Politics

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has not had a permanent administrator since Congress required that the director be confirmed by the Senate in 2006.

Politics & Government

Senate Mostly Blamed For Agency And Court Vacancies, But Obama Isn't Helping

11:50am March 08, 2013

by Brian Naylor

Lack of a director can leave a federal agency treading water on policy and personnel issues, and several major agencies have been leaderless for years. The Senate also needs to act before federal judgeships can be filled, and some 10 percent of those jobs are vacant.

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Senate Confirms Brennan As CIA Director

6:13pm March 07, 2013

The Senate easily confirmed the nomination of John Brennan as CIA director, that following the dramatics of Sen. Rand Paul, who filibustered against it for nearly 13 hours on Wednesday night. Is this the dawn of a new era of these, old-school, "talking" filibusters? Tamara Keith talks to Audie Cornish.

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Politics & Government

Famous Filibusters Throughout History

2:11pm March 07, 2013

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) held the Senate floor for more than 12 hours on Wednesday in protest of the White House drone policy. His action delayed the vote on the confirmation of John Brennan as CIA director. NPR's Ken Rudin discusses the use of the filibuster throughout history.

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Challenge To Michigan's Gay Marriage Ban Grows From Adoption Case

1:36pm March 07, 2013

by Rick Pluta

A federal judge could rule as soon as Thursday in the case, which comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is also set to deal with gay marriage later this month. In Michigan, a lesbian couple sued because the state bans same-sex couples from adopting kids. Then, the judge invited them to go even further.

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President Obama speaks to reporters in the White House briefing room on Friday following a meeting with congressional leaders.

Obama Looks For A Spring Thaw With Congress To Start Melting Deficit

12:44pm March 07, 2013

by Scott Horsley

With across-the-board spending cuts now on autopilot, there's a momentary lull in Washington's budget brinksmanship. So the president is using this window to try to craft a more lasting approach to the federal debt.

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U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg poses during a group photo in September 2009 in the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Supreme Court's 'Heavyweight'

2:33pm March 06, 2013

In a profile of Ginsburg for this week's New Yorker, Jeffrey Toobin describes how the incremental philosophy of litigation that helped her win many precedent-setting women's rights cases as a lawyer is reflected in her career as a Supreme Court justice.

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Politics & Government

The Political Fallout Of Sequestration

2:05pm March 06, 2013

Both parties are pointing fingers and laying blame for sequestration, a series of automatic government spending cuts went into effect last week. Political Junkie Ken Rudin and Rob Levinson, senior analyst with Bloomberg Government, discuss the political fallout from the across-the-board cuts.

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House Speaker John Boehner answers reporters' questions after the weekly House Republican caucus meeting with (from left) Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Lynn Jenkins, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Rep. Steve Daines on Tuesday.

Politics & Government

The Boehner Rule? Speaker Bucks House GOP For Some Legislation

11:18am March 06, 2013

by Tamara Keith

House Speaker John Boehner is getting things done at times in spite of his Republican majority. Three major pieces of legislation that passed the House this year did so without the support of the majority of his party's lawmakers.

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Posthumous Pardon For Heavyweight Boxer Jack Johnson A Bipartisan Effort

6:20pm March 05, 2013

Democratic Senators Harry Reid and Mo Cowan have joined Republicans John McCain and Representative Peter King to call for the pardon of former heavyweight boxing champ Jack Johnson. He was the first black fighter to win that title, in 1908. Another win in 1910 sparked race riots nationwide, and his relationships with white women only added to the controversy. He was convicted of taking women across state lines for "immoral purpose." Audie Cornish has more.

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Congress has until March 27 to pass a Continuing Resolution. If it doesn't, the government will run out of money and will likely shut down.

Politics & Government

Four Things To Know About The Next Big Budget Battle

8:50am March 05, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

The continuing resolution allows Congress to carry over the previous fiscal year's budget into the next one. And if Congress doesn't pass one by March 27, the government will run out of money and likely shut down.

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