All DC Decoder
Scott Walker 2016? Why his 2014 race is getting tighterIn reverse of the national trend, Gov. Scott Walker's camp sees more enthusiasm among Democrats than Republicans for the November vote. If he fails to win reelection in Wisconsin, that's the end of his Oval Office dreams.
Obama calls for calm in Ferguson: Will that help?In previous high-profile news events where race was a major factor, President Obama spoke out somewhat more forcefully. There could be several reasons he appeared to handle the Ferguson incident differently.
Obama reversal shows difficulty of limiting lobbyists' D.C. cloutFaced with a lawsuit, President Obama has backed off his policy of banning lobbyists from serving on federal commissions and advisory panels. Lobbyists can offer 'technical expertise,' but critics say they also wield 'undue influence.'
Republicans and race: why Mississippi drama mattersAt an emotional meeting in Chicago, the Republican National Committee steered clear of 'race-baiting' allegations in Mississippi's GOP Senate runoff. But the issue of how Republicans reach out to blacks is very much alive.聽
Lamar Alexander: how a Senate moderate is thriving in GOP primarySen. Lamar Alexander voted with Senate Democrats to back immigration reform, yet that doesn't appear to have clobbered his prospects in Thursday's GOP primary.- Do you know the scandal that changed America? Take our Watergate quiz.
Watergate roiled American politics like no scandal before or since. It resulted in President Richard Nixon losing in disgrace the office he had coveted all his life. Some of the highest ranking members of the Nixon administration went to jail as a result of the Watergate break-in, including Attorney General John Mitchell and Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman. In the end 48 US officials and associates were convicted of Watergate-related crimes.
Think you know all about this fascinating piece of history? Try our quiz and see.
Bill Clinton factor: Can he tip Senate race to topple McConnell?Bill Clinton's campaign swing in Kentucky aims to give a boost to Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, who is slipping in the polls in a key Senate race.
Tuesday's primaries offer important lessons in Republican civil warThe tea party failed to beat the vulnerable Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, but it did fend off an establishment challenge against two influential House members. The big takeaway: candidate quality matters.
Here's what the 'do-nothing' Congress actually did do 鈥� and whyA few things have been accomplished since January, even though this Congress is the least productive in two decades, according to a Pew analysis.
Why the Latino vote matters in 2014 midterms: immigrationIn the battle for control of the US Senate, only one key state in 2014 has a significant Latino population. But the midterms are a dress rehearsal for 2016, and both parties see immigration as a defining issue for their voters.
House passes border bill, Senate doesn't. So why does House get the blame?All the attention this week was on House Republicans' stuttering 鈥� but ultimately successful 鈥� attempts to pass a bill to address the border crisis. Yet the Senate failed to pass anything.聽
Congress leaves town: How far can Obama go it alone on border crisis?With emergency funding in limbo, President Obama claims an opening to relieve the child migrant crisis on the border. Legal analysts say there's much that he can do.- Unemployment rate rises in July: why that may be a good sign for economyThe unemployment rate ticked upward to 6.2 percent of the labor force, up from 6.1 percent the month before, according to the Labor Department. Sometimes unemployment can rise even as more people get jobs
Has Obama abused executive power? His 5 most controversial uses. Faced with a balky Congress that is unwilling to move his agenda or compromise on most matters, President Obama says he has no choice but to use executive power. House Speaker John Boehner plans to sue. Here are our picks for Mr. Obama鈥檚 most controversial uses of executive power:
House border bill implodes, and Ted Cruz stands amid wreckageHouse Republican leaders had to scrap their plans to pass a border bill Thursday when a wing of the party revolted. Some Republicans say Sen. Ted Cruz is interfering.
Does Boehner lawsuit hold danger for Obama?President Obama is reaping political benefits from the GOP-controlled House plan to sue him for overreaching his executive authority. But the White House has good reason to take the lawsuit seriously, analysts say.
3 reasons John Boehner opted to sue Obama rather than impeachWhile most Republicans favor impeachment, John Boehner recalls the losses that Republicans sustained in 1998 midterm elections, during the Clinton impeachment.
GDP grows at 4 percent pace. Good news for Democrats and Obama, right?The 4 percent rise in GDP last quarter continues a string of modest but good economic news, yet the party in power doesn't seem to be getting much of the credit. That could be important this November.
Child migrant crisis: why Congress is getting nowhere on solving itAmericans are puzzled why lawmakers can't come to terms on child immigrant crisis. But the politics are tough and the issue has morphed into a debate about immigration.
Good news on health costs, but threats to Social Security and Medicare persistFinance experts caution against thinking that slower growth in the cost of health care means Congress can rest easy about so-called 鈥渆ntitlement bombs鈥� ticking in the federal budget.
