How the GOP Will Keep Stirring the Scandal Stew Over Recess

By Chris Frates

8:33 a.m.

Why Anthony Weiner Shouldn't Bank on Forgiveness in the New York Mayoral Race

By Jill Lawrence

Redemption narratives appeal to evangelical voters, as Mark Sanford demonstrated in South Carolina. But there aren't many voters like that in New York City. Read more »

8:08 a.m.

Are All Government Handouts Created Equal?

By Ben Terris

One member of Congress feels comfortable railing against food stamps while taking a government subsidy of his own. Read more »

8:20 p.m.

The Cabal That Quietly Took Over the House

By Tim Alberta

For 40 years, the Republican Study Committee has prized ideological purity over partisan loyalty. That mindset now dominates the GOP. Read more »

7:31 p.m.

Obama’s Speech Rehashes Gitmo Fight in Congress

By Stacy Kaper

President Obama's counterterrorism speech has reopened a long-standing battle on Capitol Hill about what to do with detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, highlighting sharp divisions even among the president's political adversaries. Read more »

7:30 p.m.

Top Oversight Democrat: Forcing Lois Lerner Back to the Hill 'a Partisan Exercise in Futility'

By Shane Goldmacher

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., said Thursday he doubts the usefulness of forcing IRS official Lois Lerner back to Capitol Hill “just to have another standoff." Read more »

7:30 p.m.

Why Lisa Murkowski Wants to Overhaul the Military-Justice System

By Stacy Kaper

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has a long record of working to stop sexual assault both in Alaska and in the armed services. This year she readily signed on to three different bills to combat sexual assault in the military. But when it came to a sweeping bill that would take the decision-making power of which cases to prosecute out of the hands of commanders, she paused. Read more »

IMMIGRATION 7:30 p.m.

Letter From Judiciary: How to Survive a Markup

By Fawn Johnson

Rule One—Empty your bladder. Rule Two—Charge your phone. These are the lessons in survival for anyone covering, lobbying or staffing lawmakers who "mark up" an 800-plus-page bill. Read more »

5:48 p.m.

How the GOP Will Keep Stirring the Scandal Stew Over Recess

By Chris Frates

Congressional Republicans head into next week’s Memorial Day recess armed with a strategy designed to keep the controversies that have consumed Washington in the news back home. Read more »

May 23, 2013

Republican Trio Wants More Questions Answered on Benghazi

By Kristin Roberts

Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Kelly Ayotte won’t drop it. Despite the White House’s release of Benghazi e-mails, the Republican trio has a long list of additional questions, all carrying serious political implications. Read more »

May 23, 2013

House Immigration 'Gang' Struggles, GOP Hints at Republican Bill

By Rebecca Kaplan

As the House group struggling to write a bipartisan immigration bill huddled in the Capitol, Republican leadership indicated its wait-and-see approach was over. They'll consider legislation, but it won't be the Senate bill, and no matter what the House gang does, the bill will run through a largely conservative Judiciary Committee. Read more »

WASHINGTON INSIDE OUT May 22, 2013

GOP’s Switch on Financial Disclosure Wins Gold Medal in Hypocrisy Olympics

By Norm Ornstein

First, let me be clear: There has been political intimidation of the Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies for partisan purposes. Read more »