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Darrell Issa

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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?

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

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

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Capitol dome

Nobody Spoils a Good Story Like Congress

Enjoy the good news, America, while it lasts.
Obama in Mexico

Play of the Day: Obama in Mexico

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

Little has changed politically since the last time Congress rebuffed the president.
Islamic Center of Murfreesboro

Stopping Terrorism at the Source

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?

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

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

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

Advances have completely changed the nature of a mass public crime scene.
Barack Obama

Crisis in Boston, Fallout in Washington

What. A. Week.
Rob Portman

Poll: Portman's Approval Rating Slips After Marriage Stance

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

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

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

Historical highlights of the oldest standing legislative committee in the House of Representatives
John Dingell

The Art and Agony of Oversight

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A graphical look at how the states stand on same-sex marriage. 
Pat Toomey

The Conservative Senator Who May Control Obama's Fate

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)

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?

For many, this is still a land of unequal opportunity. A history-making president may not be enough. 
Drone

Vetting the Kill List

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?

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

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

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.

Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins could be the next two to flip.
Sanford primary

Sanford Defeats Bostic in S.C. Runoff

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

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

Don't expect the remaining same-sex-marriage opponents to flip.
Tom Carper

There Are Now Only 7 Senate Democrats Opposing Gay Marriage

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

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

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

Fast forward to 3:10 to see why Joe Biden is excited about Easter.
Drone

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

Same-Sex Marriage sign

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

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

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?

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?

Taking the politically tough issue off the table would benefit the Republican Party.
Ted Olson

Prop 8 Challenger Ted Olson Was My Lawyer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

Any Democratic presidential candidate opposing gay marriage will have trouble winning the nomination.
Hillary Clinton

6 Reasons for Hillary Clinton's Gay-Marriage Move

Hint: None of them have to do with a potential presidential campaign.
Hillary Rodham Clinton

Why Hillary Clinton Now Supports Gay Marriage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

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

Mitt may be out of politics, but his family isn't.
Row of computers

Watch a Mesmerizing Real-Time Map of Cyberattacks

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

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

Second-term setbacks are forcing Obama to sound more conciliatory toward Republicans.

Paul's Filibuster Draws Divisions Within GOP

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

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

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

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

Democrats concerned that rulings could mobilize conservative base ahead of 2014 midterms.
The Alamo

An Instagram Tour of San Antonio

Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Cantor Embarks on Annual Civil-Rights Pilgrimage

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

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.
Voting technology

Obama's Stance on Unlocking Cell Phones Comes With a Very Big Catch

The White House agrees that you should be able to unlock your phone and bring it with you to another carrier “without risking criminal or other penalties” — as long as you're not tied to a service contract.
Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney Isn't Done Proving Why He's Not President

One silver lining for Republicans: The GOP’s presidential nominee in 2016 will be much more politically savvy.
Sandy Potomac river flooding

Can Climate-Change Denier Ken Cuccinelli Win a Swing State?

In storm-battered Virginia, the Republican candidate for governor still doubts the science.
McConnell Boehner

How the House Holds the Senate GOP Hostage

Upper-chamber Republicans prefer a more circumspect approach, but they are increasingly defined by their hard-line House counterparts.
Mark Warner

Mark Warner's Evolution on Same-Sex Marriage

Of the 40 Senators who signed onto an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to strike down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, one name stands out among those up for reelection in 2014: Sen. Mark Warner. The Virginia Democrat released a follow-up statement in which he explained his reasoni...
Cat

Obama Plays Cat and Mouse With GOP on Gay Rights, Guns, Immigration, and Climate

The president is torturing his prey on issues that divide the GOP from the mainstream.
Antonin Scalia

The Supreme Court Seems Ready to Send Voting Rights Issue to Congress

The justices seem certain to strike down or change the Voting Rights Act. What Congress and President Obama might do.
Foreclosure

Opinion: Have Mortgage Settlements Left Communities of Color Behind?

On the one-year anniversary of the $25 billion national mortgage settlement, questions remain about the implementation and the affect on communities of color.
Court

High Court's Conservatives Cast Doubt on Key Voting Rights Act Provision

The conservative and liberal wings of the Supreme Court sparred Wednesday morning over the future of the Voting Rights Act, as the Court heard arguments in a case that challenges one of the central pillars of the law protecting racial minorities' right to vote. The case, Shelby County, Ala. v. Hold...
Burl Ives

Tennessee Williams Offers Window Into the Mendacity That Defines the Sequester

The playwright captures its essence better than any D.C. politician.

Teddy Turner's New T.V. Ad Evokes Sanford's Apology

Republican Teddy Turner is out with another ad in the special election for South Carolina's First District seat, which may conjure for voters some uncomfortable memories of one of his opponents, former Gov. Mark Sanford.
Governors Bob McDonnell, R-Va., and Martin O'Malley, D-Md.

Bob McDonnell and Martin O'Malley Are Becoming Fast Frenemies

Two potential 2016 presidential candidates are forming a mutually beneficial alliance.
Gay Military Pride

The GOP's Uncomfortable Debate Over Gay Marriage

As Republicans rebound from the 2012 election and plot their future, an uncomfortable debate over gay rights is taking place.
Allyson Schwartz

Rep. Allyson Schwartz’s Potential Bid for Governor Could Cost House Democrats

As the Pennsylvania Democrat lays groundwork for a state race in 2014, she could leave the DCCC—where she serves as the party’s finance chair—in a pinch.

Akin Tops Most Conservative Lawmaker List

CongressWhite HouseNational SecurityPoliticsEnergyEconomy & BudgetHealth Care TOP FIVE AKIN TOPS MOST CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKER LIST. Topping National Journal's annual list of the most conservative representatives in the House is former Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., who is perhaps best remembered for h...
Obama

Here Comes the Budget Pain

This post also ran on The Edge, National Journal's daily look at today in Washington -- and what's coming next. The email features analysis from NJ's top correspondents, insights on the biggest stories of the day -- and always a few surprises. Subscribe here.
Todd Akin

Todd Akin, the Most Controversial Senate Candidate of 2012, Was Also the Most Conservative Member of the House

National Journal's annual list of the most conservative members in the House of Representatives, calculated from voting records.
Barbara Lee

Vote Ratings: Black Caucus May Flex More Influence

As Democrats prepare to flex what may be reinvigorated muscle this congressional session, the Congressional Black Caucus could be positioned to gain increased attention both from President Obama and congressional leaders.
Marco Rubio cameras

Can Marco Rubio Live Up to the Hype?

He's the GOP's Barack Obama, a fresh-faced politician with an immigrant name, a playlist full of rap, and a collection of fawning press clips. The challenge: He's selling the same old party message.
Voting Rights

Voting Rights Act Faces a Supreme Test

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority may modify a key part of the Voting Rights Act. But it’s unlikely to eviscerate it.
Hagel Hearing

The Age of the Promiscuous Filibuster

In the age of rampant filibusters, anything can happen. Even the blocking of a Defense Secretary nominee.
John Barrow

NRCC to Barrow: We've Got a Ticket To Ride

The National Republican Congressional Committee spent nearly $1.7 million trying to oust Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., in 2012, so what's another $814? The committee is taking advantage of President Obama's stop in Atlanta Thursday, reserving a plane ticket for Barrow to join him in Georgia for the even...
President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address

Forget Bipartisanship. It's Time to Get Dirty.

The Edge is National Journal's daily look at today in Washington -- and what's coming next. The email features analysis from NJ's top correspondents, the biggest stories of the day -- and always a few surprises. To subscribe, click here.
aisle

The Curse of the State of the Union Aisle Seat

Lawmakers wait for hours to get one of these coveted seats, but at what cost?
Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln

'Lincoln' Screenwriter Fires Back at Connecticut House Member Disgruntled Over Errors

Tony Kushner's response takes a few jabs at Rep. Joe Courtney, who had said the movie got the state's 1865 House votes on slavery wrong.

Report: Monster Snowstorm Threatens Mass. GOP's Ballot Access

The blizzard that is poised to dump two feet of snow on the eastern half of Massachusetts has some Bay State Republicans worried that none of their candidates in the upcoming Senate special election will be able to collect the 10,000 signatures necessary to qualify for the ballot by the Feb. 28 dead...
Yes We Can Obama Rally Grant Park

With New Support Base, Obama Doesn't Need Right-Leaning Whites Anymore

For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of the culturally conservative white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.
Ed Koch

How Ed Koch Remade Liberalism

The late New York mayor wasn't just a character, but a transformational figure.
Barack Obama

Why Obama Is Giving Up on Right-Leaning Whites

For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of losing right-leaning white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.
cahn - michael

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

21 years ago, Scoutmaster Michael Cahn made a bold challenge to the Scouts' orthodoxy. Now, the change he called for could be happening.
Gay Marriage Protest

Will Republicans Move to the Middle on Gay Rights?

Public opinion is moving away from social conservatives, but the issue is deeply polarizing.

President Obama's Immigration Reform Plan (Full Text)

The White House has released a synopsis of the president's immigration proposals.

Meet Barbara Buono, the Democrat Likely to Face Chris Christie

What do you do when you're the frontrunner for your party's nomination but you're trailing in the general election by 41 points? If you're Democratic New Jersey state Sen. Barbara Buono running against GOP Gov. Chris Christie, you acknowledge your current standing but hope for the best. "If the election was held today, we know what the result would be," said Buono during a phone interview last week. "I fully expect my name recognition to grow."

Brad Dayspring, Ward Baker Tapped for Top NRSC Jobs

The National Republican Senatorial Committee will tap operatives who served in the inner circles of former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor as senior staff for the 2014 elections.
Man sitting at a bar drinking

A 12-Step Program for the Republican Party

The GOP has finally admitted it has a problem winning over voters. Here’s a 12-step program to get the party back on track.
Newt Gingrich

Gingrich to Republicans: Think Different

The ex-House speaker rebukes Romney and says the GOP's future lies with its governors.
Terry Gilbert kisses his husband Paul Beppler

For Obama, Social Equality Will Come Easier Than Economic Equality

President Obama wants more social tolerance and economic opportunity. One goal is more achievable than the other.
Angry Obama

Why (and How) Obama Might Be Raising Expectations Too High Again

The president's newly confrontational approach might feel better, but it's a capitulation to the times that may backfire.
Paul Ryan, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio

Is the GOP Moving to the Center? Or Just Getting Sane?

Capitulation on debt ceiling and immigration suggests the GOP is eying vacuum created by left-leaning White House.
Vice Presidential Debate

Will Biden, Ryan Cash in on Washington Experience in 2016?

Vice President Joe Biden and Paul Ryan share one glaring similarity that could make or break them in 2016 – they are leveraging their insider status to play a significant role in the future of their parties.
Barack Obama, Harry Reid

Obama: A Party of One

President Obama's second-term achievements depend on whether his voters were drawn more to his personality or his policy proposals.
Gay Marriage Protest

Gay Rights Groups Want Action, And They Expect Obama to Deliver

Gay-rights advocates have a long list of asks for the White House, and they expect Obama to deliver.  
Obama

Post-Partisan No More: Who Is the New Obama?

Obama's inaugural address buried the brand he rode to the White House. Will the new approach work? The GOP won't make it easy.

Ted Turner's Son Launches First TV Ad in SC Special

Republican Teddy Turner, son of media mogul Ted Turner, appears to be the first candidate on the air in the special election to fill the House seat vacated by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., having released a 30-second biographical ad on Friday. The ad is running on broadcast and cable television as part o...
Inauguration Photos from the Capitol

What Obama Wants and What Congress Will Give Him

How the president's vision fits with what Congress is likely to do.
Obama gives Inauguration speech at the Capitol

Chastened by His Times, Obama Falls Short of History in Inaugural Address

“We cannot mistake absolutism for principle," Obama tells both allies and rivals.
Obama Swears

The Second-Term Inaugural Jinx

It's rare for a re-elected president to deliver a memorable inaugural address.

Previewing the Sunday Shows

The Sunday shows will preview President Obama's second term this week on the eve of the inauguration. White House adviser David Plouffe will appear on Face the Nation, This Week, Fox News Sunday and State of the Union to discuss the challenges ahead in Obama's second term. Meet the Press will host...
Obama

Expect Obama to Be More Aggressive in His Second Term

Obama's forceful moves on controversial fronts represent a calculated gamble that the evolution of the U.S. electorate has reached a critical tipping point. 

Capuano Won't Run in Mass. Special Election

The list of of potential rivals to Rep. Edward Markey for the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts' looming Senate special election continues to dwindle: Rep. Michael Capuano announced Tuesday that he won't run for the seat. "After careful consideration, I have decided not to enter the race for U...
Obama announces Cabinet nominations

Obama Reshapes Cabinet For a Second Term

With Inauguration Day approaching, President Obama is reshaping his Cabinet and White House staff for his second term. In the latest change, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has said he will leave his job at the end of March, creating an opening at the helm of the agency that oversees public lands.

The Political Landscape Was Off Last Week, Will Move to Thursday Moving Forward

After a week off, National Journal's weekly podcast, The Political Landscape, is moving from its weekend release to a Thursday afternoon release. You can be sure to get all future episodes of The Political Landscape by subscribing on iTunes or Stitcher, or by filling out the form below and to the right ("Follow the Political Landscape") to have each new episode sent to your email inbox. As always, you can find every episode at this landing page.

GOP Insiders: Avoid Same-Sex Marriage Issue

National Journal's Political Insiders moved closer to embracing gay marriage, in the wake of historic ballot initiatives that legalized same-sex marriage in some states November and the first endorsement from a sitting president.  Asked about their views on the subject, the Democratic insiders were near unanimous in their support of gay marriage, with no Insiders saying their party should oppose it and a mere 2 percent saying the issue should be avoided. Nearly half of Republican insiders, meanwhile, believed that the topic should be avoided, while almost three out of ten were in favor of support and 11 percent hewing to the GOP’s traditional opposition. The numbers are a dramatic departure from where they stood in April 2009, when the Insiders were first asked for their views. At the time, half of Republican Insiders said their party should oppose gay marriage, while 37 percent said the issue should be avoided. About 60 percent of Democratic insiders supported the idea two years ago. Which statement comes closest to your political views on gay marriage?   Democrats (109 votes) Republicans (99 votes) My party should support it 97% 27% My party should oppose it 0% 11% My party should avoid the issue 2% 48% Other 1% 14%

Political Insiders: Republicans Divided on How to Address Gay Marriage

Plus, Democrats aren't sold that Chuck Hagel is President Obama's best choice for Defense secretary.

Whipping the Hagel Vote

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel has a tough confirmation fight ahead of him. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed concern over Hagel's positions on the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan and gay rights. His first challenge: Making it through the Senate Armed Services Committee, which will hold hearings on his nomination in the coming weeks.
Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon: One of Us

On this, the 100th birthday of Richard Nixon, the slogan from his first campaign for Congress is the salient fact: "One of us." His dreams were ours -- and so, in the end, were his sins.
Play of the Day! 1-3-13

Bad John Kerry Horse Puns: Secretary or Secretariat

The late-night shows were light on the political humor as people slowly trickle back to work. But David Letterman was around to admit his thorough lack of knowledge of what the fiscal cliff even is.  For today's must-see moment, fast forward to 1:53 to see President Obama "compare" himself to...
Cliff

The Fiscal Cliff's Greatest Threat Is to American Unity

The fiscal cliff was an opportunity to push off partisanship. But, following incentives, legislators only increased it.
Galup

Why the Election Polls Missed the Mark

In the days following an election in which his organization's polls proved to be inaccurate, Gallup Editor in Chief Frank Newport published a blog post warning of "a collective mess."
Robert Bork

Congress Has Outsized Influence Over Obama's Cabinet

President Obama is allowing the personnel moves that will become critical in forming his foreign policy legacy to be influenced -- even decided -- by Congress
Daniel Day Lewis

Spielberg’s Lincoln: A Lesson in Realpolitik for a Squeamish Age

The gulf between Lincoln’s means and his ends, as portrayed by Steven Spielberg, is staggering. If Lincoln were operating now, though, Americans would be following all the wheeling, dealing and good-government lamentations in real time on Twitter and cable TV.
LGBT parents statistic

Same-Sex Parents: U.S. Demographic Snapshot

As states begin to contend with their support of--or opposition to--same-sex marriage, the debate over the legitimacy of same-sex couples raising children also comes into the spotlight. LGBT parents are raising nearly 2 million children, according to a joint report authored by the Movement Advancement Project, the Family Equality Council, and the Center for American Progress. Here are some of the report's other findings.
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