Current Political Climate in US

President Obama stopped by a Washington sandwich shop Wednesday to pick up some hoagies for a lunch with Capitol Hill leaders at the White House — and to make his latest pitch for Congress to support his economic agenda.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy may have signed what supporters are calling a sweeping education reform bill Tuesday, but its 185-pages don’t begin to touch upon how the state finances all of its public schools.

President Obama warned congressional leaders on Wednesday that he would not tolerate a replay of the bitter debt ceiling fight of last summer that nearly put the United States in default and led to the nation’s first ever credit-rating downgrade.

This post has been updated. Personally responding for the first time to Democratic attacks this week over his business record at Bain Capital, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Wednesday accused President Obama of being...

A top strategist joins Obama’s super PAC, Mitt Romney endorses Connie Mack, Herman Cain endorses Mitt Romney, and Scott Walker’s job numbers cause contrversy.
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The Republican bill differs from the Senate’s version in protections for many battered women, including lesbians, American Indians and illegal immigrants, Democrats say.

The 90-year-old comedic actress was the "ghost of honor" for the Friars Club.

Wednesday was a day of bipartisan harmony — at least in two congressional panels.
In the Senate, a committee passed legislation allowing same-sex spouses of federal workers to receive employment benefits.

“We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional,” wrote Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein in The Washington Post.

President Obama has done for Mitt Romney what Romney hasn't been able to do for himself: get evangelicals to rally behind the Republican candidate, reports the Washington Post .

Nearly everyone pursuing a bachelor’s degree is borrowing money, and as prices soar, a college degree often comes with an unprecedented financial burden.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Here in the land of hanging chads, where a recent poll shows the presidential race in a dead heat, you might expect incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson to be feeling some reelection pressure.

Naral Pro-Choice America announced Thursday that its president, Nancy Keenan, will step aside at the end of the year.

Linda E. McMahon and Christopher Shays each want the Republican convention’s endorsement for an open Senate seat, but the fight could leave both damaged.

Early in the election game, there are a couple of factors that may be working in Mitt Romney’s favor at the margin.

A Senate committee approved legislation Wednesday allowing same-sex partners of federal employees to receive employment benefits.

Republican fortunes have diminished because of retirements and questions about the quality of candidates.

The U.S. Senate formally rejected President Obama’s $3.8 trillion budget request Wednesday, along with a series of Republican alternatives, as Republicans forced votes on the competing budget plans to highlight Democrats’ failure to advance a...

On a vote that fell largely along party lines, the House of Representatives has approved a GOP measure reauthorizing the expired Violence Against Women Act — the latest issue that was once the sujbect of broad bipartisan agreement in Washington to...

Mary Kennedy, who had fought drug and alcohol problems, was found dead in her home Wednesday.

President Obama spoke on Friday with homeowners in Nevada who have benefited from mortgage refinancing policies his administration introduced last year.

Political news from today's Times and around the Web, plus a look at the weekly addresses and the latest happenings in Washington.

The response to a resurgent childhood ailment has been hobbled by years of recession-induced budget cuts that have hollowed out public health departments.

President Obama's stand in favor of gay marriage is no game-changer for six out of ten US voters, a new Gallup poll says. For those who may change their vote over it, 26% are less likely to vote for Obama, and 13% more likely.

Linda will drive them to the barbecue, because she always drives. Gloria will close her eyes and sleep in the car, because Linda drives too fast.