All Politics
Roe v. Wade at 40: Six questions about abortion rights On Tuesday, the United States marks the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the historic US Supreme Court decision that granted women the right to an abortion. Here is a look at the state of abortion rights in America today.
It's not just an inauguration, it's a day of symbolism and stagecraftObama's inaugural address invoked the syntax and themes of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I have a dream' speech, and, on the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the president took the oath of office on Bibles used by Lincoln and King.
What is it about an inauguration that lightens the mood on Capitol Hill?At a post-inaugural lunch on Capitol Hill, Obama and US lawmakers put rancor aside, and comity and laughter presided. On Inauguration Day, at least, Washington can still get along.
Obama inaugural speech: a sharp call to actionObama began his second inaugural speech by citing the Constitution and the collective strength it affords America. Then he segued into a聽second-term agenda sure to raise some political hackles, calling for action on climate change, women鈥檚 rights, immigration, gay rights, and gun control.
President Obama's address for Inauguration 2013'When times change, so must we,' President Obama said Monday during his second inaugural address, after taking the oath of office. '...fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges.' Here is the full text of his speech.
Inauguration 2013: For attendees, a time for pride, hope, marking historyIf the crowd at Inauguration 2013 meets the expectation of 500,000 to 700,000 people, it will be the largest ever at a second public inaugural. Here's how some of those who came see the moment.
Inauguration 2013: Most presidents don't invite a poet ... for a reasonRichard Blanco, who speaks at Inauguration 2013, will be only the fifth poet to speak on Inauguration Day. Even John Kennedy was wary that a poet, Robert Frost, would shine so bright as to 'detract' from his own address.
Inauguration Day Bibles: how presidents choose, and what that revealsPresident Obama will have two highly symbolic Bibles at his Inauguration Day swearing-in ceremony: one used by Abraham Lincoln and another from the family of Martin Luther King Jr.
Obama鈥檚 second term: Can he work with Congress?Approval ratings for Congress may have plummeted, but President Obama will find he鈥檚 going to need to work with the lawmakers he spent much of his reelection campaign railing against.- Obama鈥檚 second term: Can he work with Congress?Approval ratings for Congress may have plummeted, but President Obama will find he鈥檚 going to need to work with the lawmakers he spent much of his reelection campaign railing against.
Inauguration 2013: How Obama is different from four years agoInauguration 2013 is different from the 2009 version in many ways 鈥� not least the president himself. He's learned some tough political lessons, but he still seems to have ambitious plans.
Why Republicans defy public opinion in gun-control fightSenate minority leader Mitch McConnell said Saturday, ' I will be doing everything in my power' to block President Obama's gun-control proposals 鈥� despite polls showing support for gun control.- Inauguration 2013: what to see and when. (Don鈥檛 wait 鈥榯il Monday.)There is plenty to see and hear in Inauguration 2013's public ceremonies Monday, but the real action, constitutionally speaking, takes place the day before.
Cover StoryObama's second term: What history says to expectThe myths and realities of second-term presidents 鈥� and what they portend for Obama.
Inauguration 2013: 10 highlights from previous second-term addresses Barack Obama will be the 17th American president to deliver two inaugural addresses. Here are 10 highlights from such speeches by previous two-term presidents, including the shortest one ever.
Gun control 101: Why is Obama pushing for new gun research?A key part of President Obama's plan to rein in gun violence is his push to kick-start fresh gun-control-related research by federal agencies. Republicans have blocked such research in the past.
Lessons from Lance Armstrong: Comebacks are easier for politiciansLance Armstrong, who admitted to doping, may or may not hope to mount a comeback in sports. But here's one profession that seems to provide a relatively easy path to redemption: politics.
House GOP floats new debt-ceiling deal, with strings attachedHouse Republicans said they would agree to raise the debt ceiling, but only for three months and only if Senate Democrats promise to pass a budget (which they haven't done for three years).
Why does Michelle Obama need two Twitter accounts?Now she's got @FLOTUS, as well as @MichelleObama. How many Twitter accounts does one first lady need? Well, there's a reason for Michelle Obama's double-tweeting, and it has to do with the law.
New York's new gun law: How might the NRA challenge it in court?Since a key US Supreme Court decision in 2008, challenges to gun laws have flooded the courts. One part of New York's law that is likely to be hotly debated: restrictions on high-capacity magazines.