Senate Filibuster Changes: More Evolution Than Revolution
After threatening to gut the rule that lets a single senator bring the Senate to a virtual halt, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has agreed to tweak rather than transform the practice. Under the accord, Democrats would gain the ability to skip a procedural step to begin debate on a bill.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Democrats Unveil Bill To Ban Assault-Style Weapons
The legislation would effectively reinstate a ban that was in effect from 1994 into 2004. But the bill faces long odds on Capitol Hill.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
House Passes GOP’s Debt-Ceiling Plan; Senate Democrats Offer Their Support
The “No Budget, No Pay” act would withhold lawmakers’ pay if they don’t pass a new budget by April 15. In exchange, Republicans say, the borrowing limit would be extended into May. That would avoid another battle over raising that borrowing ceiling.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Don’t Expect States To Cooperate
States are now governed pretty much by one party or the other, which nearly as often as not enjoys supermajority status in legislatures, according to a report by the Pew Center on the States. That means individual states will be moving in different direction on everything from abortion to tax policy — and many are likely to resist laws set in Washington.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Obama’s Promise To Close Guantanamo Prison Falls Short
In January 2009, the president signed an executive order to close the U.S. prison camp. But four years later, the prison remains open, and critics say the president miscalculated how difficult it would be to close the facility that houses terrorism suspects.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Divine Rhetoric: God In The Inaugural Address
George Washington invoked the Almighty, but the word “God” wasn’t used in an inaugural address until James Monroe. Since then, few presidents have missed the opportunity to put God in their inaugural speeches.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Obama’s Unfinished Business: Latin America
As President Obama starts his second term, host Michel Martin takes a look at his foreign policy agenda. She speaks with NPR’s Juan Forero about upcoming opportunities and challenges in Latin America — from drug trafficking, to changes in leadership, to the evolution of the U.S. relationship with Cuba.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
The Inaugural Ball: Thousands Of Dresses Searching For An Experience
The inaugural ball is sort of a strange event — it’s not really fancy, but everyone treats it like it is. People are determined to have the experience be special, even if the surroundings aren’t.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
When It Comes To Inaugural Fashion, First Family Stays The Course
The first lady is well known for her wardrobe choices, and for the inauguration, Michelle Obama showed off her ability to make multiple style statements during a single day.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Inauguration 2013: Live NPR Chat
Join “It’s All Politics” blogger Frank James and other NPR journalists to talk about the day’s events and the issues coming up in President Obama’s second term.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
