All Politics
US defense strategy returns to a ‘great power’ focusA Pentagon strategy document sees competition with ‘revisionist powers’ China and Russia as the top US concern. Security experts say a key question is how much President Trump will do to implement a vision that hinges on alliances.
First LookUS Senate seeks to end impasse on self-driving car billIn the debate over a landmark self-driving car bill in the US Senate, proponents argue self-driving cars will reduce road deaths, while those who oppose the bill express concern that the technology is not yet ready.
First LookWork requirement reenergizes Medicaid discussions in GOP statesThe Trump administration's approval of state work requirements for low-income people on Medicaid may lead more GOP states to expand their health care programs, as the stipulation speaks to a conservative ideal of self-reliance.
Yes, new tariff backfires on US jobs. But it’s not end of world for solar power.The Trump-imposed tariff on imported solar panels isn't as harsh as the industry had feared. The bigger challenge, some say, is possible cuts in government-funded energy research.
Does Congress need the president to take the lead?During the shutdown, President Trump kept an unusually low profile – and the hands-off approach seemed to work. But can a polarized Congress move forward on an issue like immigration without clearer direction from the president?
Shutdown saga sparks debate about how to fix 'broken' CongressIdeas such as ending the filibuster are floated as lawmakers consider whether a deliberately cumbersome system of checks and balances, designed to forge compromise, truly remains viable in today’s highly polarized environment.
First LookUS government shuts down amid standoff over immigrationA last-ditch Republican funding bill fell well short of the 60 Senate votes needed Friday night to prevent the country's first shutdown since 2013.
A year after the March, women are sprinting forwardThe Women's March on Jan. 21, 2017 sparked new levels of activism and engagement for many, with record numbers of women running for office, donating to campaigns, and finding new ways to get involved.
What makes immigration deals so hardIncreased partisanship and decreased trust among lawmakers have made reforming immigration harder than ever – even as pressure to fix the problems in the system has grown.
In shutdown showdown, a crucial question: Who will get the blame?With Friday’s deadline looming to avert a government shutdown, some observers see a twist to what is typically a party-line battle. Some Republicans and Democrats say they are tired of short-term funding of government – with its patches, unpredictability, and the toll that takes.
Spy suspect's arrest: What motivates turncoats?The FBI has charged Jerry Chun Shing Lee, a former CIA officer, with illegally retaining documents. That may have helped Beijing brutally dismantle US espionage operations in China.
First LookDemocrats watch Pennsylvania special election race for anti-Trump sentimentA moderate Democrat and a Trump supporter face off in conservative Pennsylvania in a special congressional election race as Democrats hope for a political renaissance on the heels of sweeping wins in Virginia and a surprise upset in Alabama.
On policy, Trump favors one side of red-blue divideFrom tax reform to offshore drilling, the Trump administration has made major policy moves that appear to favor red states and penalize blue ones, reflecting the GOP's control of government – and the degree to which the president is focused on his base.
Why presidential language mattersWhen presidents sort groups of voters – and groups of nations – into categories they like and dislike, the results aren’t always pretty. It’s a tactic that can be wrong, and ineffective, say historians.
Q&A: In St. Louis, the Rev. Darryl Gray is 'praying with my feet''If we can be successful in St. Louis as Dr. King and the civil rights leaders were in Selma, it could change this country, as Selma did.' – The Rev. Darryl Gray, civil rights activist
First LookTrump opens path for states to require employment for Medicaid recipientsThe Trump administration announced a policy shift that would allow states to enforce work requirements for Medicaid recipients. Ten states have already applied for waivers to require work or community involvement.
First LookState legislators rework sexual misconduct policiesSexual harassment policies for state legislatures across the country are currently being reviewed and changed following a rash of complaints against lawmakers in around two dozen states.
Why earmarks, deplored by many Republicans, find a new fan in TrumpAllowing members of Congress to insert pet provisions has been a fount of wasteful spending in the past. It can also facilitate dealmaking – now an urgent priority for President Trump.
On DACA, old political fault lines – but new room for optimismSome lawmakers say Tuesday's televised negotiations helped them inch toward a deal to aid an estimated 700,000 young people brought illegally to the US as children. Also Tuesday, a federal judge issued an injunction temporarily blocking White House plans to end the DACA program in March.
First LookRussian interference in Europe brought to surface by congressional reportA new report by congressional Democrats highlights Russia's increasing interference in Europe and the US who feel the meddling has failed to be addressed by President Trump, despite aggressive countermeasures by other Western democracies.
