All DC Decoder
- FocusNATO summit: Why US, allies don't just call it quits in Afghanistan
Al Qaeda, oil, and Pakistan, a trifecta of troublesome issues, make the US withdrawal from Afghanistan far more complicated than it was in Iraq.
- 'Day One': What Mitt Romney's new ad really tells us
Mitt Romney's first TV ad of the general election bypasses the usual personal narrative to give us his agenda for Day 1 in office: the Keystone pipeline, tax reform, and replacing 'Obamacare.'
- Bonjour, Hollande. Ready for a gentle arm-twisting at the White House?
France's new president, François Hollande, is set to meet with Obama Friday morning. He's likely to get some prodding about his intentions vis-à-vis the Afghanistan war, given his campaign pledge to expedite removal of French combat troops.
- Mitt Romney would be the wealthiest president ever, Forbes calculates
Forbes Magazine analyzed Mitt Romney's wealth, including investments, real estate, and cash. It found $230 million in assets, while the total for the Obamas is nearly $6 million.
- House passes Violence Against Women Act, grudgingly
The Violence Against Women Act breezed through the Congress in previous years, but it's suddenly a heavy lift. The GOP House passed its version of the bill on a largely party-line vote, but getting to yes with the Senate will be tough.
- Top 9 reasons Congress is broken Congress's approval rating is barely at 10 percent, and the venerable institution is filled with such rancor that moderates such as Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) of Maine are fleeing the place. From people who've previously served on the Hill comes this assessment of the top nine problems Congress faces today.
- Why Obama endorsed gay marriage now
Comments on Sunday by Vice President Biden backing gay marriage and a North Carolina vote on Tuesday opposing it pushed President Obama to clarify his own stand on gay marriage well before the Democratic National Convention.
- Battle for women's votes: 6 flash points The uproar over the Obama campaign’s 'Life of Julia' Web infographic – which made #Julia big on Twitter – highlights just how fiercely both parties are fighting for the women’s vote. The economy is by far the most important issue in November for both sexes. But there are other areas with special significance to women. Here are the main flash points.
- Obama makes it official: He's running for reelection
President Obama has been fund-raising and making political speeches for months, most recently taking jabs at presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney. At rallies in Ohio and Virginia Saturday, Obama officially launched his campaign for reelection.