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National Journal Coverage
President Obama in Rose Garden

Obama Pushes to Accommodate, Not Protect, Freedom of the Press

Major Garrett | 5:30 p.m.
Unconstitutional. Sweeping. Secretive. Abusive. Harassing.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., left, and Sen. Charles Schumer

Immigration Bill's Last Hurdle Tonight -- Gay Rights

Rebecca Kaplan | 12:10 p.m.
Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy will still not say whether he plans to put forward an amendment tonight that would extend the bill’s immigration provisions to gay couples.
pod thumb

Play of the Day: Kids Say The Darndest Things... About Obama’s Scandals

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | 9:46 a.m.
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Kids at the opening day of the 112th Congress #2

Congress: The Next Generation

Sarah Mimms | May 20, 2013
Former lawmakers are helping their children in so many races this year that we might as well dub next Election Day Take Your Kid to Congress Day. Republican businessman Mike Collins announced Thursday that he'll run for Rep. Paul Broun's open seat in Georgia. Funny enough, his father, former Rep. M...
Darrell Issa

Eric Holder Calls Rep. Darrell Issa 'Unacceptable and Shameful'

Shane Goldmacher | May 15, 2013
This much is clear: Attorney General Eric Holder and Rep. Darrell Issa don't like each other. 

Nebraska Senate Draft Movement Shows Heineman's Clout

Julie Sobel | May 15, 2013
It must feel good to be drafted to run for office. But it may feel less good to be drafted explicitly as a back-up plan. Former Nebraska GOP chair Mark Fahleson tweeted a link to a Facebook page "drafting" Ben Sasse to run for retiring Sen. Mike Johanns' seat -- but only if Gov. Dave Heineman passe...
holder obama

What the AP Subpoena Scandal Means for Your Electronic Privacy

Brian Fung | May 15, 2013
The Justice Department’s attempt to spy on journalists working for the Associated Press is an abuse of power in the broadest sense. But one reason the whole episode is controversial at all is because the Obama administration technically broke no rules.
holder

Why the AP Phone Records Bombshell Could Threaten Eric Holder's Job

Jill Lawrence | May 13, 2013
If Obama wants a high-level symbol of accountability, the attorney general is the only one left standing.
Obama

A Bad Day For 2 Agencies

Ron Fournier | May 10, 2013
It's been a rough day for the Obama administration.
Mark Sanford

If Democrats Can’t Beat a Confessed Adulterer, What Chance Do They Have?

Alex Roarty | May 9, 2013
Mark Sanford’s win in South Carolina shows how difficult it will be for liberals to reclaim control of the House. 
Gina McCarthy

GOP Forces Gridlock Over Obama’s Nominees for EPA, Labor

Amy Harder | May 9, 2013
Senate Republicans are forcing partisan debates about the role of the executive branch and its commitment to transparency by blocking the confirmation of two of President Obama’s nominees to top positions within his administration.
nicole wong google twitter white house

Meet Nicole Wong, Obama's New Internet Privacy Czar

Brian Fung | May 7, 2013
President Obama has tapped a former Googler nicknamed "the Decider" to handle the administration's approach to Internet privacy.
Rand Paul and Ted Cruz

Who's More Conservative, Ted Cruz or Rand Paul?

Michael Catalini | May 7, 2013
They vote alike more often than not, but there are differences between the possible 2016 contenders.
Eric Cantor

What’s Missing From the House Republican Agenda

Chris Frates | May 6, 2013
The most interesting thing about this month’s House GOP agenda is what’s not on it: namely, immigration reform.
Obama press conference

Obama Just Can't Get Away From the Middle East

Michael Hirsh | May 6, 2013
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Capitol dome

Nobody Spoils a Good Story Like Congress

Ron Fournier | May 3, 2013
Enjoy the good news, America, while it lasts.
Obama in Mexico

Play of the Day: Obama in Mexico

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | May 3, 2013
President Barack Obama’s trip to Mexico this week had Jay Leno ruminating on two of his favorite political topics: Obama’s lack of skill in economics and the immigration issue. The president is traveling to Mexico to talk about the North American economy and immigration with Mexican leadership, which promoted the Tonight Show host to say that Obama “actually has to leave the country” to tout any economic successes. Leno also compared talking immigration in Mexico to touting same-sex marriage in San Francisco. 
Guantanamo detention facility at dawn

Political Barriers Stand Between Obama and Closing Guantanamo Facility

Michael Catalini | May 3, 2013
Little has changed politically since the last time Congress rebuffed the president.
Islamic Center of Murfreesboro

Stopping Terrorism at the Source

Michael Hirsh | May 2, 2013
Two years ago, the Obama administration launched a plan to use American Muslims as an early-detection system to spot radicals. So why hasn’t it worked?
Ted Cruz

Is Canadian-Born Ted Cruz Eligible to Run for President?

Michael Catalini | May 1, 2013
His mom was American, so that makes him a citizen by birth, the Texas Republican argues.
Mel Watt

Watt's Appointment Will Trigger Fourth House Special Election This Year

Sarah Mimms | May 1, 2013
North Carolina voters can begin gearing up for a special election, as news leaked Wednesday that President Obama will nominate Democratic Rep. Melvin Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Under North Carolina state law, Republican Gov. Pat McCrory will set the dates for a special pr...
Supreme Court Oral Arguments

African-Americans, the Last Democratic Holdouts on Gay Marriage?

Elahe Izadi | May 1, 2013
Just as President Obama has offered high-profile support and Jason Collins came out as gay, black public opinion is also changing.
Gabriel Gomez

Why Gabriel Gomez (Probably) Isn't Scott Brown

Kevin Brennan | May 1, 2013
The general election matchup in the race to fill Secretary of State John Kerry's old Senate seat is set, and everyone wants to know: Is Republican Gabriel Gomez the next Scott Brown? The short answer: Probably not. The winner of Tuesday night's Republican primary has a compelling backstory, and Rep...
Capitol dome

Exploring the House Generic Ballot

Steven Shepard | May 1, 2013
A new Quinnipiac University poll out Wednesday provides an early look at the battle for control of the House of Representatives in 2014, and while Democrats are slightly ahead at this juncture, a lead on the generic ballot 18 months before Election Day hardly assures the party of breaking the histor...
Obama press conference

The New Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy on Jobs

Jill Lawrence | April 30, 2013
President Obama walked into the White House press room on the 100th day of his second term and said, in effect, “have at me.” If there was an overall message he wanted to communicate, other than “See? I’m accessible,” it was hard to discern.
Mark Sanford

How Democrats Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Super PAC

Ben Terris | April 30, 2013
A day with House Majority PAC shows why unlimited spending is the norm, on both sides of the aisle.

Introducing National Journal's New Mobile App

April 29, 2013
National Journal has launched its new iPhone app, putting even more NJ features and tools at your fingertips. 
Brain waves control virtual helicopter

If These Brain Scanners Don't Raise Your Red Privacy Flags, Nothing Will

Brian Fung | April 29, 2013
We're still a ways from being able to read people's thoughts. But how we write our privacy laws today will determine what that future looks like.
John Larson

Connecticut Lawmakers Back 'Coltsville' Park at Firearms Site Near Newtown

Billy House | April 28, 2013
Members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation are supporting a plan to create a national park out of the historic Colt firearms manufacturing plant in Hartford, just 50 miles from the site of the Newtown shooting.
Mark Pryor

In the Aftermath of Gun-Bill Loss in Senate, Liberals Put Incumbent Democrats on Notice

Alex Roarty | April 25, 2013
After last week’s failed gun-control vote in the Senate, in which a handful of moderate Democrats defected from their party, a coalition of progressive groups is warning those at-risk incumbents to start avoiding votes that make them look too conservative.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev

Was the Ball Dropped in the Tsarnaev Questioning?

Major Garrett | April 23, 2013
To paraphrase Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz: This is our @#$&%! Constitution.
West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion

How Will Texas Explosion Impact Chemical Security Laws?

Douglas P. Guarino | April 23, 2013
Industry officials 'appalled' by those who say the incident suggests a need for tougher chemical security laws.
Boston bombing memorial

The White House Is Right: Tsarnaev Should Be Tried As a Civilian

James Oliphant | April 23, 2013
The only surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bomb case will be represented by counsel and arraigned, just like any other criminal defendant.
in a boat

When Everyone's an Investigator: How Technology Aided The Boston Marathon Manhunt

Brian Resnick | April 20, 2013
Advances have completely changed the nature of a mass public crime scene.
Barack Obama

Crisis in Boston, Fallout in Washington

Ron Fournier | April 19, 2013
What. A. Week.
Rob Portman

Poll: Portman's Approval Rating Slips After Marriage Stance

Alex Brown | April 19, 2013
Sen. Rob Portman's, R-Ohio, approval ratings have dropped marginally since he announced he supported same-sex marriage last month, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Friday. The poll shows Portman with 40 percent approval, while 31 percent of voters take a negative view of his job pe...
Sanford SC-01 special

DCCC Piles On in South Carolina

Sarah Mimms | April 18, 2013
Just one day after the National Republican Congressional Committee pulled its support for former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's special election campaign, its Democratic counterpart is going up on the air in the First District. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will launch the n...
Michelle Ash

Michelle Ash, Minority Chief Consumer Protection Counsel

Catherine Hollander and Brian Fung | April 17, 2013
A Pittsburgh native, Michelle Ash, 45, had originally planned to go into law. But after a year at a local law firm, she decided on the world of policy instead.
commerece timeline thumb

The 218 Year History of the House Energy and Commerce Committee

National Journal Staff | April 17, 2013
Historical highlights of the oldest standing legislative committee in the House of Representatives
John Dingell

The Art and Agony of Oversight

Mike Magner | April 17, 2013
What many consider to be the golden age of congressional oversight can be summed up by a word coined but no longer heard much on Capitol Hill: “Dingell-gram.”
Person uses computer screen

How the Government Searches for the Boston Marathon Bomber

James Kitfield | April 17, 2013
The post-9/11 record strongly suggests that the U.S. authorities will indeed get their man.
Mark Sanford

NRCC Drops Mark Sanford Following Trespassing Charges

Sarah Mimms | April 17, 2013
The National Republican Congressional Committee has pulled its support for former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's congressional campaign, acknowledging that revelations that he trespassed on his ex-wife's property in February could cost the party a House seat in a district that former Massachuset...
Boston marathon explosion

6 Tragedies That Sparked Legislation

Matt Vasilogambros | April 17, 2013
When tragedy strikes this country, Americans react with grief, anger, hope, and sometimes legislation.
Boston marathon explosion

Mass. Senate Candidates Put Campaigns on Hold After Marathon Explosions

Kevin Brennan | April 15, 2013
In the wake of the explosions at the Boston Marathon on Monday, the candidates running in the state's Senate special election put their campaigns on hold and offered their condolences for the victims and their families. Democratic Rep. Edward Markey, the frontrunner in the race, announced the...
Nick Rahall at Energy Independence Press Conference

Senate Fundraising Roundup: The House Is Home?

Sarah Mimms | April 15, 2013
With Monday's Federal Election Commission reporting deadline looming, we are getting an early glimpse at which potential Senate candidates in the House are already laying the groundwork for 2014 bids for the upper chamber -- and which are not just yet. Here, a look at the latter: Arkansas: Rep. Tom...
New U.S. citizens are sworn-in at an induction ceremony in Pomona, Calif., in January.

Why a Messed Up Immigration Bill Could Still Pass

Fawn Johnson | April 14, 2013
Only one thing really matters in the immigration bill that a bipartisan group of eight senators will unveil this week—11 million immigrants living in the United States without papers who fear deportation every day. Give them a break, and the rest will sort itself out.
Yamaha Motor Corporation USA's RMax

What Drones Can Do for You

Sara Sorcher | April 11, 2013
Prescription drugs, fast-food delivery, disaster relief—unmanned aerial vehicles can be handy in all sorts of ways. 
Pat Toomey

How Pat Toomey Became the Face of the Blue State GOP

Alex Roarty | April 11, 2013
The senator from Pennsylvania could have followed Rick Santorum. Instead, he's moving to the center on guns and gay rights. 
Sen. John Cornyn

3 Strong Pro-Gun Arguments to Watch

Fawn Johnson | April 11, 2013
Republicans are raising complex questions about mental health, federal enforcement, and gun-purchase records that deserve the thorough and intense debate they are about to receive.
President Obama's budget

A New Budget for a New Party

Ronald Brownstein | April 11, 2013
Obama's fiscal proposal aligns him with the politics of minority, millennial, and college-educated voters.
Manchin and Toomey

Background Checks Take Center Stage in Gun Debate

Fawn Johnson | April 10, 2013
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino wanted background checks when background checks weren’t cool.
Gay Marriage State by State

Mapping the Same-Sex Marriage Movement

Jody Brannon | April 8, 2013
A graphical look at how the states stand on same-sex marriage. 
Pat Toomey

The Conservative Senator Who May Control Obama's Fate

Ron Fournier | April 8, 2013
Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania emerges as a dealmaker on background checks, as he faces tough re-election in 2016.
Gun Show

Why Gay Marriage Is Getting Political Traction (And Why Gun Control Isn't)

Jill Lawrence | April 7, 2013
The generation gap that's driving same-sex marriage doesn't exist in the debate over guns.
Unemployment in DC

Has Obama Done Enough for Black Americans?

George E. Condon Jr. and Jim O’Sullivan | April 4, 2013
For many, this is still a land of unequal opportunity. A history-making president may not be enough. 
Drone

Vetting the Kill List

James Oliphant and Kristin Roberts contributed | April 4, 2013
Civil libertarians want a judge to oversee the administration’s targeted-killing program. It sounds appealing, but it could do more harm than good.
Shush

When Corporations Are Hacked, Who Should Know?

Brian Fung | April 4, 2013
Companies hurt themselves—but help the rest of us—when they disclose cyberattacks. 
Mark Pryor

Why This Democratic Senator Won't Support Same-Sex Marriage

Alex Roarty | April 4, 2013
There are now only four Democratic senators who have not expressed support for gay marriage. Sen. Mark Pryor is likely to stay that way.
Gay Marriage

Why the Culture Wars Now Favor Democrats

Ronald Brownstein | April 4, 2013
Gay marriage, gun control, immigration—the wedge issues now divide Republicans.
Same-Sex Marriage

Which Republican Senator Will Support Gay Marriage Next? 5 to Watch.

Elahe Izadi | April 3, 2013
Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins could be the next two to flip.
Sanford primary

Sanford Defeats Bostic in S.C. Runoff

Sarah Mimms | April 2, 2013
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will be the Republican nominee on a ballot in his home state for the first time in seven years, after defeating former Charleston County Councilor Curtis Bostic in a primary runoff for the state's vacant First District congressional seat. The AP called the ra...
Asa Huchinson

Once Again, the NRA Is Winning the Gun-Control Debate

Fawn Johnson | April 2, 2013
At dueling press conferences, gun-rights supporters sound confident.
The 7 Senate Democratic Holdouts on Gay Marriage

The 7 Senate Democratic Holdouts on Gay Marriage

Michael Catalini | April 2, 2013
Don't expect the remaining same-sex-marriage opponents to flip.
Tom Carper

There Are Now Only 7 Senate Democrats Opposing Gay Marriage

Michael Catalini | April 2, 2013
Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware endorsed gay marriage this morning on Facebook, bringing to seven the number of Democratic senators who have yet to publicly support the issue. 

Ongoing Polarization of the House in 1 Chart

Jody Brannon | April 2, 2013
Charlie Cook's Partisan Vote Index maps 14 years of House elections, indicating fewer swing districts.
Sanford primary

A Truly Special Election in South Carolina

Josh Kraushaar | March 29, 2013
If only for entertainment, the most compelling contest this year is South Carolina’s special election, which could pit former Gov. Mark Sanford against the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert.
Joe Biden

Play of the Day: Joe Biden Can't Wait for Easter

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | March 29, 2013
Fast forward to 3:10 to see why Joe Biden is excited about Easter.
Drone

Drone Lobbyist: 'I Don't Use the Word Drone'

Sara Sorcher | March 27, 2013
Drones are coming to U.S. skies. The Federal Aviation Administration is charged with finding a safe way for drones to fly for commercial purposes by 2015, but civil liberties advocates worry privacy rights might suffer.
Supreme Court DOMA

Why Waiting on the States Could Create a Messy Future for Same-Sex Marriage

Ronald Brownstein | March 27, 2013
In two big cases this week, the justices were hesitant to impose a national standard on gay marriage. But history shows that leaving the issue to the states could leave a long-lasting patchwork.
Supreme Court DOMA

Why Are All These Democrats Suddenly Supporting Gay Marriage?

Elahe Izadi | March 27, 2013
There's been an "evolution" in their thinking. There's also a lot of money on the table. 
Kay Hagan

Hagan Backs Gay Marriage, Despite N.C. Ban

Sarah Mimms | March 27, 2013
Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., became the first Southern Democrat in the chamber running for reelection next year to publicly announce her support for same-sex marriage Wednesday, joining a growing line of Democrats who have come out in favor of marriage rights in recent days, as the Supreme Court consider...
Supreme Court DOMA

The Early Word From the Supreme Court on DOMA

Alexander Abad-Santos and Atlantic Wire | March 27, 2013
Same-sex marriage advocates may have gotten some good news from the Supreme Court on Wednesday about the Defense of Marriage Act. But they aren't quite in the clear.
Supreme Court Oral Arguments

Why 1 Gay-Rights Activist Doesn't Want a Broad Supreme Court Decision Now

Matt Vasilogambros | March 27, 2013
Following the first day of oral arguments before the Supreme Court, some gay-rights activists fear the justices seemed hesitant to rule broadly on the constitutional right for same-sex marriage. But one activist says that might be fine for now.
DOMA at the Supreme Court

Your Guide to Wednesday's Supreme Court DOMA Hearing

Adam Clark Estes and Atlantic Wire | March 27, 2013
Everything you need to know about Wednesday's Supreme Court hearing on same-sex marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act.
grumpy cat same sex marriage

The Same-Sex Marriage Logo Is Now a Meme

Brian Fung | March 26, 2013
The 8 best derivatives of Human Rights Campaign's icon
human rights campaign logo same sex gay marriage

Why Is This Image for Same-Sex Marriage Going Viral?

Brian Fung | March 26, 2013
If the window for embracing same-sex marriage is closing, so is the one for marriage-equality avatars on Facebook.
Supreme Court Prop 8

Justices Signal They Want to Move Slowly on Same-Sex Marriage

James Oliphant | March 26, 2013
The Supreme Court took California's gay-marriage case, but the justices seem to be aching for a reason to rule narrowly.
SCOTUS Gay Marriage

Protesters Outside the Supreme Court on Proposition 8

National Journal staff | March 26, 2013
Same-Sex Marriage sign

The Best Signs Supporting Same-Sex Marriage At the Supreme Court

Zachary M. Seward and Quartz | March 26, 2013
From YOLO Scalia to Dumbledore, some of the best signs outside of the Supreme Court as the Justices hear arguments on Prop 8.
Supreme Court Prop 8

Your Guide to Today's Supreme Court Prop 8 Hearing

Alexander Abad-Santos - The Atlantic Wire | March 26, 2013
No more politicians switching sides. No more talk of what the polls mean. The long-awaited gay-marriage arguments at the Supreme Court have arrived, and the stakes are high for the most important civil-rights cases before the nation's highest court in years.
shh quiet

Will Businesses Be Forced to Say If They've Been Hacked?

Brian Fung | March 26, 2013
The idea is still a long way from reality, but Congress has taken the first step toward requiring companies to admit when they've been hacked.
Same-sex Marriage

Could Overturning Gay-Marriage Bans Help the GOP?

Elahe Izadi | March 26, 2013
Taking the politically tough issue off the table would benefit the Republican Party.
Ted Olson

Prop 8 Challenger Ted Olson Was My Lawyer

Matthew Cooper | March 25, 2013
The conservative litigator takes his fight for same-sex marriage to the Supreme Court. What I learned about why he's such a fierce and clever advocate.
SCOTUS Gay Marriage

At the Supreme Court, Waiting Through Sleet, Snow, and an Onslaught of Questions From Journalists

Ben Terris | March 25, 2013
What it's like to spend days outside the Supreme Court waiting to hear oral arguments about same-sex marriage.
Anthony Kennedy

Gay Rights Cases May Force Anthony Kennedy to Choose Between 2 Great Legal Loves

Garrett Epps - The Atlantic | March 25, 2013
Will the Supreme Court justice honor states' rights or gay rights? He has a long track record of support for both.
Bloomberg

Previewing the Sunday Shows

Christopher Peleo-Lazar | March 22, 2013
The Sunday shows will cover a variety of topics this week, from the coming legal fight over same-sex marriage to President Obama's first trip to Israel as president. Check out the full listings: Sunday Meet the Press hosts New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre Face the Nat...
Rep. Justin Amash

The Senate Trouble-Maker in Waiting

Tim Alberta | March 21, 2013
Rep. Justin Amash has already led a failed coup against House leadership. His next play may be the upper chamber.

On the Move: March 23, 2013

Christopher Snow Hopkins and Mike Magner | March 21, 2013
Kelly Nallen is American Crossroads' new director of digital. Former Hillary Clinton collaborator Kris Balderston is a senior partner at Fleishman-Hillard. Onetime DeLay policy director Juliane Sullivan heads the House Education and the Workforce staff.
Betty Ford ERA

What the 1970s ERA Debate Means for Same-Sex Marriage

Matthew Cooper | March 21, 2013
In the '70s, the Equal Rights Amendment looked like it would become law. And then it didn't. 
Drones

Invasion of the Drones Has Senate Panel’s Attention

Sara Sorcher | March 20, 2013
Like it or not, drones are coming to American skies. Now Congress must find a way to protect the right to privacy.
Martin O'Malley

Will Martin O’Malley Be the Howard Dean of 2016?

Elahe Izadi | March 20, 2013
The Maryland governor's progressive legislative accomplishments would enable him to make a play from the left in 2016.
Mark Sanford

Mark Sanford Advances to Runoff, But Recount Likely Looms for Second Place

Sarah Mimms | March 19, 2013
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford finished first Tuesday in the GOP primary for South Carolina's 1st District, but his political comeback isn't complete just yet. In the special election to replace Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Sanford will face the second-place finisher in an April 2 runoff for the...
padlock

The Future of Data Security

Brian Fung | March 19, 2013
The future may rely on a principle most people are reluctant to admit: All systems are inherently insecure.
Myron Fleming

Retiring Senate Doorkeeper Has Seen Good Times and Bad

Christopher Snow Hopkins | March 18, 2013
When Myron Fleming arrived on Capitol Hill in 1963, he recalls a woman hurling a racial remark his way not long after he was hired.
same-sex marriage

Gay Marriage Is A 2016 Litmus Test for Democrats

Elahe Izadi | March 18, 2013
Any Democratic presidential candidate opposing gay marriage will have trouble winning the nomination.
Hillary Clinton

6 Reasons for Hillary Clinton's Gay-Marriage Move

Jill Lawrence | March 18, 2013
Hint: None of them have to do with a potential presidential campaign.
Hillary Rodham Clinton

Why Hillary Clinton Now Supports Gay Marriage

Elahe Izadi | March 18, 2013
Former first lady wanted to make her views known before the Supreme Court rules on the subject.
potd318

Play of the Day: At the Club With Pope Francis

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | March 18, 2013
Fast forward to 2:10 to see Fallon talk about the newest American tool in global cyberwarfare.
Santorum CPAC

At CPAC, Conservatives Downplaying the Culture Wars

Elahe Izadi and Beth Reinhard contributed | March 15, 2013
Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels controversially called for a social truce at CPAC in 2011. Now other conservatives are taking his advice.
Marco McMillian

The Elusive Truth Behind Murder of a Black, Gay Mayoral Candidate in Mississippi

Ben Terris | March 15, 2013
It’s tempting to think Marco McMillian was killed because of his race, his sexuality, or because he was running for mayor. The truth is more elusive.
Rob Portman

Portman Reverses Position on Same-Sex Marriage

George E. Condon Jr. | March 15, 2013
Sen. Rob Portman, the Ohio Republican who was considered a strong prospect as a vice presidential candidate in the last election, has changed his position to support gay marriage, dropping his decades-long opposition after one of his sons said that he is gay.
Missi- Murder thumbnail

In Mississippi, the Mysterious Murder of a Gay, Black Politician

Ben Terris | March 14, 2013
It’s tempting to think Marco McMillian was killed because of his race, his sexuality, or because he was running for mayor. The truth is more elusive.
Dianne Feinstein

In Senate, Assault Weapons Are Complicated

Fawn Johnson | March 14, 2013
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote Thursday approving an assault-weapons ban was a sham—if you think the purpose was to ban assault weapons. If you think the committee’s vote offered an opportunity for lawmakers to parse and deliberate complicated and unresolved questions about the Constitution, guns, and violence, then it was a highly productive 90 minutes.
Barack Obama

The Great Party Paradox

Ronald Brownstein and Stephanie Czekalinski | March 14, 2013
A year of surveys shows that Americans don't line up consistently behind Republicans or Democrats -- but like a little of each.
Pope Francis

New Pope Draws Praise and Prayers From Washington

Mike Magner and Christopher Snow Hopkins | March 13, 2013
President Obama wrapped up a rare meeting with House Republicans on Wednesday afternoon by giving his adversaries a piece of news. “I made the announcement that we saw smoke,” the president told reporters as he left the Capitol shortly after 3 p.m.
Pope Francis waves

Pope Francis: Change or More of the Same?

Amy Sullivan | March 13, 2013
The new pope is a man of many firsts. But his papacy may end up looking very familiar.
Obama on Akin

Who's Going to Blink First on Cyber — Obama, or the House?

Brian Fung | March 13, 2013
The Obama administration will now have to weigh in sooner rather than later on a highly contentious cybersecurity bill moving through the House.
Romney family

The Romneys, The Family That Just Can’t Quit Politics

Elahe Izadi | March 13, 2013
Mitt may be out of politics, but his family isn't.
Row of computers

Watch a Mesmerizing Real-Time Map of Cyberattacks

Brian Fung | March 13, 2013
A website run by a German telco that monitors cyberattacks in real time shows that Russian IP addresses are the No. 1 source of automated hacks.
Bill Bolling

Bolling Won't Mount Independent Va. Gov. Bid

Dan Roem | March 12, 2013
Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) announced Tuesday that he will not run for governor as an independent, setting up an all-but-certain, grueling head-to-head matchup between Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe. Bolling, who e...
Obama

In Making Play for the House, President Obama Could Lose the Senate

Josh Kraushaar | March 8, 2013
Second-term setbacks are forcing Obama to sound more conciliatory toward Republicans.

Paul's Filibuster Draws Divisions Within GOP

Stacy Kaper and Sara Sorcher | March 7, 2013
It might not be a sign of an overnight upheaval in the leadership of Republican defense orthodoxy, but Sen. Rand Paul’s long filibuster questioning drone use in the U.S. struck a civil libertarian nerve that is illuminating divisions within GOP ranks.
Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Behind Cantor's Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama

Elahe Izadi | March 7, 2013
Laying a wreath during a moving ceremony at a Civil Rights Memorial where House Majority Leader Eric Cantor locked arms with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and held hands Rep. John Lewis -- that’s not a picturethat is common in highly partisan Washington.
Draganflyer X6

The Wonderful World of Drones

Sara Sorcher | March 7, 2013
Fighting fires, reducing crime, counting sea lions: the case for domestic UAVs.
Rand Paul at the Capitol

Rand Paul and Washington's Night of Hypocrisy

Matthew Cooper | March 7, 2013
Rand Paul’s filibuster was surprising, compelling, and a perfect window into Washington’s hypocrisy.
Supreme Court

Here Come the Culture Wars: Court Hears Cases on Affirmative Action and Gay Marriage

Beth Reinhard | March 7, 2013
Democrats concerned that rulings could mobilize conservative base ahead of 2014 midterms.
The Alamo

An Instagram Tour of San Antonio

Sophie Quinton | March 6, 2013
Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Cantor Embarks on Annual Civil-Rights Pilgrimage

Elahe Izadi | March 6, 2013
Cantor is the highest-ranking Republican to go on trip, led by Rep. John Lewis.
Rand Paul

What Was Behind Rand Paul's Filibuster of John Brennan

Sara Sorcher | March 6, 2013
Angry about the Obama administration’s claim it may kill U.S. citizens on American soil in certain situations, the Kentucky Republican took to the Senate floor for hours to hold up the nomination of John Brennan to become CIA director.
Chip Roy

Five Staff Positions to Watch: Chiefs of Staff for Freshman Senators

Amy Harder and Stacy Kaper | March 3, 2013
Meet the chiefs of staff for five of the Senate's newest members.
Customs and Border Protection's Predator B

The Backlash Against Drones

Sara Sorcher | February 21, 2013
Flying robots can improve policing and assist in search-and-rescues. But they're also good at domestic spying, and that raises privacy concerns.
Obama

Is Obama Being Too Mean to the White House Press Corps?

Matthew Cooper | February 19, 2013
It's fine to push for access, but no reason to be a drama queen about it. Especially when the real victims are the investigative reporters.
jay rockefeller scrum

Rockefeller, Lead Senate Player on Cyber, Seeks To Win Over Business

Brian Fung | February 15, 2013
A week after President Obama's groundbreaking executive order on cybersecurity, attention is turning to Congress, where Sen. Jay Rockefeller is reviving stalled legislation on the issue.
waterboarding

Is Obama's Drone Policy Really Morally Superior to Torture?

Sara Sorcher | February 14, 2013
Bush was condemned for waterboarding. But this administration kills from above.
President Barack Obama

Why Some Privacy Advocates Are Grinning Over Obama's Cybersecurity Order

Brian Fung | February 13, 2013
The five principles in the presidential directive that uphold civil liberties.
valor

It Was Declared Unconstitutional. So Why Is the Stolen Valor Act Getting Another Go?

Ben Terris | February 6, 2013
Much to the eye roll of the ACLU, Congress is pushing forward to make it (again) illegal to lie about military service.
Drone

Secret Memos Expose Obama's Double Standard on 'Targeted Killings'

Ron Fournier | February 5, 2013
For all the protests over Bush-era torture policies, where is the commensurate condemnation over President Obama’s justification for killing American citizens with no due process, no transparency, and no accountability?
Professor Robert Smith

Impact of Immigration: 3 Points by Sociology Professor Robert C. Smith

Next America Staff | February 1, 2013
As the nation explores immigration reform, The Next America is asking experts for their input. Robert C. Smith, a sociology professor, joins in the discussion.
Drone Strike funueral

Targeted Killings: Obama’s Endless War

James Kitfield | January 31, 2013
Even as it pulls forces out of Afghanistan, the Obama administration wants to continue high-tech targeted killings in the war against terrorists.
Nancy Foner, CUNY sociologist

Impact of Immigration: 3 Points by Sociology Professor Nancy Foner

Nancy Foner and CUNY | January 31, 2013
In weighing the challenges of changing immigration laws, lawmakers should consider issues relevant to the border fence, bias, and the reality of the numbers.
cahn - michael

A Boy Scout Rebel Who Accepted Gays in 1992 Is About to Be Vindicated

Brian Resnick | January 31, 2013
21 years ago, Scoutmaster Michael Cahn made a bold challenge to the Scouts' orthodoxy. Now, the change he called for could be happening.

President Obama's Immigration Reform Plan (Full Text)

National Journal Staff | January 29, 2013
The White House has released a synopsis of the president's immigration proposals.
Barack Obama Re-nominates Richard Cordray

Why Richard Cordray Re-Nomination Fight Won’t Be About Richard Cordray

Catherine Hollander | January 25, 2013
President Obama’s re-nomination of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reignites the battle that raged last year over the structure of the regulatory agency created under the landmark Dodd-Frank financial-reform law.
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