All DC Decoder
Chemical weapons 101: Six facts about sarin and Syria鈥檚 stockpile Bashar Assad almost certainly crossed a 'red line' by using sarin or some other chemical weapon against his own people, President Obama said in April. The casualty toll from the latest suspected use suggests sarin henceforth will be associated with Syria and Mr. Assad.
Syria chemical weapons: Where did they come from?The roots of Syria's chemical weapons program lie decades in the past, perhaps back to the 1970s. Other countries were early suppliers. What's uncertain now is if Syria can make its own chemical weapons.
Boston Marathon bombing: Did US really miss chance to prevent it?A Republicans senator is blaming the White House for failing to heed red flags on Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev. But others call that a rush to judgment.
Immigration reform: How many new immigrants are we talking about?The new immigration reform bill will double the number of immigrants coming to the US over the next decade, critics say. Others say it's too early, too complex, or too politically risky to tell.
Girding for a federal budget battle royale, parties wrangle over rulesWith Capitol Hill bracing for a battle over financial policy this summer, the focus now is on rules for the committee that will seek to reconcile House and Senate versions of the federal budget.
Was Boston Marathon bombing a US 'intelligence failure'?House and Senate intelligence committees will ask that question of FBI officials during closed hearings Tuesday about the Boston Marathon bombing. They will want to know if any red flags popped up when Tamerlan Tsarnaev traveled to Russia in 2011-12.
Boston Marathon bombing suspect: How many charges will he face?Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is unable to verbally communicate with investigators, but experts say the weight of the evidence against him points to federal terrorism charges.
Boston Marathon bombing moves from solidarity to partisan politicsPartisanship was absent in the days following the Boston Marathon bombing. Now, political issues are entering into the discussion, including gun control, immigration, and national security.
Immigration reform 101: How does Senate plan address four big questions? After months of closed-door negotiations, the Senate鈥檚 bipartisan 鈥淕ang of Eight鈥� offered a legislative summary of its proposal for comprehensive immigration reform. Here is how the Senate gang handled the four hottest immigration flashpoints.
Obama and 'terrorism': why he hesitated to use that wordOn Tuesday, President Obama referred to the bombings at Monday's Boston Marathon as 'terrorism,' after declining to do so right after the incident. His hesitation was classic 'Obama caution.'
Kermit Gosnell trial: Will it affect abortion rights?The sensational trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell has shined a light on regulation of abortion facilities. Both sides of the debate point to the Gosnell case as evidence they are correct.
Jenna Bush Hager baby is first grandchild for George W. 鈥� and for great-grandpa?Jenna Bush Hager gave birth Saturday to baby Mila, the first grandchild for former President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush. That means former President George H.W. Bush has another great-grandchild.聽
Immigration reform: What about those who arrive legally but never leave?An estimated 40 percent of the more than 10 million undocumented people in the US today came legally but stayed after their visa expired. It's a major issue in the immigration debate.
Voices of Newtown: How gun violence victims became effective lobbyistsThe testimony of Newtown parents and others who have lost loved ones to gun violence has become a potent political force on Capitol Hill as lawmakers debate stronger gun safety measures.
North Korea nuclear missiles: How startling is Pentagon assessment?A new Pentagon intelligence report claims that North Korea has the ability to make a nuclear device small enough to fit on a ballistic missile 鈥� not that it's been fully tested or is set to fire.
McConnell secret tape: Liberal group blamed, but Ashley Judd still an issueA Democratic official blames two men from Progress Kentucky for recording a McConnell campaign strategy session. But mockery of Ashley Judd's mental health past is still fodder for Democrats.
How liberal anger at Obama budget helps the president, DemocratsThe president's budget, with its cost-saving measures in Social Security and Medicare, has infuriated the left. That positions Obama more to the center and could help him achieve other goals 鈥� and save some Democratic seats in 2014.
For former Iranian 'terrorists,' a warm Washington welcomeWith Washington luminaries in attendance, the Iranian dissident group NCRI and its formerly armed wing MEK inaugurated their sleek new offices Thursday, within sight of the White House.
Social Security proposal from Obama: How would it affect you?'Chained CPI,' a leading idea for how to keep Social Security solvent for the decades ahead, is part of President Obama's budget proposal. Here's what it would mean for benefits.
Gun background checks: How would Senate proposal work, exactly?The Senate gun proposal extends background checks to purchases made at gun shows or online, but it doesn't affect sales to 'friends' or 'neighbors,' and it 'bans' creation of a national registry of gun owners.
