All DC Decoder
- Why Hillary Clinton’s State Dept. didn’t list Boko Haram as a terrorist group
Was Hillary Clinton 'soft on Boko Haram?' The US now lists it as a terrorist group, but the Clinton State Dept. listed only individuals. Experts, and Nigeria, had opposed the designation at the time.
- House compromise on NSA reform: how it balances freedom and security
The House Judiciary and Intelligence committees reached a compromise on the proposed USA Freedom Act, which would ban NSA collection of metadata, but allow the Justice Department emergency access.
- Mitt Romney calls for higher minimum wage. Does it matter?
Mitt Romney is the third GOP presidential candidate from 2012 to call for a higher minimum wage in recent days. But Republicans in Congress have opposed a Democratic effort to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2016.
- Has the tea party 'won'? Yes, if you're trying to make a political point
The tea party candidate lost in the North Carolina Senate primary this week. But the movement is far from dead and, in some ways, is 'winning,' say activists on both ends of the political spectrum.
- Democrats' dilemma: Do they boycott Benghazi panel, or not?
Republicans in the House approved a special investigative panel into the Benghazi affair Thursday night. Democrats will decide Friday morning whether they will participate.
- Burwell hearing: She's not controversial as nominee, but Obamacare still is
Sylvia Mathews Burwell went before a Senate committee Thursday as President Obama's nominee to head Health and Human Services. She did well, but Obamacare had a rough ride.
- Veterans health care 101: Why is Obama's VA chief in the hot seat?
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki faces a House subpoena and mounting calls to step down. The concerns: that some VA hospitals are misrepresenting wait times for veterans to get doctors' appointments – and that patients are dying in the meantime.
- Tax break for corporate research: Is House GOP plan fiscally responsible?
The tax break for corporate research typically draws broad, bipartisan support in Congress, but this year House Republicans aren't proposing offsets and the White House is threatening a veto.
- House holds Lois Lerner in contempt in IRS scandal: What does that mean?
The House has held former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt for her refusal to testify. But possibly nothing at all could happen to Ms. Lerner if the move is seen as partisan politics.
- North Carolina Senate primary: GOP establishment fights back against tea party
Republican forces eager to defeat Democratic incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan have rallied around state House Speaker Thom Tillis. The tea party faces uphill fight in Ohio, too.
- House Benghazi investigation: Who is Trey Gowdy?
Trey Gowdy, the new chairman of a special House panel to investigate Benghazi, is a tough questioner and former federal prosecutor with three dogs named Judge, Jury, and Bailiff.
- 'ObamaCore'? Common Core ed reforms don't scare GOP voters, poll finds.
Common Core standards have been derided as a federal takeover of state education by some conservative critics. But a poll shows support for the reforms, even among GOP primary voters.
- Are 2014 midterms really a referendum on President Obama?
President Obama's name won't be on the ballot this November, though his impact will be felt. Still, there are other factors more central to the parties' prospects when it comes time to vote.
- Why this could be make-or-break week for Keystone XL pipeline
A decision on the Keystone XL pipeline will likely be delayed until after the November elections unless a bipartisan group of senators succeeds in passing a bill this week.
- Can Obama's 'Year of Action' revive his presidency?
Republicans in Congress have stymied much of President Obama's agenda. So he's declared a "Year of Action" with a string of presidential executive orders he hopes will help his poll numbers.
- House intensifies Benghazi investigations. Why now?
Secretary of State John Kerry has been issued a subpoena to testify on Benghazi before the House Oversight Committee. House Speaker John Boehner says he will schedule a vote on the creation of a special Benghazi committee.
- Does newly released Benghazi e-mail prove White House misled America?
The e-mail in question, from an Obama adviser, stressed that explanations for the 2012 attacks on US diplomatic missions in Benghazi, Libya, should center on a YouTube video insulting to Muslims, 'not a broader failure of policy.'
- Are people paying their Obamacare premiums? Yes and no.
The White House rejects a GOP report saying only two-thirds of the 8 million enrollees have paid their Obamacare premiums. Final numbers are not in, but administration officials point to insurer estimates that 80 to 90 percent have paid.
- How do Democrats counter Obamacare? Batter Republicans on minimum wage.
Republicans have held vote after vote on Obamacare, partly to stoke the conservative base for this fall's elections. Senate Democrats look set to use the same strategy with a plan to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Their first bid failed Wednesday.
- Next Obamacare hurdle: Are people getting coverage they paid for?
Obamacare glitches these days are not as widespread as they were during the HealthCare.gov rollout. But some hiccups are causing problems in some areas.