All Decoder
White House official fired for caustic tweets. What was he thinking?Jofi Joseph, a National Security Council official, was fired this week for maintaining an anonymous Twitter account featuring scathing tweets about White House policy and personnel. Another public servant is felled by allures of social media.
Rand Paul constitutional amendment on Congress: Does it miss its mark?Sen. Rand Paul (R) wants a constitutional amendment to prevent Congress from exempting themselves, and other top US officials, from laws that apply to ordinary Americans. He may be thinking about Obamacare here, but his idea is getting trounced from left and right.
If Obamacare glitches aren't fixed soon, should deadline be delayed?The website glitches that have bedeviled the Obamacare rollout appear to be significant, and there's no clear timeline for fixes. But President Obama is sticking to his message: Be patient.
Obama helps fainting woman: Why was she lightheaded?Obama steadied fainting woman who was standing behind him during his Rose Garden speech Monday on the Affordable Care Act. 'This happens when I talk too long,' he quipped.
Boehner, McConnell, Cruz: Who's now Mr. Republican?The government shutdown and debt-ceiling standoff have shaken up the Republican Party. John Boehner has taken a hit, while Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz are up.
Sen. Ted Cruz breaks political crockery – right and leftTed Cruz is the face of a newly-revived tea party movement that's as much a threat to the establishment GOP as it is to Democrats. No one has been more successful at articulating his message.
'Kentucky kickback': an issue for Mitch McConnell or just friendly fire?The deal ending the government shutdown included an obscure, one-line change to an unrelated law that increased authorization for spending on a massive water project in Kentucky, the home state of Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell.
Has Ted Cruz peaked?While Sen. Ted Cruz (R) of Texas has been widely mentioned as a possible candidate for president in 2016, his recent star turn – becoming the face of tea party resistance to Obamacare – has polarized public opinion about him.
Obama tells Republican foes to 'win an election.' Taunting?In his post-government shutdown speech, President Obama suggested the best way for Republicans to get what they want is to win an election. Conservatives saw the remark as gloating.
Congress passes bill ending fiscal crisis. What was it all about?President Obama signed the measure into law shortly after midnight Thursday. But it leaves open the possibility that the whole thing can happen again in a few short months.
Congress races to head off US default, will it beat the clock?Senate majority leader Harry Reid and minority leader Mitch McConnell expected to wrap up their negotiations in time to hold votes on the package Wednesday. The deal was expected to mirror one that Senate leaders discussed over the weekend.
With debt limit, John Boehner could be facing his defining momentHouse Speaker John Boehner has struggled to manage his tea party wing for years. But with the debt limit showdown, his ability – or failure – to find a solution could define his legacy.
Government shutdown backfires? GOP says Democrats now guilty of extortion.The government shutdown began with Democrats saying Republican demands about Obamacare were 'extortion.' Now, as the GOP resistance collapses, Senate Democrats are pushing back.
Boehner pushes short-term debt limit fix. Will it work?House Speaker John Boehner is proposing a short-term debt limit increase so Republicans and Democrats can debate budget matters. But the government shutdown would continue.
Is Speaker Boehner backing off Obamacare demands?House GOP leaders are talking more about budget restraint and tax reform than defunding Obamacare, prompting worries in conservative ranks that Boehner's endgame may sell out their concerns.
Why won't Obama talk with Speaker Boehner?President Obama says he will negotiate 'only after the threat of a government shutdown and default have been removed.' The opening move by GOP hard-liners to defund Obamacare polarized negotiations.
Jon Stewart grills Health secretary on Obamacare: Who won?'Daily Show' host Jon Stewart pounded Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius over and over with one question about Obamacare: Why can't an individual delay the mandate to buy health insurance but a business can?
Government shutdown: Are things getting better – or worse?A government shutdown typically ends after both sides have established strong positions, then work toward a solution. Instead, rhetoric over the current impasse is turning personal and vindictive.
Government shutdown: Is John Boehner losing at tea party's game?Speaker John Boehner said Sunday that the House wouldn't vote to end the government shutdown unless President Obama made some concessions. But Democrats have heard this before.
- Four predictions for post-shutdown US politics
While there's no deal in the offing to bring an end to the government shutdown, it's already apparent what the political situation will be after there is one. Here's four things to expect.
