All DC Decoder
How budget deal might signal new normal in Congress 鈥� and how it might notThe Senate passed the budget deal Wednesday, but the House and Senate seemed to switch identities during the budget episode. Some of those shifts might endure, others might be the politics of the moment.
Budget deal: Senate Republicans vote to advance bill they hateOK, most Democrats hate the budget deal, too, but more is at stake for Republicans. Thankfully for them, Senate rules will allow a vote for and, then, against the bill. Huh?
Senate simmers down after two all-nighters, but what was the point?The brawl over Senate rules got ugly last week before a cease-fire was declared. But nominations this week, including of Janet Yellen to head the Federal Reserve, could again produce fireworks.
Obama now losing a key constituency: younger votersYounger voters were a key to Barack Obama's successful presidential elections. But now polls show he's losing those 'millennials,' and Obamacare seems to be a major reason why.
Rise of the left and the backlash: How big a deal?The last two weeks, progressive and centrist Democrats have been at odds, as President Obama has tilted toward economic populism. But the Democrats' real issue may lie elsewhere.
Cracks in tea party front emerge in House vote on budget dealThe House overwhelmingly passed a budget deal that many tea partyers called odious. It suggests that a new generation of conservatives has concluded that 'shutdown politics' don't work.
No 鈥榞rand bargain鈥� in budget deal: What does that mean for the economy?The best part of the budget 'mini-deal' is that it exists, economists say. It should boost GDP next year, and paves the way for more bargaining. But in the long term, a grand bargain is still the way to go.
How Congress's odd couple reached a remarkable budget dealRep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray are, in many ways, opposites. But their budget deal shows the parameters of bipartisanship today: Think narrow, be pragmatic, and talk ... a lot.
Two-year budget deal struck: what you need to knowHouse and Senate negotiators reached a budget deal that would fund the federal government for two fiscal years. It's modest, but a step back from fiscal brinkmanship 鈥� if it passes.
Is Harry Reid fueling Senate's escalating 'arms war'?The Senate is expected to confirm an Obama judicial nominee with a simple majority as Democrats take advantage of rules changed by the 'nuclear option.' But Republicans weren't the only ones using Senate rules to obstruct.
Nelson Mandela: How US conservatives viewed him then 鈥� and nowConservatives once saw Nelson Mandela as a communist and a terrorist. Today, most across the political spectrum are lauding the African leader, although some on the right are still critical of him.
What Nelson Mandela meant, and still means, to Barack ObamaAs a college sophomore, Obama took on apartheid, his first foray into political activism. Nelson Mandela has been one of his guiding lights ever since.聽
Obamacare: What if not enough young, healthy people enroll?The 18-to-34-year-old cohort is the most coveted for the exchanges, and should be about one-third of enrollees, though there are backstops if enrollment falls short.聽
Is Boehner getting serious on immigration reform? New hire intrigues.House Speaker John Boehner has hired a bipartisan policy adviser who has already put forward a recipe for getting immigration reform through the House.
With relaunch of Obamacare, relaunch of Obama's presidencyThis month, President Obama hopes, will mark a pivot point for Obamacare 鈥� and perhaps his second term. He's rolling out a three-week campaign to sell Obamacare and return to the offensive.
Plastic guns bill: Is Congress overlooking a fatal flaw?The House on Tuesday reauthorized a bill regulating the manufacture of plastic guns. The Senate could follow next week. But 3-D printing of plastic guns is not addressed, so the issue is likely to resurface.
Is Obama already a lame-duck president?President Obama's second-term woes are already piling up, with Obamacare's travails atop the list. But Obama still has three years left, and the presidency holds significant power.
HealthCare.gov working much better, officials declareThe White House reports a 'vastly improved' online system used to sign up for the Affordable Care Act, now able to handle 50,000 individuals at a time and more than 800,000 applicants per day.
Crunch time for Obamacare. Will it pass a major test?By Nov. 30, Obama administration officials have said, HealthCare.gov聽should 'work smoothly' for the 'vast majority' of Americans trying to sign up for new health insurance under Obamacare.
Why people feel free to heckle President ObamaWhile numbers are elusive, President Obama seems to be the most-heckled president in a long time 鈥� particularly from people on the left. Some might be trying to get him off script.
