All DC Decoder
State of the Union 101: Has Obamacare really slowed rise of health costs?The president's State of the Union claim that Obamacare has slowed the rise of health costs misses the fact that key provisions don't kick in until 2014 and that slower spending is related to a weak economy.
Immigration reform: Why many GOP lawmakers applauded Obama speechPresident Obama treaded carefully around immigration reform during his State of the Union message. Republican lawmakers took notice, with many appreciating his back-seat approach.
Ted Nugent slams State of the Union. Why did he rip GOP, too?Shock-rocker and gun rights activist Ted Nugent was expected to have words for President Obama's State of the Union message. The surprise was his criticism of Republicans, whom he said lack resolve to win against a 'ruthless' foe.- What does the federal government do with your money? Take our taxes quiz.
It seems there鈥檚 no end of taxes 鈥� and of debate about what the federal government does with all the money it collects. Whether you鈥檙e wrestling with Form 1040 or baffled by the latest debate in Washington over the national debt, here's at least a little relief. Test your knowledge of America鈥檚 fiscal behavior with this quiz. It won't cost you a dollar or add a dime to the deficit 鈥� and what you don't know you'll learn from the included answers!
State of the Union: Obama and Rubio go head to head on the middle classIn the State of the Union and the GOP response, President Obama and Senator Rubio offer starkly different visions of how government can help (or hurt) the middle class 鈥� and those aspiring to join it.
Chuck Hagel, John Brennan threatened with Senate 'hold.' What's that?GOP Sen. Lindsay Graham may put a 'hold' on Senate votes to confirm Chuck Hagel to head the Pentagon and John Brennan the CIA, citing a need for more information about the Benghazi, Libya, terrorist attacks. How that would work.
Obama girds for State of the Union address. His Republican opponents do too.President Obama will face a tough crowd of Republicans during his State of the Union address Tuesday night. They probably won't like what they hear about taxes and spending.
Do US drone kills need an oversight board? How would it work?The confirmation hearing for John Brennan, Obama's pick to be CIA chief, has given impetus to the idea that drone strikes on terror suspects be subject to some form of judicial oversight.
Immigration reform 101: Is a sensible guest-worker program possible?The immigration-reform plan proposed by a group of bipartisan senators seeks to establish a flexible guest-worker program. But labor and business want to do that in two very different ways.聽
Bush family e-mails hacked: Was anything stolen of value (beyond privacy)?Hacked聽Bush family e-mail released to date shed light on George H.W. Bush's 'kindness and good nature,' the family's concern for his health, and, perhaps, a preview of a W. art exhibit.
Immigration reform 101: Should illegal immigrants be offered citizenship path?As the immigration reform debate intensifies, some lawmakers propose a middle ground between deportation and citizenship for illegal immigrants. Critics say that will create a permanent underclass.
Gun debate 101: Doesn't US already have laws against gun trafficking?Congress is considering legislation to crack down on gun traffickers and so-called straw buyers. But the NRA says the Obama administration just needs to enforce laws already on the books. Here's what the record shows.聽
Gun debate 101: Is the AR-15 as popular as the iPod?The commando-style rifle, used in the Sandy Hook shootings, is now the most popular gun in America. Anticipating new gun-control measures, consumers are depleting stocks and driving up prices.- Can drone strikes target US citizens? Critics say rules are vague.Criticism of the leaked Justice Department document 鈥� which allows for drone strikes against top level terrorists who are US citizens 鈥� is piling up from both the right and left, with critics charging that its language is too permissive.
Debt limit: Link any increase to spending cuts? Majority in poll says yes.The results of the Monitor/TIPP poll 鈥� some 75 percent of respondents said the debt limit and spending should be linked 鈥� mesh with other surveys that cite rising concerns about deficits.
Obama skeet shooting: NRA says it's a ploy to confiscate gunsThat photo of President Obama firing a shotgun continues to generate comment and controversy just as he鈥檚 about to leave Washington to promote his ideas about improving gun safety.
Politicians and guns: Why it's important that Obama shoots skeetThe White House has released a photo of President Obama firing a shotgun. In the US today, it seems important that politicians聽鈥� especially men聽鈥� know their way around guns. Why is that?
January jobs report: Will 'OK' jobs market make politicians complacent?Employers added 157,000 jobs in January, but the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent. Now, in a few weeks, sizable federal spending cuts could put an added damper on economic activity.
US economic backsliding temporary? Maybe not if 'sequester' hits.A dip in GDP during the fourth quarter of 2012 stemmed largely from a dive in federal defense spending. Some economists see a cautionary lesson for upcoming sequester talks in Congress.
Pentagon's budget nightmare: How each branch would handle sequester cuts With the threat of a mandatory, across-the-board series of cuts known as sequestration looming over the Pentagon, each of the services has begun its worst-case-scenario planning. Here is where the cuts stand now:
