All DC Decoder
- The ExplainerD.C. Decoder 101: How Washington spends your money
There's a lot of talk about cutting the US deficit but very little actual cutting of deficit. One reason? There's not much easy to cut. Decoder explains the six ways Washington spends money.
- Why race to replace Gabrielle Giffords matters nationally
Arizona's Eighth District votes Tuesday to elect a replacement for Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. A victory by aide Ron Barber would give Democrats a break from bad news.
- Obama gaffe: why judging the economy is a no-win
Broad statements about the economy – good or bad – are a losing proposition for President Obama. Team Romney will exploit them either way.
- Republican governors urge Romney to be 'big and bold'
Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana said Sunday that Mitt Romney needs to do more than fire rhetorical shots across Obama’s bow, urging Romney to be 'big and bold' with a plan to reform government.
- Can Obama recover from his 'horrible, no-good' week?
President Obama's bad week included weak jobs numbers, the Wisconsin recall vote, less-than-helpful comments by Bill Clinton, and his own verbal gaffe. Obama has the edge in most polls, but there could be more bad weeks between now and the presidential election.
- Bill Clinton: Is he the Democrats' Newt Gingrich?
Bill Clinton has been going off-message lately. In a way, he's like former House Speaker Newt Gingrich – a senior statesman who says what he thinks, perhaps without thinking through the implications for his 'team,' and gets in trouble.
- Did tea party put Scott Walker over the top in Wisconsin recall?
The tea party movement flexed its muscle in Wisconsin, as Gov. Scott Walker handily won a recall vote on Tuesday. Thirty-six percent of voters said they support the movement – and almost all went for Walker.
- Wisconsin recall paradox: Why Obama outpolls Romney despite Walker win
Even as voters in the Wisconsin recall election opted to keep Republican Gov. Scott Walker, exit polling shows Obama beating Mitt Romney there by a healthy margin. One explanation: Some voters felt the recall of a just-elected governor was inappropriate.
- Wisconsin recall vote: Why didn't Obama campaign there?
Wisconsin holds its recall vote Tuesday without any campaign appearances by President Obama. He apparently didn't want to risk damaging his brand in a potentially losing effort for Democrats.
- Obama's take on gloomy jobs report: Congress hasn't done enough
Following the politically damaging jobs report, Obama spoke at an event near Minneapolis promoting jobs for veterans. His message to Congress: 'Now's not the time to sit on your hands.'
- Obama 2012: why weak jobs report is especially painful
The economy rules as President Obama fights for his political life. Voter impressions of where the economy is heading will soon lock in, meaning he can ill afford the unemployment uptick to 8.2 percent.
- President Obama smoked pot in high school. Why is he against legalizing marijuana?
A new biography details Barack Obama's use of marijuana in high school and college, not unusual for a young man at that time. As president, Obama has taken a tougher line on drug use, including marijuana for medical reasons.
- What Congress has planned after Memorial Day
Congress will be racing to complete a number of priorities between Memorial Day and the August recess, all under the shadow of massive fiscal issues looming at year's end.
- Obama vs. Romney: 'World War III" for attack ads. But is that bad?
With five months to go until Election Day, the Romney and Obama campaigns are already slinging negative ads. But analysts suggest they're an essential part of voters' decision-making process.
- Could 'fiscal cliff' push US into recession? Four questions answered. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) warned in a report Tuesday that if Congress does not deal with a raft of fiscal measures by Dec. 31, the US could enter another recession. So what is this fiscal cliff and what is Congress doing about it?
- Five things Ron Paul wants from the Republican National Convention It looks as if Ron Paul is going to be an active participant in the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August. Here’s our take on the five things Paul hopes to gain from staying within his party’s tent in 2012.