Governing

In Columbus, Ohio, signs of the sequester were hard to find.

Searching For The Sequester In The Middle Of Ohio

9:59pm April 08, 2013

by Tamara Keith

It's only been about a month since across-the-board federal spending cuts kicked in, but real, tangible, quantifiable signs of the sequester are proving hard to find so far. Politically, that means — for now, at least — there's not much pressure for Congress to undo or modify it.

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This photo of the J. Edgar Hoover Building was taken in November 2001. After the Sept. 11 attacks, the FBI stopped offering tours of its headquarters.

National

FBI Building May Soon Be 'Put Out Of Its Misery'

6:04pm April 05, 2013

by Brian Naylor

With D.C. real estate booming, it's no surprise that the government is thinking about unloading a building seen by many as an eyesore. The J. Edgar Hoover Building, headquarters of the FBI, sits on a valuable spot along Pennsylvania Avenue, not far from the Capitol and the White House.

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The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels soar over the Florida Keys during a March 23 air show. The group has canceled several air shows in April and May, reportedly owing to budget cuts.

Sequester Scorecard: A Month Later, Effects Still Up In Air

10:09am April 05, 2013

by NPR Staff

Automatic federal budget cuts that kicked in March 1 have had little initial impact in many parts of the government. In a few programs, however, the effect has been real and painful as the government has begun cutting $85 billion from its spending through the end of September.

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The Hunt Is On For A New FBI Director

5:11am April 04, 2013

by Carrie Johnson

Robert Mueller has been the U.S. government's indispensable man when it comes to national security. When his 10-year term as FBI director expired, the Obama administration asked Congress for an unprecedented two-year extension. But now, the clock is ticking on finding his successor.

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Politics & Government

Judicial Vacancies Languish On Key Federal Appeals Court

7:42am April 02, 2013

by Carrie Johnson

The federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., is sometimes called the second most important court in the country, regularly delivering the final word on major environmental, labor and national security cases. But four of its 11 judge's slots are vacant, the most in the nation.

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Politics & Government

The Politics Of Guns And The Influence Of Advertising

11:50am March 28, 2013

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a $12 million ad campaign in 13 states this week to persuade senators to support gun control legislation. The ads promote universal background checks as a prerequisite for gun ownership.

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The Rev. Craig Benson, who fought the civil unions law, says he remains opposed to both civil unions and same-sex marriage. But he also said his focus is on other issues.

How Vermont's 'Civil' War Fueled The Gay Marriage Movement

9:55pm March 27, 2013

by Liz Halloran

As the Supreme Court considers the constitutional case for gay marriage, we look back at the role Vermont played just 13 years ago in the historic metamorphosis of the issue. The state's governor, who wore a bulletproof vest that year, called it "the least civil public debate in the state in over a century."

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A member of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization (right) is confronted by a pro-gay-marriage activist outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Politics & Government

Outside the Supreme Court, The Arguments Continue

5:58pm March 27, 2013

As oral arguments were held Tuesday in the first of two same-sex-marriage cases inside the Supreme Court, the steps and sidewalks outside were transformed into a public forum of sorts on the issue.

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The Value And Risk Of Drawing A Red Line

9:20am March 24, 2013

The term "red line" has been used by the U.S. and other countries to refer to unacceptable actions including Iran's development of nuclear weapons and North Korea, and the use of chemical weapons in Syria. While there is value in having clear-cut parameters for intervention, there is also great risk.

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Customers shop for guns at Freddie Bear Sports sporting goods store in Tinley Park, Ill., in January. One of the gun provisions in the spending bill prevents the Justice Department from requiring gun dealers to conduct an inventory to see if guns are lost

NRA-Driven Gun Provisions Pass Along With Spending Bill

6:32pm March 21, 2013

by Tamara Keith

The first gun-related provisions to pass Congress since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting were riders included without debate. These same provisions — which limit how federal agencies deal with guns — have been regularly included in spending bills for years.

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