All Politics
First LookTwo Staceys: Georgia Democrats weigh both race and gender in governor's raceGubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who is black, is a trailblazer in the Republican-controlled state – but so is Stacey Evans, who is white. Georgia voters will grapple with who could become the state's first female governor at the Democratic primary on Tuesday.
First LookGina Haspel makes history as first female CIA directorIn the closest vote in history, Gina Haspel has been confirmed by the Senate as the next CIA director. While backed by many senior intelligence officers, opponents expressed concern about her involvement in the agency's interrogation program after 9/11.
North Korea, in word and deed, signals how tough negotiations will beHow big a deal is North Korea's missile-test "shutdown," really? We look at the complexity of Pyongyang's negotiating style – it just broke off South Korea talks over joint military exercises with the United States – and the care the US will need to use if the Trump-Kim summit is realized.
A new push on immigration roils the midterms – and House RepublicansPolitics has long made immigration one of the most intractable issues in Congress. But now, campaign imperatives may be spurring action. Facing tough reelection battles, some moderate House Republicans are breaking with their party leaders to try to force votes on "Dreamers."
First LookLegislators work to shift culture in statehouses in wake of #MeTooSeven months after the #MeToo movement, at least 16 state legislators have resigned or been expelled. As many legislative sessions end, many policies, including creating a private way for victims to come forward and a nonpartisan system of punishment, remain unchanged.
Mueller aside, Trump now faces legal peril from a host of sourcesA web of lawsuits involving President Trump and his associates – filed by Russian oligarchs, the Democratic Party, and a porn star, among others – may seem primarily like a source of cable news entertainment. But this civil litigation could pose grave risks to Mr. Trump and his presidency.
Haspel nomination clouded by her past – but also by today’s contextSenators questioned Gina Haspel, nominated by President Trump to lead the CIA, about her role in overseeing ‘enhanced interrogation’ techniques. Although she now says she opposes the methods, Trump himself has voiced support for them.
In West Virginia, GOP tries to tame forces of 'Trumpism'Ahead of Tuesday’s primary, GOP leaders are furiously trying to halt the momentum of former coal magnate and US Senate candidate Don Blankenship, who calls himself 'Trumpier than Trump,' and who spent a year in prison after an accident killed 29 workers in one of his mines.
Young change-makers show the impact of soft diplomacyThe 'soft-power' approach is not where the Trump administration puts diplomatic resources. But a tradition of awards to foreign nationals remains alive in the State Department, and is supporting US goals abroad.
To understand Trump-team leaks, look at the leakers’ motivesA list of potential questions for Trump from special counsel Mueller apparently was made public by the president's own side. Here's how that may fit in the patterns of a particularly leak-prone administration.
First LookWhite House avoids press conferences in favor of informal exchangesMore than a year has passed since President Trump's first and only press conference. The Trump administration seems to have done away with the decades-long tradition and has instead embraced other press interactions that allow him greater control.
Beyond promise of united Korea, disarmament may depend on TrumpLast week's feel-good summit between the Koreas has led to high expectations for the main event: a meeting between the US and North Korea. Washington holds hopes for a historic breakthrough, but no illusions that progress is inevitable.
Why these Muslims are fighting anti-SemitismAs anti-Muslim violence continues to rise in the United States, and as public anti-Semitism begins to stalk Europe and the US once more, religious leaders of many faiths are trying to get beyond ideas of 'tolerance' and uphold a deeper commitment to the civic ideals of a life shared together.
Traveling with Trump as he skipped – and skewered – the press dinnerThe White House Correspondents’ Dinner gave President Trump an easy opportunity to lambaste the Washington press corps, as our correspondent witnessed while covering his Michigan rally that night. The real problem wasn’t so much the comedian’s raunchy routine, it’s the red-carpet chumminess of the event.
First LookAs midterms approach, Puerto Ricans hold potential influenceWith the influx of thousands of Puerto Ricans to the mainland United States after hurricane Maria, organizations from across the political spectrum are registering the new arrivals to vote – and hoping to sway them in the upcoming elections.
Monitor BreakfastBreakfast with the ‘referee’ of Trump economic policyKevin Hassett, the White House’s chief economist, talked deficits, taxes, and trade - and what it’s like to work with President Trump.
The journey toward healing in CharlottesvilleDuring the recent National Week of Conversation, the Monitor moderated a panel discussion on race in Charlottesville. Here's what it was like to take part in the city's continuing efforts to find healing after last year's protests.
Monitor BreakfastEven with worker shortages, GOP and Democrats focus on more jobsWhite House economist Kevin Hassett says Congress should stay focused on countering the decline in the share of Americans in the workforce. Many Democrats agree.
Life of first-time candidate: 16-hour days, piles of paperwork – and enthusiasmJessica Morse, running in California's Fourth District, is one of hundreds of first-time candidates, mostly Democrats, hoping to win US House seats this cycle. Many face long odds – but experts say this could be a year that favors newcomers.
First LookNarrow win in Arizona House race unsettles GOPThe GOP held onto an Arizona House seat that previously was seen as an entirely secure seat. The narrow victory signaled to Republicans that even some of the reddest districts may be in play come November.
