All DC Decoder
- How much will your taxes go up if US falls off 'fiscal cliff'?
Congress has put off dealing with the fiscal cliff – a huge suite of legislation – until after the Nov. 6 election. If it doesn't do something by Dec. 31, taxes will go up on virtually everyone.
- Mitt Romney's 14 percent tax bite: your guide to deciphering what's 'fair'
Many millionaires pay an effective tax rate much closer to Mitt Romney's 14 percent than to the official 35 percent top bracket. Preferential rates for investment income, including capital gains, are the reason. Is it time to change that?
- First debate jitters? Obama, Romney camps maneuver for advantage
As Barack Obama and Mitt Romney rehearse for their first big debate Wednesday, both sides are playing the expectations game. Given recent polls, there’s more pressure on Romney to perform.
- Fight over ‘bias’ in political polling as numbers show clear edge for Obama
Most polls give President Obama the lead over Mitt Romney – some by a margin many find startling. Conservatives say that just proves the polls are rigged to give Democrats the advantage.
- Obama and Romney fight for religious groups’ votes. Then there’s Romney’s Mormon faith
Separation of church and state may be a constitutional requirement in US government. But in Election 2012, religion has become an increasingly important factor. President Obama and Mitt Romney are focusing on particular religious groups.
- Libya attack: GOP goes after the White House, especially Susan Rice
Questions about how the Obama administration has handled the attack in Libya that killed the US ambassador on Sept. 11 have taken a harder political edge. A prominent Republican says UN Ambassador Susan Rice should resign over faulty reporting of the attack.
- Polls favor Obama. A conspiracy by Democrats and the media?
More voters consider themselves Democrats rather than Republicans, and this is reflected in opinion polls showing Barack Obama ahead of Mitt Romney. Critics say the results are skewed.
- Where did the mammoth US budget deficits come from?
Let's go back about a decade, when budget surpluses were predicted for the foreseeable future. Somehow, the math went terribly wrong, by trillions of dollars. Here's an accounting of what happened.
- Romney tax plan: Is it 'mathematically impossible' or not?
One study said Mitt Romney's tax-reform numbers don't add up. Another says they do. The reality: It depends a lot on the assumptions made about how deeply Romney is willing to cut tax breaks for the rich, including incentives for investment.
- Poll finds high level of distrust in the media. Anybody surprised?
A new Gallup survey finds most Americans have little or no trust in the media, especially Republicans and independents. Is this a dangerous trend in a democracy reliant on public information?
- Sarah Palin’s advice to Mitt Romney: 'Go rogue'
Mitt Romney has been getting lots of gratuitous advice from fellow Republicans worried about what they see as a presidential campaign slipping toward defeat. Some want Paul Ryan to play a more active role. Sarah Palin says the Romney campaign needs a ‘come to Jesus’ moment.
- Romney tax returns: What’s missing in his report?
Pundits, political partisans, and amateur CPA’s are poring over the numbers in Mitt Romney’s tax returns. What’s missing, tax experts say, are the details of Romney’s retirement account from Bain Capital, including investments in offshore accounts in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.
- Yes, he's rich. Mitt Romney finally releases his tax returns.
After months of pressure, Mitt Romney has released more tax information, which confirms that the Romneys are rich. But he'd probably be a billionaire if he hadn't gone into public service.