Opinion Bush Banks on Elections at Home, Abroad January 31, 2005 In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving says President Bush may use good news at the polls -- both at home and overseas -- to set his political course.
Second-Term Bush Model: Reagan Redux January 24, 2005 NPR Washington Editor says President Bush's second inaugural speech -- and his second-term agenda -- owes much to the model created by the Great Communicator.
Opinion Rice to State: A Single Voice on Foreign Policy? January 18, 2005 In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving examines what President Bush hopes for in selecting Condoleezza Rice as his second-term secretary of state.
Opinion Congress, 10 Years after the Gingrich Revolution January 11, 2005 In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving compares the new Congress with one that passed the Contract with America in 1994.
Opinion Much at Stake in Defining Social Security 'Crisis' December 30, 2004 NPR Washington Editor Ron Elving looks at what's at stake when President Bush brands Social Security as a "crisis" -- and what it means for the future of the two major political parties.
A GOP Consensus at the Economic Conference December 17, 2004 In this edition of "Politically Speaking," NPR's Don Gonyea offers a commentary on the recent economic conference sponsored by the White House. Democrats dismissed the conference as an "informercial," but it also served to advance issues that define President Bush's economic agenda.
Opinion Rushing to Restock the Cabinet December 13, 2004 In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving wonders whether President Bush is rushing through his second-term Cabinet appointments.
A Historic Breakthrough on a Historic Day December 8, 2004 The House on Tuesday overcame a major logjam to approve a sweeping overhaul of the nation's intelligence operations. NPR Washington Editor Ron Elving looks at how a bill that was close to dead last week was revived.
Bush: Rehearsing for Europe with a Trip North? December 3, 2004 NPR's Don Gonyea writes about President Bush's trip to Canada, which many see as a dress rehearsal for a fence-mending trip to Europe.
House Likely the Last Stop for Intelligence Reform November 29, 2004 NPR Washington Editor Ron Elving says despite strong support for the intelligence reform bill in the Senate and from President Bush, it's likely to remain stalled in the House -- at least for this lame duck session of Congress.
Opinion Having It Both Ways on Intelligence Reform November 22, 2004 In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving says the White House position on intelligence reform may not be what it seems.
Opinion Election Fallout: Bickering Over Leftover Kerry Cash November 19, 2004 In the latest Politically Speaking column, NPR Correspondent Peter Overby says some Democrats wonder whether $15 million left unspent by John Kerry would have made a difference.
Opinion Expect Congress to Duck and Go Home November 15, 2004 In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving sees the lame-duck session of Congress doing as little as possible before adjourning.
Opinion Moral Values and the Next 'Big Story' November 8, 2004 In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving explains how moral values became the "big story" of the 2004 election.
Opinion High-Anxiety Election: Good News for Incumbents October 29, 2004 In the latest Politically Speaking column, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving says incumbents often benefit in uneasy times.