All Politics
Can Ben Bernanke save the job market if 'fiscal cliff' talks fail?The Federal Reserve said this week it would maintain ultralow interest rates until the unemployment rate falls to at least 6.5 percent, unless inflation starts looming as a near-term risk.
Obama on Conn. shooting: 'Our hearts are broken today'Obama on Conn. shooting, speaking at the White House, called for 'meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.' At this point, he didn't offer specifics.
Obama says going after marijuana 'not a top priority'Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law even though voters in Colorado and Washington State recently聽approved ballot measures legalizing small amounts of pot for adults.
Monitor BreakfastPalestinian envoy: Israeli settlement a red line with 'grave consequences'The Palestine Liberation Organization鈥檚 top diplomat in the United States says that Israel's plans for a settlement in a sensitive area is a ploy to undermine a future Palestinian state.
Susan Rice: Was she pushed to end secretary of State bid?With the 'fiscal cliff' unresolved and other big issues still on the table, President Obama didn't need a confirmation battle. Realistically, Susan Rice had little choice but to take her name out of the mix.
Gimme shelter! Your Rolling Stones guide to the 'fiscal cliff'Yes, we know the fiscal cliff is not always easy to understand. But help is here. Mick Jagger and the music of Rolling Stones can explain it all 鈥� with satisfaction 鈥� in nine easy steps. Seriously.
'Fiscal cliff': Is John Boehner in a lose-lose situation?Speaker John Boehner and fellow Republicans are being asked to cave on tax rates in the fiscal cliff negotiations. In return, they could be the 'bad guys' on entitlement reform 鈥� something even their own voters may not support.
Taxing the rich: why $250,000 became the benchmarkSome Democrats had sought an income threshold well above $250,000. But since the election campaign and in 'fiscal cliff' talks, that's the number President Obama has settled on. Here's what's behind it.
With Illinois concealed gun ban struck down, some say 'Fight on'Even as Illinois lawmakers contemplate a new law allowing concealed weapons, as ordered by a US Appeals Court, some plan to take the fight against the 'wrongheaded' ruling to the next level.
Why Susan Rice withdrew her name as secretary of StateRepublican senators had vowed a fight if Obama nominated Susan Rice to be his next secretary of State. Their opposition centered on her erroneous public statements about the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
Will new right-to-work laws worsen the gender pay gap in Michigan?Michigan already ranks among the worst states for gender pay equity. Critics of its new 'right-to-work' laws say they limit the power of unions, which historically have helped close wage gaps.
How bad is the GOP's image problem?A new survey puts the GOP last in the ratings of 11 political figures and institutions. But the tide of US politics ebbs and flows 鈥� and in the 'fiscal cliff' negotiations, many Americans appear to be holding both sides accountable.
Raising Medicare's eligibility age: How much money would it save?A full account of the impact of raising Medicare's eligibility age to 67 must also include the added costs to other expensive programs, as some seniors switch to Medicaid or seek government subsidies for private insurance.
Monitor BreakfastWould a 'fiscal cliff' deal imperil John Boehner's tenure as House speaker?Resolving the fiscal cliff this year may require Speaker John Boehner to take to the House floor a deal that a majority of Republicans will reject 鈥� a move that could risk his speakership in the next Congress, says the Democrats' Rep. Chris Van Hollen.
Obama's pollster: Republicans have a tolerance problemObama's campaign pollster, Joel Benenson, says the Republican challenge goes beyond the Latino vote, extending to anyone who isn't white and thinks differently from party orthodoxy.
Monitor BreakfastIsraeli envoy calls divisive settlement plan a politically necessary reprisalSettlement plans east of Jerusalem 鈥� decried by the US and Europeans 鈥� were meant to punish Palestinians and satisfy domestic political pressure in Israel, Ambassador Michael Oren says.
Should Michigan GOP brace for reprisal over 'right to work' law?When Republicans in Wisconsin and Ohio took on Big Labor, unions fought back ferociously. But Michigan's GOP lawmakers, calculating the political risks of pushing a 'right to work' law, may have looked to Indiana as a better precedent.
Should estate tax rise in a 'fiscal cliff' deal? Why some ultra-rich say yes.While much of the focus in the 'fiscal cliff' debate has been on income taxes, the group of wealthy Americans says an estate tax 'promotes democracy by slowing the concentration of wealth and power.'
Is Stephen Colbert trying to buy Senate seat in South Carolina?Stephen Colbert's decision to campaign for the seat being vacated by GOP Sen. Jim DeMint gives the famous funnyman yet another chance to educate Americans on how to game the US campaign finance system.
Senator Jenny Sanford? Why it might be a smart pick.Jenny Sanford, ex-wife of South Carolina's ex-governor, is reportedly on the short list to fill outgoing Sen. Jim DeMint's seat. It could present the GOP with a much-needed opportunity to appeal to women.聽
