National Journal Topics | NationalJournal.com

House Passes Keystone Bill For the Seventh Time, With the Same Result Likely

Amy Harder | May 22, 2013

For the seventh straight time, the bill—approved on a 241-175 vote—is likely to have little substantive effect.

Much at Stake as Energy Department Weighs Permits for Exporting Natural Gas

Amy Harder | May 20, 2013

Christopher Smith, the Energy Department official in charge of shaping the Obama administration’s policy on exporting natural gas, recalls working for Chevron on an import facility during the first part of the last decade. At the time, U.S. reserves were thought to be scarce and fuel prices were accordingly high.

The GOP Energy Tent Is Slowly Getting Bigger

Coral Davenport | May 16, 2013

House members like Rep. Kevin McCarthy are still avid fossil-fuel proponents, but they’ve begun to advocate for renewables, too.

$hydraulic fracturing$

Proposed 'Fracking' Rules Anger Environmentalists, Annoy Industry

Coral Davenport | May 16, 2013

The Obama administration on Thursday unveiled a new proposal for its first major regulation of hydraulic fracturing on public lands, attempting to address at least a portion of the controversial drilling practice that’s unlocked vast new supplies of U.S. oil and gas but has also raised fears about its environmental impact, particularly on local water supplies.

You Want Angry? I'll Show You Angry, Obama Says on IRS Scandal

Beth Reinhard | May 15, 2013

Facing criticism from Republicans, the president reasserts his authority by pushing out the IRS's acting commissioner.

New Fracking Rules Have Environmental Groups Worried

Coral Davenport | May 12, 2013

The energy industry is optimistic about new regulations for hydraulic fracturing expected to be issued as soon as Tuesday.

The Coming GOP Civil War Over Climate Change

Coral Davenport | May 9, 2013

Science, storms, and demographics are starting to change minds among the rank and file.

Will New Oil Reserves Tempt Americans Back Into Wastefulness?

Coral Davenport | May 9, 2013

Recently discovered reserves suggest fossil fuels will last longer than we thought. But the economy won’t grow if Americans don’t use that energy efficiently.

What People Close to Obama Think About the Keystone XL Pipeline

Amy Harder | May 5, 2013

To environmentalists throughout the country, denying the Keystone XL oil pipeline would be the most important sign President Obama is committed to combating global warming.

The U.S. Has Much, Much More Gas and Oil Than We Thought

Amy Harder | April 30, 2013

The United States has double the amount of oil and three times the amount of natural gas than previously thought stored deep under the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana, according to new data the Obama administration released Tuesday.

Landrieu Primed to Lead Energy Panel – If She Wins Reelection

Amy Harder | April 28, 2013

A domino effect prompted by Max Baucus’s coming retirement leaves her poised to chair what is arguably the most important committee to energy-rich Louisiana.

The American Dream, Downsized

Amy Sullivan and Sophie Quinton contributed | April 25, 2013

The middle class now worries more about holding on for dear life than about climbing the ladder to riches.

What If Oil Lasts Forever?

Charles C. Mann - The Atlantic | April 25, 2013

New technology and a little-known energy source suggest that fossil fuels may not be finite. This would be a miracle—and a nightmare.

Conservatives Come Out for Renewable-Energy Projects

Amy Harder | April 23, 2013

Defying conventional wisdom in the era of Solyndra, conservatives in Washington are coming out to back renewable energy.

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.

Why the U.S. Should Give Its Fracking Technology to China

Steve LeVine and Quartz | April 22, 2013

But don’t count on much popular support for U.S. help.

Two Southern Democrats, Two Different Votes on Guns

Elahe Izadi | April 22, 2013

How gun votes will affect Sens. Mark Pryor and Mary Landrieu in 2014.

Let’s Not Talk About Climate Change

Coral Davenport | April 18, 2013

Louisiana’s two senators worry more about oil than the rising water level.

Energy and Commerce's Jurisdiction: Anything that Moves, Burns, or is Sold

Peter Bell | April 17, 2013

That is how National Journal once described the jurisdiction of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. House rules offer one definition of the committee’s turf, but a practical, bottom-up view of the committee’s territory is visible in the word cloud below. It shows the terms most common to the titles of the almost 350 hearings held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its subcommittees in the 111th and 112th Congresses. The larger the word, the more frequently it appeared in those hearing titles.

Tom Hassenboehler, Chief Counsel, Energy and Power Subcommittee

April 17, 2013

When Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., hired Tom Hassenboehler in December 2012, it was a reunion of sorts for the 35-year-old policy expert.

Renewable-Fuels Standard Gets Bipartisan Attention

Amy Harder | April 17, 2013

For the first time since President Obama won the White House in 2008, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., and ranking member Henry Waxman, D-Calif., are working together on a controversial energy policy: the renewable-fuels standard.

A Polarized Committee Reflects a Gridlocked Congress

Amy Harder | April 17, 2013

Shortly after Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., won the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in December 2010, he invited all the former committee chairmen and their wives to dinner at Carmine’s in downtown Washington.

Keystone XL Pipeline Channels Partisan Attacks

Coral Davenport | April 17, 2013

Congressional Republicans see the Keystone XL pipeline as the perfect lightning rod through which to channel attacks on President Obama’s energy policy.

Keystone Pits Oil Companies Against Environmentalists

Coral Davenport | April 17, 2013

It’s likely that more corporations, coalitions, and advocacy groups have lobbied, rallied, and written letters about the Keystone XL oil pipeline than about any other pipeline ever built in the United States.

Long List of Lobbies Oppose Renewable-Fuels Standard

Amy Harder | April 17, 2013

It’s hard to rival the diversity and sheer number of groups and companies with a vested interest in the renewable-fuels standard, from food and livestock businesses to those in the environmental and energy sectors.

How Can Congress Help Manufacturers?

Catherine Hollander | April 17, 2013

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade kicked off 2013 with a focus on its middle name. It’s fitting. After all, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., who chairs the committee, changed the subcommittee name when he took over in 2011 to include an explicit reference to manufacturing.

5 Things Immigration, Gay Marriage, and Gun Control Have That Climate Change Doesn't

Amy Harder | April 17, 2013

The amount of change happening in Washington is impressive, but this kind of sea change can’t happen right now with energy and climate policy. Here's why.

House Energy Committee’s Redux Agenda

Amy Harder | April 15, 2013

It’s a new Congress, but it’s hard to tell by looking at the agenda of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Slow-Motion Gun Battle Plays Out in Senate

Billy House | April 14, 2013

Lawmakers will stage some slow-going drama this week as the Senate proceeds in its deliberations on gun-control legislation with a series of votes on amendments—many of them likely to usher in their own mini-floor fights, or even filibusters.

North Korea: The Family Business Is Failing

Michael Hirsh | April 12, 2013

Kim Jong Un is a third-generation heir to a business his grandpa started. Like most heirs, he may be driving the firm into the ground.

Ken Cuccinelli Struggling with Makeover in Virginia Governor's Race

Beth Reinhard | April 12, 2013

The Republican nominee is now focusing more on job growth and education reform than railing against abortion and gay marriage.

The O'Malley Factor

Ronald Brownstein | April 11, 2013

Can Gov. Martin O'Malley ride his Maryland success to the White House?

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.

Why Obama's Environmental Pick Drives Some Republicans Crazy

Coral Davenport | April 11, 2013

At her confirmation hearing, Gina McCarthy gets grilled on climate change, regulations, and even instant messaging.

Republicans to Begin New Assault on Obama’s Climate Plans at Hearing for EPA Nominee

Coral Davenport | April 10, 2013

The Obama administration and Senate Republicans face off in a high-drama clash over global warming on Thursday, as the president’s choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency undergoes questioning by the committee considering her nomination.

Natural-Gas Exports Dominate Moniz Confirmation Hearing

Amy Harder | April 9, 2013

Tuesday’s confirmation hearing for President Obama’s nominee to be Energy secretary, Ernest Moniz, was dominated by the energy industry’s topic du jour: natural-gas exports.

New Era for Energy Department Expected Under a Secretary Moniz

Coral Davenport | April 8, 2013

With stimulus funding for clean energy at an end, climate-change policy dead in Congress, and harsh budget cuts looming over all agencies thanks to the sequestration, the days of President Obama’s vision of the Energy Department as a green juggernaut have probably come to an end.

How Margaret Thatcher Changed Iraq, the USSR, and the Oil Industry

Steve LeVine and Quartz | April 8, 2013

Thatcher had an exceptionally broad foreign policy impact, on big and smaller topics, as Great Britain’s prime minister. Much could be different were it not for her place on the global stage.

Margaret Thatcher Was Tougher Than Reagan

Matthew Cooper | April 8, 2013

She cut budgets and took on unions creating economic strife in England.

Agenda Is Stacked for Return of Congress; Obama Will Pile on More With His Budget

Billy House and George E. Condon Jr. and Nancy Cook and Coral Davenport and Fawn Johnson and Margot Sanger-Katz and and Sara Sorcher contributed | April 7, 2013

The prospects for renewed talks on a long-term deficit-reduction deal reach a pivotal point this week with the release Wednesday of President Obama’s budget plan, which offers cuts to Social Security and Medicare in the hope of softening Republican opposition to tax hikes.

The Man Who Could Put Climate Change on the Agenda

Coral Davenport | April 4, 2013

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough has a record against global warming—and the president's ear.

Poll: Which Senate Incumbents Are Most Vulnerable?

Michael Catalini and Naureen Khan and Peter Bell | April 4, 2013

Democratic Insiders say it's Mark Pryor or Kay Hagan, while Republicans point to Hagan by a wide margin.

Poll: Even Democrats Say the NRA Is Beating the White House on the Gun Debate

Michael Catalini and Naureen Khan and Peter Bell | April 4, 2013

Insiders from both parties see Obama struggling on the issue.

$hydraulic fracturing$

Will California's Shale Oil Boom Go Bust?

Todd Woody and Quartz | April 4, 2013

When it comes to fracking used to extract oil and gas from shale, California regulators have remarkably little idea what is going on.

Fuel Exports Are Probably Driving Up the Price of Gas. But That's Not a Bad Thing.

Jordan Weissmann and the Atlantic | April 3, 2013

When something scarce is sold to the highest bidder anywhere in the world, prices inevitably go up. But does that mean it's time to clamp down on oil exports? Not necessarily.

Why Public Opinion Could Still Stop Keystone

Steve LeVine and Quartz | April 2, 2013

In China, Europe and the U.S., local groups are furious, respectively, over air pollution, shale drilling and oil pipelines. This makes it a dangerous time for oil companies and some governments: A riled public is often the greatest driver of big policy shifts.

Arkansas' Oil Spill Stirs Opposition to the Keystone Pipeline

Amy Harder | April 1, 2013

The spill, outside Little Rock, Ark., serves as a stark reminder that energy production comes with unavoidable risks.

U.S. Renewable Energy Production Now Tops Nuclear Power

Todd Woody and Quartz | April 1, 2013

How's the U.S. energy landscape looking?

EPA Finds Sweet Spot to Release Controversial Gas Rule

Amy Harder | March 29, 2013

After facing election-year delays, the Obama administration on Friday announced a controversial rule that requires cleaner gasoline.

Ethanol Debate Has Glimpse of Bipartisanship

Amy Harder | March 27, 2013

The top Republican and Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are finally on the same page about a controversial energy policy after reading from two completely different playbooks the last four years.

Five Easy Pieces of Energy Legislation

Coral Davenport | March 25, 2013

There are hopeful signs that years of gridlock could be replaced by action on some small-scale bills.

How Cyprus, A Two-Bit Country, Could Change the World

Michael Hirsh | March 22, 2013

Tiny Cyprus poses an existential threat to the eurozone, proof that little countries can occasionally have big consequences.

When the Whole World Has Drones

Kristin Roberts | March 21, 2013

The precedents the U.S. has set for robotic warfare may have fearsome consequences as other countries catch up.

Upton, Waxman Launch Debate on Biofuels Mandate

Amy Harder | March 20, 2013

For the first time since President Obama won the White House in 2008, the top Republican and Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are working collaboratively on a controversial piece of energy policy: the renewable-fuels standard.

Tiny Think Tank a Major Player on Energy Policy

Coral Davenport | March 19, 2013

Robbie Diamond has the name of a used-car salesman—and with his slick, shiny coif, ever-present white-toothed smile, and knack for self-promotion—he might even pass for one.

Can Obama's Energy Trust Fund Idea Gain Traction in Congress?

Coral Davenport | March 15, 2013

With gasoline prices and global temperatures rising, Obama will ask Congress to take action on an idea he first proposed last month in his State of the Union address: the creation of an energy trust fund that would research alternative-technology vehicles.

The Next Arab Challenge

Michael Hirsh | March 14, 2013

Two years after the Middle East revolts, the Obama administration has mounted no real effort to understand the dynamics of political Islam.

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.

Why the White House Loves Natural Gas

Coral Davenport | March 14, 2013

While green groups protest outside, the president huddles inside the White House with oil and gas executives.

Can a Pathetic Congress Really Pass Tax Reform?

Matthew Cooper | March 14, 2013

Despite all odds, some members of Congress still believe. NJ chats with one.

How Fracking Could Transform Transportation

Todd Woody and Quartz | March 14, 2013

What to do with the natural gas glut produced by the U.S. fracking boom? One answer: Planes, trains and automobiles.

3 Energy Pipelines That Could Shake Up Geopolitics

Steve LeVine and Quartz | March 12, 2013

Three of the most volatile parts of the Middle East—Iran, Iraq and Israel—are the scene of oil and gas initiatives that could shake up geopolitics there and beyond. The efforts center on three energy pipelines, at least two of which seem likely to be built.

Citizenship Isn't Always Foremost What Undocumented Workers Want

Fawn Johnson | March 8, 2013

They just want to do their jobs, cash their paychecks, and be left alone. Here's a view of the immigration debate from the kitchen of your favorite restaurant.

What Undocumented Workers Really Want

Fawn Johnson | March 7, 2013

It's not always citizenship. They just want to do their jobs, cash their paychecks, and be left alone. A view of the immigration debate from the kitchen of your favorite restaurant.

Outsourcing the Fight Against Terrorism

James Kitfield | March 7, 2013

The United States is using local soldiers to fight al-Qaida allies in East Africa.

The 6 Species of Secretaries That Will Define Obama's Term

Matthew Cooper | March 5, 2013

The president has made most of his top administration picks. Here's how they all fit into his second term.

Republicans Take Aim at Obama’s EPA Nominee

Coral Davenport | March 4, 2013

President Obama’s nomination Monday of Gina McCarthy to lead the Environmental Protection Agency sets up the next high-profile clash between the White House and congressional Republicans over the incendiary issue of climate change.

Gina McCarthy, Obama's 'Green Quarterback,' Has a History of Working With Industry

Coral Davenport | March 4, 2013

Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, has been called the president's "green quarterback." But she also has a reputation as a political pragmatist who works well with industry and listens to concerns. If confirmed she will become the face of Obama’s sweeping ambitions to tackle climate change as a legacy issue and will write rules to force the coal industry to change its ways.

Who Is Ernest Moniz, Obama's Choice for Energy Secretary?

Niraj Chokshi | March 4, 2013

President Obama on Monday nominated MIT professor Ernest Moniz to become the next Energy secretary, succeeding Steven Chu. Here's what you need to know about him.

What's On the Chopping Block in Energy & Environment Policy?

Amy Harder | March 4, 2013

As the sequester's across-the-board cuts go into effect and Washington stares down a month's end deadline to pass legislation to keep the government running, what's at stake for energy and environment policy?

If Nixon Can Go to China ...

Michael Hirsh | March 3, 2013

Why can't Obama go to Iran? Because in Washington, good ideas can often be toxic.

2 Dead People Got Free Phones, and 1 GOP Lawmaker Eyes an Opening

Ben Terris | February 26, 2013

What's the message behind a bill aimed to end the federal subsidies of cell phones?

U.S. Fiscal Future Likely Hinges on Public Reaction to Sequester

Billy House | February 25, 2013

Don’t expect Congress and President Obama to reach agreement on how to turn off the sequester’s $85 billion in across-the-board federal spending cuts before they kick in Friday.

Congress and Obama Assign Blame as Sequester Deadline Approaches

Billy House | February 24, 2013

Just four days remain until Friday’s start date for federal spending cuts that were supposed to be too painful to ever let happen, but lawmakers return to Washington on Monday with little hope for an eleventh-hour deal to avert or reshape them—or any let-up in the fighting over who is to blame.

How Will Senate GOP Lead as Boehner Takes a Back Seat? Exploit the Process

Chris Frates | February 20, 2013

When Senate Republicans gathered at the Library of Congress earlier this month to plot strategy, they were joined by a special guest, John Boehner.

Key Votes Used to Calculate the Ratings

February 19, 2013

The 116 Senate votes and 116 House votes on which National Journal’s 2012 vote ratings are based.

Are Environmentalists Getting It Wrong on the Keystone XL Pipeline?

Elana Schor - The Atlantic | February 15, 2013

Focusing on how it would contribute to emissions overshadows the large risk of spills -- and diverts attention from more effective ways to cut down on carbon.

Can Marco Rubio Live Up to the Hype?

Beth Reinhard and Scott Bland contributed | February 14, 2013

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.

Why Japan Can't Quit Nuclear Power

Olga Belogolova | February 14, 2013

Since the Fukushima meltdown, the country has tried to reduce its reliance on nuclear reactors. But with nearly a third of its energy needs powered by the atom, change is difficult.

Water and the Slippery Slope to Conflict in the Middle East

Matt Vasilogambros | February 14, 2013

Experts are drawing a connection between an important natural resource and tensions in the Middle East. In this case, it's water, not oil.

Obama Cites Storms, Drought to Build Case For Climate Action

Coral Davenport | February 13, 2013

Fifteen years ago, when President Clinton raised the specter of climate change in his State of the Union address, he spoke of a “gathering crisis” that would need to be stopped “at some point in the next century.” Now scientists say that crisis is starting to arrive – and President Obama has noticeably shifted his rhetoric, describing an urgent problem that’s here now, already harming American people.

Cliffs Notes on Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address

Michael Catalini | February 12, 2013

The first State of the Union address since President Obama's second inauguration focused overwhelmingly on domestic policy. He devoted roughly one paragraph each to Afghanistan, North Korea--which reportedly tested a nuclear weapon on Monday--and Iran. For comparison's sake, that's the roughly the same amount of time he spent on cybersecurity in the address.

Full Text: Marco Rubio's 2013 State of the Union Response

National Journal Staff | February 12, 2013

The Office of Speaker Boehner released a transcript of Marco Rubio's State of the Union speech (as prepared for delivery). Read the full text of the rebuttal below:

Full Text: President Obama's 2013 State of the Union Speech

National Journal Staff | February 12, 2013

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, fellow citizens:

Obama Begins New Push on Climate Agenda

Coral Davenport | February 12, 2013

When President Obama addresses Congress in his State of the Union speech tonight, he is widely expected to lay out details of his plan to take on climate change.

The Tipping Point of U.S. Oil Imports (In One Chart)

Matt Phillips and Quartz | February 11, 2013

We’ve written plenty about the transformation of the global outlook for energy, which is being radically altered by a flood of new oil and gas production. But you can really see it happening. Like, right now. On Feb. 8 the US Commerce Department reported that record oil exports helped shrink the US trade deficit to its lowest level in three years.

Sizing Up Obama's State of the Union Address

Amy Harder | February 11, 2013

Sizing Up Obama's State of the Union Address In his State of the Union address, President Obama challenged Congress to act on climate change - but declared that if lawmakers don't act, he will. He did not detail how, specifically, he'll use his executive authority, but his spee...

Gubernatorial Candidates Put Decision Dates on Calendar

Dan Roem | February 8, 2013

In at least three gubernatorial contests between 2013 and 2014, major potential candidates have given themselves rough deadlines to make decisions about whether they will run. But none of the possible contenders expect to do so in the next month. Here is a rundown of where things stand in the three...

Why the GOP's Resistance to Medicaid Expansion Is Eroding

Ronald Brownstein | February 7, 2013

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer wants her state to join the expansion, key to Obama's health care reform. Will other Republican governors follow suit?

Breakthrough Nears on Tapping Offshore Energy Supply

Coral Davenport | February 5, 2013

In a season of political gridlock, a breakthrough could be near on legislation to promote energy production off the nation’s coastlines.

Future Travelers

Fawn Johnson | February 4, 2013

Who knows what the kids are going to come up with next? Some of them think owning a car is a big bother and would rather rent or borrow one. Others don't even have a driver's license! Their smart phones are an extension of their brains, which makes grown-ups cringe when they get behind the wheel. Still, all that connectivity has tantalizing possibilities for modernizing how people get from place to place.

Five Energy/Environment Hill Staffers to Watch

Amy Harder | February 3, 2013

Congress is unlikely to tackle any major energy and environment legislation through regular order. So if any sliver of policy does get through either or both chambers, it will be thanks to the small cadre of energy and environment aides in congressional leadership offices. Here’s who you need to know.

Democrats Will Throw Book at Ken Cuccinelli

Elahe Izadi | February 1, 2013

The Virginia attorney general's controversial comments in his new tome could backfire in governor's race.

Alaska's Begich Makes His Reelection Case

Scott Bland | February 1, 2013

"Alaskans do not like outsiders coming in," Democratic Sen. Mark Begich says. He is sitting at a conference table in his Senate office, where the desk is decorated with a yellow bumper sticker that reads: "We don't care how they do it in the Lower 48." Begich continues, "'Outsider' in Alaska has a h...

Gasoline Rule Emerges From Election-Year Obscurity

Amy Harder | January 30, 2013

After facing election-year delays, an environmental rule requiring cleaner gasoline is now back in the regulatory pipeline, and a top Environmental Protection Agency official said Wednesday the agency expects to propose the rule by March.

How Should Washington Address Climate Change?

Amy Harder | January 28, 2013

How, if at all, should President Obama and Congress address climate change?

The Waxman-Berman Machine Finally Shuts Down

Shane Goldmacher | January 24, 2013

For more than two decades in Southern California, if you wanted to run for office, you had to deal with the team of Howard Berman and Henry Waxman. That era is officially over with Berman’s loss last fall.

Frustrated Aides Leaving Capitol Hill

Amy Harder | January 24, 2013

Fed up with gridlock, legislative staffers who specialize in energy and environment are fleeing.

How Obama Can Tackle Climate Change Without Congress

Coral Davenport | January 22, 2013

President Obama’s Inaugural Address was his boldest, clearest signal to date that he intends to take on the challenge of fighting climate change as a signature achievement of his presidency.

Are Arctic Oil-Drilling Challenges Too Great?

Amy Harder | January 21, 2013

Should the United States think twice before allowing oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Ocean? In response to Shell's drilling rig running aground in a storm there earlier this month, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced an internal 60-day review of the department's plans to allow drilling in t...

Meet the Folks on the Short List to Replace Energy Secretary Steven Chu

Catherine Hollander and Coral Davenport | January 18, 2013

Several people close to the Obama administration have said that Energy Secretary Steven Chu plans to step down from his job. Bloomberg reported this week that his departure could be announced as early as this week. Here are the candidates on the short list to replace him:

Why Hostage-Taking in West Africa Is a Lucrative Business

Matt Vasilogambros | January 18, 2013

“We will not negotiate with terrorists.” It’s a line cemented in pop culture, ingraining the idea that Western nations will not succumb to the demands of militants that hold their citizens. But that’s not always the case in Western Africa.

The Education of Steven Chu

Coral Davenport | January 17, 2013

The Nobel physicist was brought in to transform the energy economy, but faced political battles.

Obama Could Look West to Fill Interior Job

Coral Davenport | January 16, 2013

President Obama could look west to fill the job of Interior secretary that will become vacant in March with the departure of Ken Salazar. Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, who supports the president’s progressive clean-energy and climate-change agenda, is one possible candidate.

Congress Feels the Heat on Idea of Carbon Tax

Coral Davenport | January 15, 2013

Moments after the fiscal-cliff deal passed the House on New Year’s Day, Grover Norquist, the powerful antitax lobbyist, tweeted, “Obama’s budget adds ten trillion more debt. We cut more spending or he smashes average Americans with energy taxes. I vote: cut his spending.”

McAuliffe Raises More Than $1 Million in First Month of Campaign

Dan Roem | January 15, 2013

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe's gubernatorial campaign raised more money in December of 2012 alone than Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli raised during the entire second half of last year. But Cuccinelli enters 2013 with a slightly larger warchest. McAuliffe...

Should America Exploit Energy Exports?

Amy Harder | January 14, 2013

How--if at all--should the United States take advantage of fossil-fuel exports? President Obama has cited energy exports in two recent interviews. "The United States is going to be a net exporter of energy because of new technologies and what we're doing with natural gas and oil," Obama said in an...

Obama Faces Dilemma on 'Mother of All’ Climate-Change Regulations

Coral Davenport | January 10, 2013

How President Obama could clean up carbon emissions—alone.

Citi Hires Tax Lobbyist

Stacy Kaper | January 9, 2013

Bill Rys has joined Citi's lobbying shop to help build Citi’s tax and revenue advocacy in Washington.

Vitter Purges Environment Committee Staff

Amy Harder | January 9, 2013

The new top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has laid off almost all the professional staff—about a dozen—who worked under his predecessor, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., National Journal has learned.

Always a Bridesmaid: The People Obama Passes Over for Top Jobs

Rebecca Kaplan | January 9, 2013

They’ve risen to the top echelons of government bureaucracy and burned the midnight oil for President Obama, and as a result, have had their names floated for top administration positions. But by virtue of bad luck or timing, they have never received the ultimate honor. For some top advisors and politicians, the last four years have left them always playing the bridesmaid, never the bride.

Five Sleeper Issues Washington Could Face in 2013

Amy Harder and Stacy Kaper and Fawn Johnson and Coral Davenport and Catherine Hollander | December 31, 2012

The incoming Congress has big challenges ahead. But don’t be distracted by the bright shiny objects that are tax reform, entitlement reform, and maybe even gun control. There are some important issues for the U.S. economy and U.S. industries that could pop to the top of the agenda in 2013 and have widespread implications for Washington and the country.

Markey to Run for Kerry's Senate Seat

Michael Catalini | December 27, 2012

Democratic Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts will be running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. John Kerry, whom President Obama tapped to be secretary of State, The Boston Globe is reporting.

Who Will Succeed Jackson as EPA Head?

Olga Belogolova and Amy Harder contributed | December 27, 2012

After four years in office, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said on Thursday that she will be stepping down after President Obama’s State of the Union address in January, inviting speculation about who will be named as her successor.

Heitkamp to be Key Energy Voice Among Moderate Democrats

Amy Harder | December 27, 2012

Heidi Heitkamp—the Democrat who surprised everyone and beat her Republican challenger Rick Berg to win the North Dakota Senate seat in this year’s election—will be an important leader in a growing group of moderate Democratic senators hailing from energy-rich states.

EPA Scrambles on Year-End Regulatory Push

Amy Harder | December 21, 2012

Forget the fiscal cliff and the National Rifle Association. The Environmental Protection Agency really went back to business on Friday after an election-year bottleneck. It unleashed two new regulations and a controversial report on oil and natural-gas drilling.

What's at Stake for Energy, Environment in Fiscal Cliff?

Amy Harder | December 10, 2012

What are the risks and potential opportunities for energy and environment issues as Washington debates a way to avoid the fiscal cliff?

Manufacturers Troubled by Prospect of Exporting More Natural Gas

Coral Davenport | December 6, 2012

The administration appears poised to allow increased gas sales overseas. It will expand America’s influence, but it carries economic risk.

What does America's Energy Boom Mean for Washington?

Amy Harder | November 26, 2012

The United States is producing more fossil fuels than ever. So what--if anything--should President Obama and Congress do about it? The United States is one of the world's biggest producers of oil, natural gas, and coal. In its World Energy Outlook 2012 published earlier this month, the...

Another Release From Emergency Oil Reserve Would Carry Political Risks

Olga Belogolova | September 19, 2012

Experts say odds are now higher that President Obama will tap the nation’s emergency oil stockpile for a second time. But there are political dangers if he does.

Against the Tide

Olga Belogolova | July 26, 2012

Republicans are almost always in tune with the oil and gas industry, but they’re singing a different song on the drydocked Law of the Sea Treaty.

Administration Aides Defend Military Biofuels

Olga Belogolova | July 19, 2012

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and top White House energy aide Heather Zichal on Thursday shot back at congressional critics of the military’s biofuel spending.

Obama’s Weak Bench

Olga Belogolova | June 21, 2012

The president's wary of telling his story on fossil-fuel production, and his highest-profile surrogates on energy policy are not great messengers.

Hot Ticket

Michelle Bloom | March 18, 2012

On the agenda this week: Talking natural gas at the Newseum, artsy cocktails at the Corcoran, and a new film on black Republicans.

Back to His Roots in Energy

Olga Belogolova | November 17, 2011

On a recent trip to Anchorage, Alaska, Tommy Beaudreau stopped by the sledding hill near his elementary school. “I remember thinking it was like Everest,” he said. Today, that hill looks like a beginner’s slope to Beaudreau.

Obama Threads the Needle With Drilling Plan

Olga Belogolova | November 9, 2011

Nobody is really happy with the Obama administration’s new five-year oil-and-gas drilling plan, which took a few steps back from the president’s pre-BP-spill drilling proposal of 2010 but also a few steps forward from what environmentalists wanted by allowing more exploration off the coast of Alaska. But neither is anyone really all that angry about the new proposal, which Interior Secretary Ken Salazar unveiled on Tuesday.

Hot Ticket

Michelle Bloom | April 10, 2011

Foodies—brace yourselves. On Tuesday, the annual Embassy Chef Challenge brings together cuisines from around the world into one hunger-satisfying tasting sure to make your stomach happy.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Reinventing Iraq

March 22, 2003

A country called Iraq has existed only since 1919. But some cities in that land were already 16 centuries old when the nearby Egyptians built their pyramids. Bureaucrats in Mesopotamia, as the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was known, began keeping written records in 3400 B.C. And despite three decades of political repression, economic mismanagement, and military disaster under Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, Iraq today-unlike Afghanistan in 2001, Yugoslavia in 1995, and Germany in 1945-is not a "failed state." (See "Occupational Hazards," this issue.) From food-distribution systems to local police forces, essential institutions and infrastructures have survived Saddam, albeit barely, and they will survive a war that successfully ousts him. So the good news is that Iraq will not have to start over from scratch. Unfortunately, the bad news is also that Iraq will not be able to start over from scratch.

POLITICS - As Bush Does Balancing Act, His Ratings Keep Slipping

March 15, 2003

As war with Iraq increasingly appears inevit-

FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Collateral Damage

March 15, 2003

The first American war against Iraq, fought a dozen years ago, produced an overwhelming, if transitory, U.S. victory, while also popularizing several phrases that slipped almost lightheartedly into the world's lexicon. But if the U.S. military's new "smart bombs" helped make a mockery of Saddam Hussein's bluster about winning "the mother of all battles," there was nothing funny about "collateral damage," the Pentagon's time-honored euphemism for the killing and wounding of everyday Iraqi people with cruise missiles and airpower.

NJ Topics Oil

Follow National Journal