All Politics
Fiscal cliff: 48 hours to go and Senate negotiations slow to a crawlA late-breaking Republican demand to cut Social Security benefits through an alternative method of calculating inflation adjustments has put negotiations at an impasse.
Obama keeps up the pressure as Senators Reid and McConnell negotiate 'fiscal cliff'President Obama appeared on 'Meet the Press' Sunday as Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell tried to work out a last-minute deal to avoid plunging over the 'fiscal cliff.'
GOP 'fiscal cliff' endgame: Let big government sting the middle class?For some tea party Republicans, part of the political calculation ahead of the 2014 elections is whether going off the fiscal cliff would spell political disaster or instead be seen as a return to principled governance.
Three (thin) reasons why Congress could yet avoid the fiscal cliffA deadline, the promise of a House vote on whatever the Senate can produce, and a sharp reaction on Wall Street boost prospects that gridlocked lawmakers will act to avert at least some aspects of the fiscal cliff by Jan. 1.
'Fiscal cliff' meeting at White House: Will it be 'Lincoln' moment for Obama?Many Senate Republicans say that with Congress deadlocked on averting the fiscal cliff, it is up to Obama to force a deal. The lesson from the movie 'Lincoln,' they say, is 'the president has to lead.'
Wind energy: Boom sputters as industry tax credit is set to expireCongress has so far not extended the tax credit for wind energy, resulting in the layoffs of thousands of workers. Communities that a few years ago were elated to attract a promising new industry are left wondering what will the future bring.
FocusImmigration reform: Is 'amnesty' a possibility now?Congress seems primed to address immigration reform in 2013, and even a path to citizenship – which critics deride as 'amnesty' for illegals – may be on the table. The shift in the national conversation came suddenly. Here's why.
'Fiscal cliff': Finger-pointing furiously, Congress slouches toward deadlineSpeaker Boehner, who called the House back into session Sunday evening, said Thursday it was up to the Senate to act, while majority leader Reid spoke on the Senate floor of a 'dysfunctional' GOP caucus.
‘Fiscal cliff’: Will Wall Street light a fire under Congress?So far at least, many on Wall Street seem to think that no matter what happens over the next few days with the fiscal cliff, Congress will still come through early in the new year.
Chuck Hagel: why his candidacy for Defense post is losing altitudeCritics of Chuck Hagel's potential candidacy have focused on remarks he made years ago about Israel, Iran, and Hamas. Some even called him anti-Semitic, a charge branded as outrageous, even by other critics.
'Fiscal cliff': Is Washington missing its chance to 'go big'?President Obama and Congress are preparing to have another go at a deal on the fiscal cliff, but more and more it's looking like an opportunity for something grand to be wasted.
Home for the holidays: Fewer US troops are absent this yearChristmas 2012 marks the smallest deployment of combat troops abroad in at least five years, as the war in Iraq ends and US forces deployed to Afghanistan have been drawing down.
Might Ben Affleck try leap from Hollywood to US Senate? So far, he's cagey.The actor and director says he's 'happy being involved from outside in government.' But Ben Affleck didn't exactly put the kibosh on talk about a possible run for John Kerry's Senate seat.
Gloomy predictions as Washington approaches the 'fiscal cliff'It's still possible that the 'fiscal cliff' with its automatic tax increases and across-the-board spending cuts can be avoided. But the clock is ticking toward Jan.1, and most lawmakers are pessimistic.
NRA’s LaPierre doesn’t back down from ‘crazy’ guns-in-schools proposalOn Sunday, NRA chief Wayne LaPierre repeated his claim that 'the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.' Opponents of armed guards in schools pushed back, but passing stricter gun control laws is an uphill fight.
CIA: ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ not a realistic portrayal of hunt for Osama bin LadenThe CIA says scenes of torture in the new film 'Zero Dark Thirty' are not an accurate portrayal of the hunt for Osama bin Laden. This follows similar criticism from three senior US senators who say the film is 'grossly inaccurate and misleading'.
In 'fiscal cliff' fight, Obama gets better marks than BoehnerPresident Obama's approval rating is at a three-year high; Speaker Boehner's is at an all-time low, and a majority of Americans view the GOP as too extreme. Is Boehner's position in danger?
Is the NRA push for guns in schools crazy? It depends on where you live.Reaction to the NRA’s controversial proposal to have armed guards in all schools illustrates the regional divide over guns – how and even whether to control the nation’s private arsenal.
Armed guards in schools? Reaction to NRA is swift and strong.Most gun control advocates rejected out of hand the NRA call for armed guards in every school in the country. New York Mayor Bloomberg said it offered 'a paranoid, dystopian vision' of America.
Unemployment down: which states are doing better than othersUnemployment rates fell in 45 states in November, but the strength of the job market varies widely by region, according to US data. Local resources and housing markets are among the reasons.
