Politics & Government

More than a year after he was nominated, Dr. Vivek Murthy was confirmed as the next surgeon general Monday. Back in February, Murthy testified about his nomination before a Senate panel.

The U.S. Has A Surgeon General, For The First Time In 17 Months

7:14pm December 15, 2014

by Bill Chappell

A job that's been open in President Obama's administration since July of 2013 was finally filled Monday, as the Senate voted to confirm Vivek Murthy as America's new surgeon general.

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Is Ted Cruz Running For President...In 2008?

1:37pm December 15, 2014

by Ron Elving

Even in an age of galloping ambition, the Texan rides ahead of the pack. Obama liked to quote Martin Luther King's line about "the fierce urgency of now," Cruz seeks to embody it at every turn.

When it comes to salty french fries or pizza served at lunch, schools may get more time to dial back sodium content, thanks to a provision in the federal spending bill headed for a vote on Capitol Hill.

From Potatoes To Salty Fries In School: Congress Tweaks Food Rules

11:00am December 15, 2014

by Allison Aubrey

The giant federal spending bill that's expected to go to a vote Thursday will give schools some flexibility in implementing nutrition standards. Also a winner: the potato lobby.

Cheney On Harsh Interrogation: 'I'd Do It Again In A Minute'

3:51pm December 14, 2014

by Scott Neuman

The former vice president doubled down on his defense of the Bush administration's use of such techniques, calling the Senate's recent report "seriously flawed."

Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz talks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Friday, as the Senate considers a spending bill.

Senate Passes $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill

2:28pm December 14, 2014

by Scott Neuman

Senators meeting in a rare Saturday session had earlier voted to extend their deadline until midnight Wednesday, but they managed to pass the spending measure Saturday night by a 56-40 vote.

Activists Gather On Washington Mall To Protest Police Violence

1:38pm December 14, 2014

by Hansi Lo Wang

Civil rights leaders and other activists are marching in Washington, D.C., following the shooting deaths of blacks by police officers. NPR's Scott Simon speaks to reporter Hansi Lo Wang on the scene.

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Senate Passes $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill

12:18pm December 14, 2014

The Senate voted late Saturday to pass a bill that will fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. NPR's Rachel Martin talks to NPR's Mara Liasson about the rare Saturday session.

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Outrage On The Left And Right As Senate Delays Spending Vote

2:21pm December 13, 2014

by Ailsa Chang

The Senate is poised to pass the trillion-dollar spending bill that narrowly cleared the House this week, but anger about the measure from both parties has delayed the proceedings.

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Levin, Harkin, Coburn Among Senators Bidding Adieu

2:21pm December 13, 2014

by Don Gonyea

The end of the 113th Congress means a lot of goodbyes for retiring members and for those who lost in November. That means, at least for a moment, partisanship took some time off on the Senate floor.

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Government Funding Bill Rolls Back Trucker Rest Requirements

2:21pm December 13, 2014

by Brian Naylor

One of the many policy riders tucked inside the trillion-dollar spending bill reverses a rule that long-haul truckers take two nights off for every 70 hours they drive. Safety groups are angry.

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