All Decoder
New York Times pushes clemency for Edward Snowden. Justified?The case for some sort of clemency for Edward Snowden also involves a judgment on the National Security Agency's activities. If NSA phone metadata collections are held to be unconstitutional, the chance of a deal might rise.
Justice Sotomayor to lead Times Square ball drop. Undignified?Actually, Sonia Sotomayor is just following the trend of Supreme Court justices becoming celebrities. But the chance to share air time with Miley Cyrus on New Year's Eve is a first.
Gallup most admired: Who made the list besides Obama, Hillary Clinton?Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton again topped Gallup's top 10 lists of most admired men and women. But their numbers went down. And further down the list, we found some surprises.
Obamacare enrollment surge: Mission accomplished or misleading blip?This month, more than 975,000 Americans enrolled in private insurance plans through the federal Obamacare exchange, bringing the total since Oct. 1 to 1.1 million enrollees.
A polling puzzle: Obama's popularity at low ebb, even as economy improvesObama is finishing 2013 with his approval ratings at an all time low, despite encouraging news on unemployment and GDP. Obamacare is one reason, but so, it appears, is the economy.
Is Obamacare individual mandate cracking?The White House loosened the rules for Obamacare on Thursday, telling people whose health insurance plans got canceled that they won't have to comply with the law's individual mandate in 2014. How is that fair? critics ask. Many foresee more changes ahead.
Who'll be the Democrats' 'anti-Hillary' in 2016?While Hillary Clinton is heavily favored to win the Democratic nomination in 2016 – not that she's declared yet – there's reason to believe an 'anti-Hillary' challenger will emerge, probably from the left.
'Pajama Boy' on Obamacare: Will Millennials hear a grownup in a onesie?'Pajama boy' is going viral, but perhaps not the way its creators, a political nonprofit with ties to President Obama, intended. Millennials may not be as ironic as the ad meisters think they are.
Obamas rally moms to boost Obamacare. Will that work?Barack and Michelle Obamas want moms to convince their kids to sign up for Obamacare. That's because 'young invincibles' aren't yet getting into health care at the rates needed to make the system work.
Obama meets with tech executives. How were they picked?The agenda for Obama and the tech execs included obvious issues, and some guests were no-brainers. But some may have had better political connections than industry bonafides.
Paul Ryan wins Iowa poll! What's that mean for 2016?Paul Ryan is a hit with Iowa Republicans, at least for now. But former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is just 7 points down, there's a hefty margin of error, and the Iowa caucuses are still three years out.
Flash! Fox’s Megyn Kelly now admits Jesus may not be 'white'Fox News host Megyn Kelly caused a mini-media storm when she asserted that Santa Claus and Jesus were both white. She backed off a bit on Jesus, but accuses her critics of race-baiting.
'Lie of the Year': Why Obama's healthcare claim is a 'winner''Lie of the Year': The political fact-checking website, PolitiFact, says Obama's statement, "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it," has earned its 'Lie of the Year' award in 2013.
Boehner vs. the tea party: Has the speaker changed, or have Republicans?Before the House voted solidly for the compromise budget plan Thursday, John Boehner slammed the tea party and right-wing Republican groups. Something has changed.
Mike Huckabee 2016: New wildcard in the GOP race?Mike Huckabee, former governor, ex-pastor, and now ex-talk-show host, is looking more and more as if he'll enter the 2016 GOP presidential race. Here's what Huckabee has got going for him – and what he doesn't.
Is White House taking cues from Soviets over Obama photos?White House reporters piled on press secretary Jay Carney Thursday over photographers' limited access to the president. Carney blamed the Internet.
Has Paul Ryan hurt his 2016 presidential prospects?Rep. Paul Ryan is one of the architects of a budget deal that the tea party appears to hate. Perhaps he's hurt his conservative credentials for 2016, but he had a lot of goodwill built up.
Obama disapproval rating hits new high. What's driving poll numbers?An NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey found that 54 percent of respondents did not approve of the job President Obama is doing, and Quinnipiac found 57 percent disapproval.
Ted Cruz walks out on Castro at Mandela memorial. Grandstanding?Democrats complained that GOP Sen. Ted Cruz was attempting to upstage South Africa’s planned proceedings for Nelson Mandela. But some other aspects of US politics might have been factors.
Obama takes selfie at Mandela memorial. Inappropriate?President Obama was caught taking a selfie with the prime ministers of Britain and Denmark at the Nelson Mandela memorial in South Africa, creating a small uproar online.
