All Politics
First LookJudges strike down North Carolina GOP-drawn voting mapFederal judges determined that North Carolina's congressional district map gave the Republican Party an advantage for most seats and ordered the map to be redrawn immediately.
Oprah 2020? Why the political appeal of celebrities endures.Oprah Winfrey’s impassioned speech about the #MeToo movement at the Golden Globe Awards lit Democratic hopes and dreams. Part of that may be because voters want to connect with their leaders on an emotional as well as a political level.
Gun rights: Bid to federalize concealed carry puts GOP in unfamiliar territoryThat a black single mom has become the poster-woman for a national concealed-carry reciprocity bill has put Republicans in an unusual position. The party usually arguing in favor of states' rights finds itself defending federal supremacy.
First LookTrump reaffirms promise of border wall before immigrations talks with CongressThough Republicans and Democrats seem far from an agreement on immigration reform, President Trump heads into discussions with congressmen from across the aisle regarding 'Dreamers' and his campaign promise of a border wall.
Under Trump, US debates a leader’s mental fitness as never beforeTwo books, one quoting White House insiders and the other by psychiatrists, have spurred discussion of a long-taboo subject regarding sitting presidents. It's about Trump, but also about whether the "Goldwater rule" against armchair diagnosis should still apply.
Why the leaders of the Republican establishment are smilingThe political banishment of Steve Bannon means the GOP can focus on candidates who appeal to the mainstream. But the rift with the anti-establishment still remains, and Trump will have to help mend it for the midterms, analysts say.
First LookTrump's new offshore drilling plan poses environmental concernsThe Trump administration moved to vastly expand offshore drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans that would open 90 percent of the nation's offshore reserves to development by private companies.
North Korea: Why 'battle of the nuclear buttons' is likely overblownCritics fear that taunting between Trump and Kim injects anger and emotionalism into the nuclear balance. But the objective and well-known high cost of conflict is still a deterrent that is more important than words.
Cover StoryDisrupter in chief: How Donald Trump is changing the presidencyA year into the presidency, Trump’s freewheeling, norm-busting approach to the office is the new normal.
First LookTrump to take on welfare, but not all Republicans are on boardAfter celebrating the passage of a major tax reform bill, President Trump eyes welfare reform, though some Republicans are hesitant to scale back welfare programs during a congressional election year.
First LookRepublican wins drawing in Virginia to decide political majority of HouseAfter a too-close-to-call race, Virginia's state elections board blindly picked David Yancey as the winner of the 94th District on Thursday. The win gives Republicans a slim 51-49 majority over Democrats in the House.
Despite divisions, Congress will have to work across party linesThe items topping lawmakers' to-do list this year – such as funding the government – will require bipartisan cooperation. But that may be easier said than done.
First LookA record year in the making: more women are running for officeUS sees tremendous surge in women interested in politics, fueled largely by frustration over the Trump administration, success of Democratic women winning races in November, and the growing #MeToo campaign.
First LookAs two new US Senators are sworn in, Republican control of Senate loosensAlabama Democrat Doug Jones and Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith are set to enter the US Senate, narrowing the Republican majority in the body of Congress to 51 to 49.
In Trump era, what does it mean to be an 'Evangelical'?For many Christian conservatives, the term 'evangelical' is now more of a political identifier than a doctrinal one – which has led some high-profile religious leaders to question or even abandon the term.
In the #MeToo era, what does it mean to be a ‘real man’?Some scholars have labeled the roots of the widespread sexual assault and harassment exposed this year as a ‘toxic masculinity.’ But there are signs younger Americans are starting to break out of such constraints.
Lower taxes spur growth, Trump says. The historical record isn’t so simple.President Trump’s newly signed tax-cut measure has already prompted some corporations to make wage-hike and investment promises. Yet the Reagan era and other history offers cautionary evidence on taxes and growth.
First LookRepublicans hope to pass spending bill to avoid shutdownRepublicans in the House are working to get the votes needed to pass a spending bill that would avoid a government shutdown on Friday. With attention turned to the spending bill, other big-ticket items such as immigration and the budget will be pushed to 2018.
Voting by mail grows in popularity – but is it reliable?In 27 states, voters now can choose to vote by mail. But unlike votes cast in person, many absentee ballots wind up uncounted, for reasons ranging from invalid signatures to simply being late. Experts say the method is also vulnerable to fraud.
How GOP tax overhaul may play in the midtermsIf voters perceive the tax bill as boosting the economy – and their own bottom lines – it could help temper some of the other headwinds working against Republicans heading into next year's midterm elections.
