Politics

President Obama signs a series of executive orders on gun control Jan. 16 surrounded by children who wrote letters to the White House about gun violence. They are, from left, Hinna Zeejah, Taejah Goode, Julia Stokes and Grant Fritz.

Politics & Government

Why Politicians Want Children To Be Seen And Heard

7:36pm April 09, 2013

by Ari Shapiro

Right now, children are central to campaigns on gun control, immigration and same-sex marriage — demonstrating their effectiveness as political messengers. Politicians know that on almost any issue, kids can make an argument more compelling.

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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., shown speaking at a meeting of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on March 19, is promoting libertarian ideas as a way the Republican Party can be more inclusive.

Politics & Government

Will The Future GOP Be More Libertarian?

7:34pm April 09, 2013

by Ari Shapiro

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul thinks embracing libertarian ideas is one way the party can be more inclusive. And GOP leaders are starting to think he might be on to something.

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The 'Hard To Change' Legacy Of Medicare Payments

9:14am April 09, 2013

by Julie Rovner

One possible proposal in President Obama's budget would change the way Medicare patients pay for their care. It's been floated as a possible bipartisan compromise, but it's an idea with a long, controversial and unsuccessful history.

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Administration Urges Europeans To Ease Austerity Measures

9:14am April 09, 2013

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is on his first trip to Europe, pushing for leaders to let up on strict steps that were enacted during the financial crisis. His trip comes as President Obama prepares to send his budget plan to Congress. It's said to include cuts to Social Security and Medicare. David Greene talks to Lew, who's in Berlin to meet with Germany's finance minister.

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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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Hundreds of gun owners and enthusiasts attend a rally at the Connecticut Capitol in Hartford on Jan. 19.

Some Gun Control Opponents Cite Fear Of Government Tyranny

11:35am April 08, 2013

by David Welna

Gun-rights advocates are increasingly arguing that they need weapons to protect themselves from the government. They say that's what the Second Amendment is really about. Now some elected officials seem to be playing off those fears.

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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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Gun rights supporters rally at the Oregon Capitol in February.

Oregon Weighs Own Gun Measures After Mall Shooting, Newtown

8:20pm April 04, 2013

by Chris Lehman

The measures include a ban on guns in schools and criminal background checks for private gun sales. They follow a shooting at a crowded shopping mall in a Portland suburb just days before the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

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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

Second Chances In American Politics

2:19pm April 03, 2013

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford won the GOP nomination for the state's first district congressional seat Tuesday. Sanford's return to politics comes four years after revelations of his extramarital affair in 2009. Sanford isn't the only disgraced politician to make a comeback.

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