Politics & Government

Politics & Government

The Race For South Carolina's Congressional Seat

2:05pm May 01, 2013

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will face Elizabeth Colbert Busch in a special election for South Carolina's first district congressional seat May 7. NPR's Ken Rudin, NPR's Kathy Lohr and Robert Oldendick, University of South Carolina, discuss the candidates, the debate and the district.

Queue Listen Now

Vice President Joe Biden, holds a background check form last week in Washington, as he calls on Congress to pass legislation aimed at reducing gun violence.

Background Check Battle: More Prosecution Or More Checks?

1:54pm May 01, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

Some gun rights supporters point out that only a tiny fraction of people caught trying to buy a gun illegally are ever prosecuted. They say the government should focus on enforcing current law, not expanding background checks. But gun control supporters say that argument misses the point.

Queue Listen Now

Markey, Gomez Vie For John Kerry's Senate Seat

10:51am May 01, 2013

by Tovia Smith

Veteran Democratic Rep. Ed Markey, who has been in office for 36 years, will face off against novice Republican Gabriel Gomez in the race to become the next U.S. senator from Massachusetts.

Queue Listen Now

Roger Bottomley of Fairfax, Va., has been homeless for 10 years. He expected to get a housing voucher, but then his appointment with the local housing authority was canceled because of sequestration. He keeps his belongings in a locker at a homeless day c

Sequester Puts Some Needing Housing Aid 'Back To Square One'

8:01pm April 30, 2013

by Pam Fessler

Housing authorities across the country have all but stopped issuing rent vouchers as they try to deal with across-the-board spending cuts. Many newly issued vouchers have been rescinded, leaving some people homeless or doubled up with family and friends.

Queue Listen Now

American farms like this iceberg lettuce field owned by Duda Farm Fresh Foods outside Salinas, Calif., are facing a dwindling supply of farmworkers from rural Mexico.

Why An Immigration Deal Won't Solve The Farmworker Shortage

8:01pm April 30, 2013

by Kirk Siegler

Many farmers are cheering government proposals to give thousands of seasonal farmworkers a path to legal status. But even if the bill passes, it won't solve the long-term trend of fewer migrants coming north to work on U.S. farms. Farmers will instead have to learn how to do more with less immigrant labor.

Queue Listen Now

States Question What To Do With Surging Tax Revenue

1:07pm April 29, 2013

by Greg Allen

After at least three years of red ink, most states have budget surpluses. It's a sign of a recovering economy and leaves states with a new dilemma: how best to spend the money.

Queue Listen Now

Conservative Shift Has Some Kansans Yearning For The Past

8:17pm April 27, 2013

by NPR Staff

Journalist Jason Probst says he doesn't recognize his own state. He wrote a faux obituary lamenting Kansas' lost battle with extremism. But Republican Gov. Sam Brownback sees a bright future. He wants to eliminate state income taxes, hoping to build a model for other red states.

Queue Listen Now

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at a news conference at City Hall on April 25. The billionaire mayor has been spending from his personal fortune to provide a "political counterweight to the NRA," his policy adviser says.

Bloomberg Aims His Money At Gun Control Opponents

3:57pm April 27, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg seems determined to become the formidable adversary the NRA has never had. The billionaire mayor is spending from his personal fortune to help defeat lawmakers who voted against gun control proposals last week. His first target: Democrat Mark Pryor of Arkansas.

Queue Listen Now

Politics & Government

Congress Acts On Flight Delays, What's Next?

3:57pm April 27, 2013

It appears Congress decided not to leave town while airport delays pile up. The Senate miraculously approved a measure to restore funding for air traffic controllers, and the House followed suit on Friday. Considering this turn of events, could other sequester interventions be in the offing?

Queue Listen Now

Politics & Government

The Lollipop War

6:59pm April 26, 2013

by Zoe Chace

Candy makers and sugar farmers have been fighting for years in Congress. The sugar farmers are winning.

Queue Listen Now