All DC Decoder
State of the Union speech: Did Obama give up on Congress? Not exactly.In the State of the Union address, President Obama called 2014 a 'year of action.' But he made clear he wants Congress to be part of the action. If not, he will act alone, though in limited ways.
State of the Union speech: what to expect on the issuesThis State of the Union address will cover the waterfront, from jobs to Afghanistan, but presidents always throw in a few new nuggets. Obama's big theme this year is income inequality.聽
Obama hikes minimum wage for federal contractors: How many will it help?President Obama's executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers sets that stage for his State of the Union address Tuesday, which will touch on income inequality.
Tea party gets Mike Lee to answer Obama. Why he might surprise.Sen. Mike Lee (R) of Utah will give the tea party response to Obama's State of the Union message Tuesday. He made a name for himself taking on Obamacare, but he's passionate about poverty, too.
State of the Union: Can Obama get his mojo back?In the State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Obama will announce an increase in the minimum wage for new federal contract workers 鈥� part of his plan to make 2014 a 'year of action.'
US marijuana policy edges toward acceptanceThe US government considers marijuana an illegal drug. But Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department will issue banking regulations for state-approved marijuana businesses.
Can Republicans win in 2016 by changing their rules?The Republican National Committee, gathered in Washington, wants to avoid a rerun of 2012, when Mitt Romney was left bruised and broke after the primaries, 20 debates, and a late convention.- Are the rich getting richer? Take our quiz on inequality and incomes.
The income gap between rich and poor has widened in the United States and in many other advanced economies since the 1970s. The trend makes this a hot political topic at a time when middle-class families feel they are struggling to get ahead, and as some wonder whether inequality is harming economic growth. This quiz tests how big (or narrow!) your own "gap" is when it comes to knowing the economics and politics of income disparities from the French Revolution to the Great Recession.
Why Republicans are 'playing with fire' on abortionLast year, the Republican Party said it wanted to be inclusive and welcoming on social issues. But social conservatives issued a resolution Wednesday calling on candidates to speak out against abortion.聽
41 years after Roe v. Wade, abortion foes undauntedIn annual report, National Right to Life Committee applauds antiabortion measures in states, and takes the long view on getting measures through Congress and before the Supreme Court.聽
Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy: civil rights' wary alliesAn old tape recording of Martin Luther King Jr., played in public Monday for the first time, is a reminder that MLK and JFK shared an era and a cause, but were not close allies on civil rights.
Would a 'third party' protect your phone data better than the NSA?President Obama wants to limit NSA surveillance of US citizens. One suggestion is that a third party聽鈥� perhaps telecommunications company themselves聽鈥� store such metadata for NSA use.
Gov. Christie鈥檚 woes multiply. Time to recover before 2016?Some Republicans are keeping their distance from Chris Christie as the New Jersey Governor's troubles mount. Can the GOP's 2016 presidential front-runner survive the 'Bridgegate' scandal?
Bridgegate vs. Benghazi: What's more damaging for 2016?Chris Christie and Hillary Rodham Clinton both faced bad headlines this week on issues that could affect their presidential prospects. But Governor Christie may have a longer road ahead.聽
Reaction to Obama's NSA speech ranges from lukewarm to skepticalPresident Obama has set new surveillance policy in response to National Security Agency spying unveiled by Edward Snowden. Critics aren't convinced that it will make much difference.
NSA reform? Obama faces headwinds in a Congress divided on surveillance policy.Views on Capitol Hill over reforming NSA policies aren't breaking along party lines, as libertarian Republicans join with leftist Democrats to oppose the mass collection of phone records.
Obama NSA reforms: How far did they go?In his speech Friday outlining reforms to the NSA, President Obama acknowledged that many people have become concerned about the extent of NSA activities. Probably the most important reform dealt with the program to collect phone metadata.
Beyond Hillary Clinton: 7 other Democrats possibly (or definitely) running for president Hillary Clinton is in, but that isn鈥檛 keeping other Democrats from running 鈥� or at least thinking about it. Here鈥檚 our list, updated April 30, 2015:
Can Obama help Democrats keep the Senate?President Obama's poll numbers are in the doldrums, and he should steer clear of states where the most vulnerable Senate Democrats are fighting for their jobs, analysts say. But Obama has a secret weapon.聽
NSA can spy on computers via radio, Snowden leaks showSnowden fallout continues, as news organizations use leaks to probe how the NSA is breaking into computers not linked to the Internet and, mistakenly, believed to be not open to attack.
