S&P Warns Congress of Risks of Political Brinkmanship on Debt

By Stacy Kaper

3:49 p.m.

Top White House Aides Informed of IRS Troubles, but Didn't Tell Obama

By Shane Goldmacher

Top White House aides, including chief of staff Denis McDonough, were informed of the forthcoming report on the IRS’ targeting of tea party group but decided not to inform President Obama in advance, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday. Read more »

2:36 p.m.

IRS Scandal: The 8 Names to Know This Week

By Shane Goldmacher

The controversy surrounding the IRS’ targeting of tea party groups will consume Capitol Hill for a second straight week. These are the key names to know to keep up with the fast-moving scandal, with hearings set Tuesday in the Senate and Wednesday in the House: Read more »

11:37 a.m.

Ready to Testify on Financial Stability, Lew Is Likely To Be Grilled on IRS Scandal

By Catherine Hollander

The poor Financial Stability Oversight Council. It's likely this will be the second year in a row where testimony on the council's annual report turns into a grill-a-thon on the scandal du jour. Read more »

May 19, 2013

Bipartisanship on Water Projects in Senate Spurred by Freedom to Fish Act

By Amy Harder

The senior energy aide to Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader from the coal state of Kentucky, was praised last week by one of the Senate’s top environmentalists, Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. The compliment seems unusual amid the hyper-partisanship that’s now the norm in Washington, but when put into context it makes sense. Read more »

May 19, 2013

S&P Warns Congress of Risks of Political Brinkmanship on Debt

By Stacy Kaper

The group's top analyst for the U.S. government's credit rating says making big fiscal decisions in a crisis setting raises chances of another downgrade. Read more »

May 17, 2013

Are Recessions Good for Your Health?

By Niraj Chokshi

With the recovery underway, things are starting to look up. Consumer confidence rose to a six-year high on Friday, the housing sector is improving, the economic gears are turning. But there may also be a less-welcome rebound: fatalities could rise. Read more »

May 16, 2013

Congressional Republicans Are Milking the Scandals for Everything

By Alex Roarty

GOP members in both chambers finally feel like they have something to hang around the president’s neck. Read more »

CONGRESS May 16, 2013

Senate Committee Approves Gina McCarthy EPA Nomination Along Party Lines

By Coral Davenport

Senate Republicans on Thursday eased their opposition to the nomination of Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency—but her confirmation by the full Senate is not yet assured. Read more »

May 16, 2013

Both Parties Face Tricky Balancing Act at IRS Hearings

By Nancy Cook

Even amid crisis and scandal, the two parties remain as divided as ever—especially when it comes to finding any solutions. Read more »

May 16, 2013

Obama Goes on the Offensive, Hold the Charm

By Jill Lawrence

The president's flurry of activity includes a challenge to the GOP on embassy security. Read more »

WASHINGTON INSIDE OUT May 16, 2013

Eric Cantor’s Caucus Thwarts His Push for an Alternative Agenda

By Norm Ornstein

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has learned, to his chagrin, that solving problems, much less finding compromises, is not on the agenda of a majority of his House Republican colleagues. Read more »

May 15, 2013

Next Stops for Farm Bill: Senate and House Floors

By Jerry Hagstrom

The House Agriculture Committee prides itself on bipartisanship, but when the panel met Wednesday to consider a new farm bill, the deep cultural divides between its Republican majority and Democratic minority members were in full relief. Read more »

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