by Frank James
House Speaker John Boehner strongly suggested he would abide by the Hastert rule on immigration legislation, meaning no floor vote unless a majority of House Republicans backed the bill.
by Frank James
President Obama didn't expect he'd need to have a "national conversation" about government data-gathering.
by Tamara Keith
Interviews with two key IRS staffers describe a workplace where office politics in Cincinnati and Washington, not partisan politics, served as the animating force behind the improper targeting of Tea Party groups.
©2013 NPR
by Frank James
The Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law that required proof of citizenship to register to vote. But while celebrating a victory, voting-rights organizations are still waiting for the superstar voting case of the current term: a challenge to the Voting Rights Act.
A year after he survived a recall attempt, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is a folk hero among many conservatives and often talked of as a presidential contender in 2016. Walker dismisses that talk, but he has taken steps that hint at national ambition.
by Elise Hu
Lawmakers will head back to work next week to try to patch the state's $100 billion pension hole. Every day they don't act, the burden on Illinois taxpayers grows larger.
In music, as in so many industries, the lion's share of the money now goes to a relative handful of top performers, says White House economic adviser Alan Krueger. He says the music business offers valuable lessons about America's "superstar economy."
by Frank James
Keeping tabs on the arm of government that constantly invokes national security to justify its opaqueness can be a frustrating experience for members of Congress.
by Alan Greenblatt
On issues such as foreign policy, the economy and NSA snooping, people tend to back policies based on where their party stands, rather than holding fast to deep-seated beliefs. When party control switches, so do their positions.
by Frank James
The White House announced Syria had crossed a "red line" by using chemical weapons. Many of the GOP reactions suggested the announcement was long overdue. And they made clear they expect much more from the president than just arming the Syrian rebels.
