All DC Decoder
Obamacare website is supposed to work now. Is it ready for a surge in use?How the Obamacare website works is an important question, notably because the period between now and Christmas is expected to see a rush of enrollment by people who hope to have new insurance in place by Jan. 1.
Another Obamacare delay: How big a blow?Small businesses in states that use HealthCare.gov now have to wait until November 2014 to shop for coverage online. The delay is not a game-changer, but it's another bit of bad news.听
Obama vs. Karl Rove? New campaign finance proposal called a power grab.The Obama administration wants to rein in tax exempt 'social welfare' groups that channel huge amounts of anonymous money into politics. The change would appear to hit Republicans harder.
Is Obamacare on the rebound? Media turn to positive stories.Positive headlines are creeping into the news coverage of Obamacare, amid a Democratic counteroffensive and signs the program could be turning a corner. But tough tests lie ahead.听
Republicans bash Obamacare but can't repeal it. What do they want?The Republican strategy is to talk about Obamacare all the time. If the rollout continues to stumble, Republicans could pick up some Democratic support. But the big prize is 2014.
Obama tells heckler he can't halt deportations unilaterally. Is that true?During a speech on immigration reform Monday, President Obama was interrupted by a heckler telling him to stop deportations by executive action.
Iran nuclear deal 101: eight questions about what's in itHere is an explanation of the main elements of the deal struck to temporarily freeze the Iran nuclear program. Negotiations aimed at a final deal are to continue over the next six months.
Washington blows up: Has American politics hit an all-time low?The approval ratings of Congress, the Republican Party, and President Obama have now all hit all-time lows. And the Senate's 'nuclear option' is supposed to make things worse?
Obama must convince many Democrats as well as Republicans on Iran nuclear dealCongress strongly supports Israel, with many members pushing for tough sanctions on Iran. This is a challenge for President Obama trying to win support for the deal on Iran鈥檚 nuclear capabilities.
Like Harry Truman, does Obama face a 'do-nothing' Congress?Congress has passed a record low number of bills and blocked a record high number of presidential appointees during the Obama administration. Neither party has benefited from dysfunction in Washington.
Obamacare delayed: Deadline to sign up for Jan. 1 start date is now Dec. 23Obamacare delayed: Americans now have eight additional days to enroll in insurance that starts Jan. 1. Insurers say processing could be a challenge, depending on how many people enroll on HealthCare.gov in the last few days.听
John F. Kennedy assassination: three key mysteriesThere is still no accepted story about the John F. Kennedy assassination. After half a century of investigation and speculation, it's the missing documents, the holes in what we know, that stand out, leaving only factions of belief.
Is Senate's 'nuclear option' an Obamacare diversion?Senate majorities have long wanted to rein in filibusters for presidential nominations. So why now? The GOP assertion that it's an Obamacare diversion might not be entirely off the mark, but Democrats' frustration with gridlock appear to have peaked.
How new Senate filibuster rule could change balance of power on courtsThere are 18 vacancies on federal appeals courts nationwide, but perhaps most significantly, the new Senate filibuster rule allows Obama and Democrats to fill three seats on the D.C. Circuit, the nation's second most powerful court.
Republicans double down to kill Obamacare, but can they?A 17-page Republican memo offers guidance on how to skewer Obamacare and keep Congress focused on its flaws, but safeguards built into the law mean a 'death spiral' is unlikely.
Senate takes 'nuclear option' on filibusters: What does that mean?For the tradition-bound Senate, the 'nuclear option' is of seismic importance. But does it mean an end to filibusters? Not really. Here's Q&A explaining what Democrats just did.
Health inflation hits historic low. A victory for Obamacare?A White House eager to tout good news reports evidence that the Affordable Care Act has helped slow the growth of health-care costs. But there are other factors.听
JFK assassination: three feuds in DallasOne of President Kennedy's main goals in his Texas trip was to heal a Democratic Party split in the state. But that wasn't the only political feud. Here are some main crosscurrents before the JFK assassination.
More damaging news for Obama on Obamacare. Can he rebound?A consultant warned the Obama administration in March that Obamacare's HealthCare.gov was in trouble, a document released Monday shows. As the drumbeat of bad news continues, here's what experts say Obama should do to pull out of a second-term tailspin.
Obamacare sign-ups: How states with their own websites stack upThe 11 states that run their own Obamacare enrollment websites are reaching more of their potential market than those using HealthCare.gov. But the numbers are still modest so far.
