Politics http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1014&ft=1&f=1014 NPR's expanded coverage of U.S. and world politics, the latest news from Congress and the White House, and elections. Subscribe to podcasts and RSS feeds. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 23 May 2013 03:06:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Politics http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1014&ft=1&f=1014 Obama Group's Climate Push Puts President Under Scrutiny Organizing for Action — a group that formed out of President Obama's re-election campaign — has focused its ire on Republicans it calls "climate change deniers." But some environmentalists are frustrated with the president himself on issues like the Keystone pipeline. Thu, 23 May 2013 03:06:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/23/186098607/obama-groups-climate-push-puts-president-under-scrutiny?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/23/186098607/obama-groups-climate-push-puts-president-under-scrutiny?ft=1&f=1014 Organizing for Action — a group that formed out of President Obama's re-election campaign — has focused its ire on Republicans it calls "climate change deniers." But some environmentalists are frustrated with the president himself on issues like the Keystone pipeline.

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]]> Lois Lerner's Brief And Awful Day On Capitol Hill The IRS bureaucrat showed up long enough at a House hearing into the scandal engulfing her agency to declare her innocence and her constitutional right to say no more. Wed, 22 May 2013 19:09:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/22/186102554/lois-lerners-brief-and-awful-day-on-capitol-hill?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/22/186102554/lois-lerners-brief-and-awful-day-on-capitol-hill?ft=1&f=1014 The IRS bureaucrat showed up long enough at a House hearing into the scandal engulfing her agency to declare her innocence and her constitutional right to say no more.

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]]> Think Obama's In Trouble? That Depends On Your Party Despite the scandals consuming Washington, the president's job approval ratings remain steady. Why? Reaction is breaking along partisan lines, with Democrats inclined to give Obama the benefit of the doubt. Wed, 22 May 2013 17:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/22/185993772/think-obamas-in-trouble-that-depends-on-your-party?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/22/185993772/think-obamas-in-trouble-that-depends-on-your-party?ft=1&f=1014 Despite the scandals consuming Washington, the president's job approval ratings remain steady. Why? Reaction is breaking along partisan lines, with Democrats inclined to give Obama the benefit of the doubt.

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]]> Scandal Politics: The Downstream Effect The trio of scandals that have engulfed the White House may not be big news by 2014, but now is the time when prospective candidates must decide if they want to be on the ballot. Is the news of the moment hurting the effort? Wed, 22 May 2013 16:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185589346/scandal-politics-the-downstream-effect?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185589346/scandal-politics-the-downstream-effect?ft=1&f=1014 The trio of scandals that have engulfed the White House may not be big news by 2014, but now is the time when prospective candidates must decide if they want to be on the ballot. Is the news of the moment hurting the effort?

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]]> It's ScuttleButton Time! I'm hoping the administration won't go through my personal e-mails to reveal the answer to this week's ScuttleButton puzzle. Hopefully they'll wait a week, like everyone else. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2013/05/22/186059279/its-scuttlebutton-time?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2013/05/22/186059279/its-scuttlebutton-time?ft=1&f=1014 I'm hoping the administration won't go through my personal e-mails to reveal the answer to this week's ScuttleButton puzzle. Hopefully they'll wait a week, like everyone else.

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]]> London Attack Deemed Likely Terrorist Incident The incident occurred Wednesday when the suspects attacked the man near a London military barracks. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186067666/london-machete-attack-deemed-likely-terrorist-incident?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186067666/london-machete-attack-deemed-likely-terrorist-incident?ft=1&f=1014 The incident occurred Wednesday when the suspects attacked the man near a London military barracks.

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]]> Fears Of Killing Immigration Bill Doomed Same-Sex Amendment Amid warnings the proposal would shatter support for the measure, Democrats backed away from a provision that would allow gay U.S. citizens to sponsor foreign-born spouses for green cards. Advocates for gay and lesbian immigration rights accused Democrats of caving in to threats. Wed, 22 May 2013 17:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/22/186075168/fears-of-killing-immigration-bill-doomed-same-sex-amendment?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/22/186075168/fears-of-killing-immigration-bill-doomed-same-sex-amendment?ft=1&f=1014 Amid warnings the proposal would shatter support for the measure, Democrats backed away from a provision that would allow gay U.S. citizens to sponsor foreign-born spouses for green cards. Advocates for gay and lesbian immigration rights accused Democrats of caving in to threats.

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]]> IRS Witness Turns Down Questions At Congressional Hearing Lois Lerner was the first IRS official to explain how conservative groups' applications for tax-exempt status were flagged for extra scrutiny. On Wednesday, she cited her constitutional right not to incriminate herself and declined to answer questions from a House committee. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186082391&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186082391&ft=1&f=1014 Lois Lerner was the first IRS official to explain how conservative groups' applications for tax-exempt status were flagged for extra scrutiny. On Wednesday, she cited her constitutional right not to incriminate herself and declined to answer questions from a House committee.

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]]> Anthony Weiner Tries To Put Indiscretions Behind Him Anthony Weiner, the New York congressman whose career ended after a series of raunchy tweets, announced he is entering the mayoral race with an ad on YouTube. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186082389&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186082389&ft=1&f=1014 Anthony Weiner, the New York congressman whose career ended after a series of raunchy tweets, announced he is entering the mayoral race with an ad on YouTube.

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]]> Oregon's Cash-Strapped Counties Reject Public Safety Levies Two Oregon counties have reportedly rejected property tax increases that would have funded law enforcement and public safety services. The counties once received federal timber subsidies, but those days are over — and now they're scrambling to pay for essential services. Wed, 22 May 2013 14:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186045158/oregons-cash-strapped-counties-reject-public-safety-levies?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186045158/oregons-cash-strapped-counties-reject-public-safety-levies?ft=1&f=1014 Two Oregon counties have reportedly rejected property tax increases that would have funded law enforcement and public safety services. The counties once received federal timber subsidies, but those days are over — and now they're scrambling to pay for essential services.

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]]> With White House Bogged Down By Scandal, GOP Looks For Boost As criticism of the Obama administration over a string of scandals grows, conservatives see an opportunity to gain momentum for 2014 races. Host Neal Conan and Political Junkie Ken Rudin talk with political science professor Jack Pitney about the GOP and the re-emergence of the Tea Party. Plus: the week in politics from Anthony Weiner's New York mayoral candidacy to the Senate immigration bill. Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186048336&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186048336&ft=1&f=1014 As criticism of the Obama administration over a string of scandals grows, conservatives see an opportunity to gain momentum for 2014 races. Host Neal Conan and Political Junkie Ken Rudin talk with political science professor Jack Pitney about the GOP and the re-emergence of the Tea Party. Plus: the week in politics from Anthony Weiner's New York mayoral candidacy to the Senate immigration bill.

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]]> Libya 'Talking Points' Emails Put Petraeus Back In Spotlight The role former CIA Director David Petraeus played in creating the discredited U.S. "talking points" about the violence in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead, including a U.S. ambassador, last year is under new scrutiny, as a<em> Washington Post</em> story suggests that Petraeus sought to shape the resulting memo to favor his agency. Wed, 22 May 2013 11:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186014108/libya-talking-points-emails-put-petraeus-back-in-spotlight?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186014108/libya-talking-points-emails-put-petraeus-back-in-spotlight?ft=1&f=1014 The role former CIA Director David Petraeus played in creating the discredited U.S. "talking points" about the violence in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead, including a U.S. ambassador, last year is under new scrutiny, as a Washington Post story suggests that Petraeus sought to shape the resulting memo to favor his agency.

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]]> 'I Have Not Done Anything Wrong,' Key IRS Official Says Lois Lerner, who's at the center of the political firestorm over her agency's singling out of some conservative groups for extra scrutiny, invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions from Congress. Wed, 22 May 2013 10:44:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186007648/i-have-not-done-anything-wrong-says-key-irs-official?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/186007648/i-have-not-done-anything-wrong-says-key-irs-official?ft=1&f=1014 Lois Lerner, who's at the center of the political firestorm over her agency's singling out of some conservative groups for extra scrutiny, invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions from Congress.

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]]> Eric Garcetti Wins L.A. Mayor's Race In a nonpartisan race in which two Democrats were the top contenders, the city councilman has edged out City Controller Wendy Greuel. Wed, 22 May 2013 08:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/185984341/eric-garcetti-wins-l-a-mayors-race?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/185984341/eric-garcetti-wins-l-a-mayors-race?ft=1&f=1014 In a nonpartisan race in which two Democrats were the top contenders, the city councilman has edged out City Controller Wendy Greuel.

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]]> Anthony Weiner Jumps Into Race To Be NYC Mayor The former congressman's career appeared to be over when he resigned in 2011 because of an extramarital sexting scandal and his lies about it. Now, he tells voters, "I've made some big mistakes. ... I hope I get a second chance to work for you." The Democratic primary is set for Sept. 10. Wed, 22 May 2013 07:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/185978331/anthony-weiner-jumps-into-race-to-be-nyc-mayor?ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/185978331/anthony-weiner-jumps-into-race-to-be-nyc-mayor?ft=1&f=1014 The former congressman's career appeared to be over when he resigned in 2011 because of an extramarital sexting scandal and his lies about it. Now, he tells voters, "I've made some big mistakes. ... I hope I get a second chance to work for you." The Democratic primary is set for Sept. 10.

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