Politics & Government

Katherine Hackett of Connecticut introduces President Barack Obama during a White House event on unemployment insurance Jan. 7. Hackett spoke about her financial struggles during unemployment before Obama put pressure on the House to extend benefits.

Politics & Government

Senate Unexpectedly Moves Forward On Unemployment Benefits

9:05pm January 07, 2014

by Tamara Keith

After a procedural vote in the Senate on a bill that would temporarily extend emergency insurance for the jobless, President Obama held a White House press conference to pressure Congress to keep the momentum going. But Republican leaders say they need spending cuts or job-creation plans in return.

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To help cut down on fraud, Congress is limiting access to the Social Security Administration's data about people who die in the United States each year.

Tighter Access To 'Death Master File' Has Researchers Worried

10:51am January 07, 2014

by Brian Naylor

The Social Security Administration has long kept track of deaths so it can stop checks when recipients die. And while researchers have used the file for years, fraudsters have, too. So Congress is limiting access to the data — and that has everyone from bankers to genealogists concerned.

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Justice Sotomayor Blocks Part Of Birth Control Mandate

11:42am January 01, 2014

The Supreme Court justice issued a decision Tuesday night that's putting part of President Obama's health insurance law in doubt. Groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged are suing to block the law, saying it violates their religious freedom.

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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at the opening of the New York Genome Center on Sept. 19 in New York City.

Assessing Bloomberg's Legacy Is A Complex Task

11:16am December 30, 2013

by Margot Adler

On Tuesday, Michael Bloomberg ends his three terms as mayor of New York City. His 12 years in office were groundbreaking, locally and globally.

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Up Next For Joe Biden, A Busy Year — And A Choice

4:24pm December 28, 2013

by Brian Naylor

As the vice president enters his sixth year as President Obama's second-in-command, there comes the natural question: What's next? A long-time senator, Biden has run for president before, and is making some moves that suggest he may do so one last time.

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Obama's Position On Free Trade Marks Subtle Evolution

8:06am December 27, 2013

by Scott Horsley

Two decades after NAFTA created a giant North American free trade zone, the U.S. is negotiating more big trade deals that would span the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. President Obama has embraced the potential agreements as a way to improve the U.S. economy.

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How 2013 Became The 'Gayest Year Ever'

4:36pm December 26, 2013

by Ari Shapiro

Utah's surprise decision to legalize same-sex marriage caps a landmark year for gay rights. The last 12 months saw a huge string of victories, from state legislatures, to Congress, to the Supreme Court.

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School Testing Systems Should Be Examined In 2014

7:49am December 26, 2013

Our series on the future continues with a discussion about education. Morning Edition co-host Steve Inskeep talks to Linda Darling-Hammond, a former adviser to President Obama, who is dismayed to see his administration build on the high-stakes testing requirements introduced by the Bush administration.

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Administration Extends Health Insurance Deadline Again

7:24am December 25, 2013

A midnight deadline to sign up for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act that starts Jan. 1 has been extended by a day. The White House describes the extension as an effort to accommodate people in different time zones.

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Politics & Government

Obama Fails To Accomplish Ambitious Agenda In 2013

8:00am December 23, 2013

President Obama has had a dramatic trajectory this year. He started 2013 fresh off a hard-fought electoral victory, going into a second term with a lot of goals. He ends the year with many of his priorities stalled and his poll numbers at all-time lows.

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