Mara Liasson http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1930401&ft=1&f=1930401 Mara Liasson is the national political correspondent for NPR. Her reports can be heard regularly on NPR's award-winning newsmagazines All Things Considered and Morning Edition. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Mara Liasson http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1930401&ft=1&f=1930401 yes Obama Moves Aggressively Into Damage Control Mode President Obama is in the middle of a series of scandals. But are they serious enough to undermine his second term? Veterans of past Washington scandals assess the potential for political peril, and what the president can do about it. Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184700646/obama-moves-aggressively-into-damage-control-mode?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/17/184700646/obama-moves-aggressively-into-damage-control-mode?ft=1&f=1930401 President Obama is in the middle of a series of scandals. But are they serious enough to undermine his second term? Veterans of past Washington scandals assess the potential for political peril, and what the president can do about it. 314 no President Obama is in the middle of a series of scandals. But are they serious enough to undermine his second term? Veterans of past Washington scandals assess the potential for political peril, and what the president can do about it.

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]]> Does Obama Administration Have The Second Term Curse? The second term curse has plagued the last five two-term presidents, but President Obama's administration had been confident they'd be the ones to break the streak. But instead the administration finds itself on the defensive about the Benghazi and now IRS questions targeted at Tea Party groups. Mon, 13 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=183700356&ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=183700356&ft=1&f=1930401 The second term curse has plagued the last five two-term presidents, but President Obama's administration had been confident they'd be the ones to break the streak. But instead the administration finds itself on the defensive about the Benghazi and now IRS questions targeted at Tea Party groups. 267 no The second term curse has plagued the last five two-term presidents, but President Obama's administration had been confident they'd be the ones to break the streak. But instead the administration finds itself on the defensive about the Benghazi and now IRS questions targeted at Tea Party groups.

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]]> With Texas Trip, Obama Tries To Steer Focus Back To Economy It has been a difficult spring for the president. He couldn't get Congress to work with him on the sequester or gun control legislation. Now he appears to be making an effort to get back to the issues Americans say they care most about. Wed, 08 May 2013 17:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/08/182259258/with-texas-trip-obama-tries-to-steer-focus-back-to-economy?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/08/182259258/with-texas-trip-obama-tries-to-steer-focus-back-to-economy?ft=1&f=1930401 It has been a difficult spring for the president. He couldn't get Congress to work with him on the sequester or gun control legislation. Now he appears to be making an effort to get back to the issues Americans say they care most about. 266 no It has been a difficult spring for the president. He couldn't get Congress to work with him on the sequester or gun control legislation. Now he appears to be making an effort to get back to the issues Americans say they care most about.

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]]> Political Battle Over Health Law Starts Next Chapter In the three years since the Affordable Care Act became law, public opinion has remained deeply divided with as many Americans opposing the law as supporting it. When Americans begin signing up for health insurance under the act, opinion may finally begin to shake loose. Some people without access to insurance gain it and others encounter new bureaucracies. Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/03/180755026/political-battle-over-health-law-starts-next-chapter?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/03/180755026/political-battle-over-health-law-starts-next-chapter?ft=1&f=1930401 In the three years since the Affordable Care Act became law, public opinion has remained deeply divided with as many Americans opposing the law as supporting it. When Americans begin signing up for health insurance under the act, opinion may finally begin to shake loose. Some people without access to insurance gain it and others encounter new bureaucracies. 314 no In the three years since the Affordable Care Act became law, public opinion has remained deeply divided with as many Americans opposing the law as supporting it. When Americans begin signing up for health insurance under the act, opinion may finally begin to shake loose. Some people without access to insurance gain it and others encounter new bureaucracies.

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]]> White House Undecided On Action For Syria Crossing 'Red Line' President Obama has said repeatedly that the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government against its own people was a red line, and crossing it would bring U.S. action. On Thursday, the administration said that the intelligence community "does assess with vary degrees of confidence" that the regime has used such weapons "on a small scale." Yet the administration also contends that these findings fall short of the red line. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/179067426/white-house-undecided-on-action-for-syria-crossing-red-line?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/179067426/white-house-undecided-on-action-for-syria-crossing-red-line?ft=1&f=1930401 President Obama has said repeatedly that the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government against its own people was a red line, and crossing it would bring U.S. action. On Thursday, the administration said that the intelligence community "does assess with vary degrees of confidence" that the regime has used such weapons "on a small scale." Yet the administration also contends that these findings fall short of the red line. 194 no President Obama has said repeatedly that the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government against its own people was a red line, and crossing it would bring U.S. action. On Thursday, the administration said that the intelligence community "does assess with vary degrees of confidence" that the regime has used such weapons "on a small scale." Yet the administration also contends that these findings fall short of the red line.

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]]> What's Next In The Gun Control Debate? Gun-control groups are regrouping after a bill to tighten background checks for gun sales failed to overcome a filibuster last week in the Senate. The failure was not only a stinging defeat for President Obama, it was also a setback for the new players in the debate. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/24/178753573/whats-next-in-the-gun-control-debate?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/24/178753573/whats-next-in-the-gun-control-debate?ft=1&f=1930401 Gun-control groups are regrouping after a bill to tighten background checks for gun sales failed to overcome a filibuster last week in the Senate. The failure was not only a stinging defeat for President Obama, it was also a setback for the new players in the debate. 286 no Gun-control groups are regrouping after a bill to tighten background checks for gun sales failed to overcome a filibuster last week in the Senate. The failure was not only a stinging defeat for President Obama, it was also a setback for the new players in the debate.

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]]> Immigration Proves A 'Rubik's Cube' For Many Republicans They don't want to offend Hispanic voters, but they don't want to turn off the GOP base either, says Ron Bonjean, a former Republican leadership aide. And competing for Hispanic votes is not a top priority for the sizable number of Republican rank and file who still see the bill as amnesty. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/17/177640184/immigration-proves-a-rubiks-cube-for-many-republicans?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/17/177640184/immigration-proves-a-rubiks-cube-for-many-republicans?ft=1&f=1930401 They don't want to offend Hispanic voters, but they don't want to turn off the GOP base either, says Ron Bonjean, a former Republican leadership aide. And competing for Hispanic votes is not a top priority for the sizable number of Republican rank and file who still see the bill as amnesty. 285 no They don't want to offend Hispanic voters, but they don't want to turn off the GOP base either, says Ron Bonjean, a former Republican leadership aide. And competing for Hispanic votes is not a top priority for the sizable number of Republican rank and file who still see the bill as amnesty.

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]]> Sen. Rand Paul Tries To Repair GOP's Image With Minorities Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky gave a speech Wednesday at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He began by posing this question to the audience at the historically black school: How did the party that elected the first black U.S. senator, the party that elected the first 20 African-American Congressmen become a party that now loses 95 percent of the black vote? Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176880563/sen-rand-paul-tries-to-repair-gops-image-with-minorities?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176880563/sen-rand-paul-tries-to-repair-gops-image-with-minorities?ft=1&f=1930401 Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky gave a speech Wednesday at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He began by posing this question to the audience at the historically black school: How did the party that elected the first black U.S. senator, the party that elected the first 20 African-American Congressmen become a party that now loses 95 percent of the black vote? 273 no Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky gave a speech Wednesday at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He began by posing this question to the audience at the historically black school: How did the party that elected the first black U.S. senator, the party that elected the first 20 African-American Congressmen become a party that now loses 95 percent of the black vote?

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]]> Obama's Late Budget Submission A Strategic Move President Obama submits his budget on Wednesday and he's more than two months late. But there's a political strategy behind his tardiness — he waited until after both House Republicans and Senate Democrats passed their budget plans. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/09/176713146/obamas-late-budget-submission-a-strategic-move?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/09/176713146/obamas-late-budget-submission-a-strategic-move?ft=1&f=1930401 President Obama submits his budget on Wednesday and he's more than two months late. But there's a political strategy behind his tardiness — he waited until after both House Republicans and Senate Democrats passed their budget plans. 276 no President Obama submits his budget on Wednesday and he's more than two months late. But there's a political strategy behind his tardiness — he waited until after both House Republicans and Senate Democrats passed their budget plans.

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]]> Is Caroline Kennedy Qualified To Be U.S. Ambassador To Japan? President Obama is expected to name Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, ambassador to Japan. The job has been critical to U.S. trade and business interests with the world's third largest economy. But Kennedy has no prior experience in government or business. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176104570/is-caroline-kennedy-qualified-to-be-ambassador-to-japan?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/176104570/is-caroline-kennedy-qualified-to-be-ambassador-to-japan?ft=1&f=1930401 President Obama is expected to name Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, ambassador to Japan. The job has been critical to U.S. trade and business interests with the world's third largest economy. But Kennedy has no prior experience in government or business. 213 no President Obama is expected to name Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, ambassador to Japan. The job has been critical to U.S. trade and business interests with the world's third largest economy. But Kennedy has no prior experience in government or business.

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]]> Brain Mapping Project Could Help Find Cures For Alzheimer's, Epilepsy President Obama calls the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Neurotechnologies) Initiative a 'bold effort.' Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/02/176054090/brain-mapping-project-could-help-find-cures-for-alzheimers-epilepsy?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/02/176054090/brain-mapping-project-could-help-find-cures-for-alzheimers-epilepsy?ft=1&f=1930401 President Obama calls the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Neurotechnologies) Initiative a 'bold effort.' 119 no President Obama calls the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Neurotechnologies) Initiative a 'bold effort.'

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]]> Proposition 8 Case Has High Political Stakes For Both Parties Mara Liasson joins talks to Audie Cornish about the politics of Tuesday's court argument on gay marriage. Public opinion has shifted rapidly in favor on the issue, and the Supreme Court decision this summer on whether states can ban same-sex marriage and whether federal benefits should flow to same sex partners promise to roil the water again. Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/26/175396996/proposition-8-case-has-high-political-stakes-for-both-parties?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/26/175396996/proposition-8-case-has-high-political-stakes-for-both-parties?ft=1&f=1930401 Mara Liasson joins talks to Audie Cornish about the politics of Tuesday's court argument on gay marriage. Public opinion has shifted rapidly in favor on the issue, and the Supreme Court decision this summer on whether states can ban same-sex marriage and whether federal benefits should flow to same sex partners promise to roil the water again. 310 no Mara Liasson joins talks to Audie Cornish about the politics of Tuesday's court argument on gay marriage. Public opinion has shifted rapidly in favor on the issue, and the Supreme Court decision this summer on whether states can ban same-sex marriage and whether federal benefits should flow to same sex partners promise to roil the water again.

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]]> GOP Encouraged To Shift Immigration, Gay Marriage Positions National attitudes and electoral demographics are changing so fast on issues like gay marriage and immigration that the GOP is struggling to keep up without alienating its social conservative base. Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/22/175014362/gop-encouraged-to-shift-positions-on-immigration-gay-marriage?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/22/175014362/gop-encouraged-to-shift-positions-on-immigration-gay-marriage?ft=1&f=1930401 National attitudes and electoral demographics are changing so fast on issues like gay marriage and immigration that the GOP is struggling to keep up without alienating its social conservative base. 268 no National attitudes and electoral demographics are changing so fast on issues like gay marriage and immigration that the GOP is struggling to keep up without alienating its social conservative base.

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]]> RNC Election Report Calls For Minority Outreach, Primary Changes The Republican Party has issued a blistering assessment of why it lost the 2012 election. Focused groups described the party as narrow minded and out of touch. The report recommended many changes to become competitive again. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/19/174708601/rnc-report-calls-for-community-outreach-revamped-primary-rules?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/19/174708601/rnc-report-calls-for-community-outreach-revamped-primary-rules?ft=1&f=1930401 The Republican Party has issued a blistering assessment of why it lost the 2012 election. Focused groups described the party as narrow minded and out of touch. The report recommended many changes to become competitive again. 247 no The Republican Party has issued a blistering assessment of why it lost the 2012 election. Focused groups described the party as narrow minded and out of touch. The report recommended many changes to become competitive again.

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]]> RNC Report A Postmortem On Failed 2012 Election After failing to take the presidency or U.S. Senate in 2012 and losing House seats, Republicans launched the "Growth and Opportunity Project" to understand what went wrong. Party Chairman Reince Priebus and others toured the country and released a report with recommendations on Monday. Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/18/174665725/rnc-report-a-postmortem-on-failed-2012-election?ft=1&f=1930401 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/18/174665725/rnc-report-a-postmortem-on-failed-2012-election?ft=1&f=1930401 After failing to take the presidency or U.S. Senate in 2012 and losing House seats, Republicans launched the "Growth and Opportunity Project" to understand what went wrong. Party Chairman Reince Priebus and others toured the country and released a report with recommendations on Monday. 247 no After failing to take the presidency or U.S. Senate in 2012 and losing House seats, Republicans launched the "Growth and Opportunity Project" to understand what went wrong. Party Chairman Reince Priebus and others toured the country and released a report with recommendations on Monday.

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