All Decoder
Joe Biden vows to chase Islamic State to 'gates of hell.' Does he mean it?Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered an emotional response to the beheading of two US journalists by the brutal group Islamic State, saying that the US will follow those responsible 'to the gates of hell' in the name of justice.
Glenn Beck says Hillary Clinton will win in 2016. Why?Glenn Beck, the former Fox News media celebrity, says Hillary Clinton will successfully invoke the economic golden days of her husband's presidency.
New poll gives GOP edge in battleground states. How significant?The Senate electoral map for this fall's midterms clearly favors Republicans, but a new Battleground Poll suggests it could be tilting further.
Will new GOP attack ad doom Sen. Mary Landrieu?The new ad, released by Super PAC American Crossroads, attacks Senator Landrieu, a Democrat, as loyal to Washington, D.C., not Louisiana. So far it can be seen only on the web.
Eric Cantor takes Wall Street job. Will he ever run for office again?Former House majority leader Eric Cantor has taken a high-paying job at a Wall Street investment bank. If he ever decided to run for office again, his opponent would have a field day with that.
Rick Perry deletes tweet about drunk Democrat. Why did he bother?Texas Gov. Rick Perry ordered an unflattering tweet of a political rival deleted from his account. But frankly, it wasn't so far out of line from his other attacks.
Republican says 'hundreds' of Americans have joined Islamic State. True?The number of Americans who have joined the Islamic State is unclear. The figure cited Sunday by Rep. Mike Rogers might be high, some groups say, but there are 'legitimate concerns about this issue.'
Sen. Mary Landrieu owns no Louisiana home. What was she thinking?Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana is facing a tough reelection fight this fall, and her opponents will do all they can to keep the revelation about her home status in the news.
Confessions of a Washington tan suit wearerTan suits aren't that bad. What’s been lost in a lot of the Twitter uproar is that they used to be standard Washington summer wear for men. This writer had three of them and wore one virtually every day from May to October.
How much does Malia Obama tip? A brush with American royalty.It's Washington, so sometimes your barista daughter just might wait on the president's daughter. But it's still a hoot, and Malia Obama seemed, well, normal.
Poll shows Mitt Romney leads in Iowa. Does that matter?When the Mitt Romney name is added to the list of potential GOP White House candidates, he sweeps the field. But he says he has no interest in another run – and he probably means it.
Is Obama dragging Democratic Party down?President Obama’s sagging job approval numbers are one big reason that forecasters say the odds are good the Senate will swing the GOP’s way. But other factors are weighing on Democratic chances, too.
Bobby Jindal sues Obama over Common Core. What's that mean for 2016?Presidential contenders running well behind in the polls need a big issue. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal may have found his in a lawsuit to block President Obama from imposing Common Core education standards.
James Foley's killer in GOP Senate ad: Smart move?An ad by long-shot Senate candidate Allen Weh of New Mexico shows the knife-wielding killer of American journalist James Foley. Democrats are crying foul, but the ad may be smart politics.
Is Hillary Clinton a 'war hawk,' as Rand Paul says?Rand Paul accused Hillary Clinton of being a 'war hawk.' But the issue is charged for Senator Paul, too, as he's a relative dove in a party defined for decades by a muscular approach to overseas problems.
Why this could be the year of the unhappy voterSince 1998, the more voters disapprove of Congress, the greater the turnout in midterms, Gallup finds. So with Congress's job approval in the dumps, this could be a banner year. But which party benefits?
Rick Perry puts mug shot on T-shirts: what that says about 2016Rick Perry isn't running from his felony indictment. Instead, he's featuring it on a T-shirt that appears tailored for a presidential run in 2016, especially the reference to 'securing the border' – a weak point in his last presidential primary bid.
Why is Rick Perry touting his own indictment mug shot?For just $25 you can buy a T-shirt with Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s recent mug shot, taken when he was booked on criminal charges. Why would the Governor himself be promoting this as a fund-raising tool?
Rick Perry in New Hampshire: Is 'oops' still a 2016 problem?Many voters remember the disastrous 2012 presidential run by Gov. Rick Perry, highlighted by his 'oops' when words failed him in a debate. Now, he's spending two days in the key early-voting state of New Hampshire.
Obama's Ferguson rhetoric: How are blacks, whites reacting?President Obama hasn't won big praise – but also apparently hasn't polarized the public deeply – with his handling of the turmoil in Ferguson, Mo., after a black teen was killed by a white police officer.
