which the State Department labels a terrorist group.
Florida smackdown: Why Crist vs. Scott is marquee governor's race of 2014The race pits a former Republican governor against the current Republican governor in a race that has already been nasty and expensive. The women's vote will be key.
Jim Jeffords: Do small states give lawmakers a cushion of independence?Support for Jim Jeffords鈥� decision to quit the Republican Party and swing control of the Senate back to Democrats was mixed in national public opinion polling, but it was received much more favorably in his home state of Vermont.
Birth control mandate: HHS offers new way for religious employersThe Obama administration announced an accommodation Friday aimed at ensuring access to free birth control for women who work for religious employers. But religious groups expressed skepticism.聽
Shaheen-Brown race tightens in N.H., poll shows. Is Obama to blame?Suddenly, N.H. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) and former Mass. Sen. Scott Brown (R) are only two points apart. The last Granite State Poll had them 12 points apart. But the shift may not be as big as it seems.
Mitch McConnell's talk of showdown with Obama: Anything out of the ordinary?If Republicans take back the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell can try to load up must-pass spending bills with poison pills President Obama won't like. But that doesn't mean these measures become law or government shuts down.
Should President Obama go to Ferguson?Obama has sent Attorney General Eric Holder to Ferguson, Mo., amid racially charged unrest. That probably buys the president time. But for the first black president, it's a no-win situation.聽
No tea party break for Democrats in AlaskaDan Sullivan, former Alaska attorney general, won the Republican Senate primary Tuesday 鈥� not tea partyer Joe Miller. Now Sen. Mark Begich (D) is in for a battle royale.
Joni Ernst, the next Sarah Palin? GOP fights back.Democrats, eager to hold onto the Senate, are seeking to portray Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst (R) as the next Sarah Palin. Not so fast, say Republicans, who put out a seven-minute web bio on Ernst.
Ferguson: How Pentagon鈥檚 '1033 program' helped militarize small-town policeThe Pentagon鈥檚 鈥�1033 program鈥� has provided billions of dollars in military equipment to law enforcement agencies across the country. Critics say this militarization of local police needs to change.
Americans say what ails the economy: It's politicsIn an heartening sign, most Americans think the country's economic problems are solvable. The problem is they have little confidence Congress will solve them.
