All DC Decoder
- Obamacare 101: Why major part of health law is delayed, and who's affected
A key provision of Obama's health law, aka Obamacare, will be pushed back a year, the administration said Wednesday. The delay buys more time for businesses with at least 51 workers to show they are providing health insurance. What happens in the meantime?
- Tax reform: Can Baucus and Hatch make senators eat their spinach?
The Finance Committee's Baucus and Hatch are telling their fellow senators that now's the time to address tax reform, and have set a deadline for colleagues to defend individual tax preferences.
- Culture wars: Why gay marriage and abortion have been ‘decoupled’
Public opinion on abortion has held constant for 30 years. But on gay marriage, acceptance has grown dramatically in just 10 years – most notably among young evangelical Protestants.
- Why states that ban gay marriage are resting easy after Supreme Court rulings
As gay marriage supporters celebrate this week's rulings at the US Supreme Court, states that prohibit same-sex marriage are also elated, reassured that their bans are not in legal jeopardy.
- Big immigration reform bill, big boost to US economy? Meh.
Analysis indicates that the Senate's big immigration reform bill, approved Thursday, would have more positive effects than negative – over time. But for the first few years, unemployment would rise and wages would fall, especially in low-skill jobs.
- Student loans: Despite new proposals in Congress, no fix as deadline looms
Interest rates on some subsidized student loans could double on July 1. A bipartisan Senate group and a sextet of Senate liberals both put forward proposals Thursday, but a deal is elusive.
- Obama on gay marriage: from reluctant supporter to cheerleader-in-chief
One year ago Obama had just come out for gay marriage, and now he's a big cheerleader. But in 2011, he took the most important step of his presidency in paving the way for Wednesday's DOMA ruling.
- Extradition: How will the US get Edward Snowden out of Hong Kong?
NSA leaker Edward Snowden is being charged under the US Espionage Act for revealing top secret surveillance programs. The US wants to extradite him from Hong Kong, but that could mean a long and complicated legal process.
- When in doubt, NSA searches information on Americans
According to newly revealed secret documents, the NSA retains wide discretion over targeting individuals for surveillance – including, potentially, Americans. Civil libertarians say 'it confirms our worst fears.'
- Gay rights bombshell: Why key 'gay conversion' group is closing
Exodus International, a leading practitioner of 'gay conversion' therapy, is closing after 37 years, as its president apologizes for causing 'pain and hurt.' A new ministry will replace it, leaving gay rights advocates wary.
- Remember Mitt Romney's (proposed) garage with the elevator? It's back.
Ann Romney spoke at a town council meeting in La Jolla, Calif., to speed up consideration of permits to expand the family's coastal home – a luxury project that figured in the 2012 race.