GOP Senator: Gay Marriage Will Become the ‘Law of the Land’
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said in a radio interview that gay marriage is likely to become the “law of the land”.
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Military Developing Implantable Brain Chips to Treat PTSD
The military’s research arm is taking a different tack in funding a $26 million project to develop a device implanted in the skull. The goal is to stimulate parts of the brain as a way to treat psychiatric disorders including depression, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder.
U.S. Economy Shrinks for First Time since 2011
The U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter for the first time in three years as it buckled under the weight of a severe winter, but there are signs activity has since rebounded.
Poll: Americans’ Views on Origin of Homosexuality Remain Split
In a year when the movement for same-sex marriages continues to make strides across the U.S., Americans remain divided on how people come to be gay or lesbian. More than a third of Americans (37%) believe people become gay as a result of factors such as their upbringing and environment, while 42% say people are born gay. This latter belief is down slightly from 2013, when nearly half (47%) believed people were gay at birth.
House GOP clears $287 Billion Tax Break for Business, but will it clear the Senate?
House GOP tax writers pushed through a $287 billion tax break for business write-offs on Thursday, beating back Democratic protests that the extension was both fiscally reckless and pointless.
Biden Challenges Cadets to Create ‘New World Order’
Under a blazing sun, Vice President Joe Biden challenged graduating Air Force Academy cadets on Wednesday to help create a “new world order for the 21st century.”
Dershowitz: Hate Speech Laws a ‘Dangerous Trend’
Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts has introduced legislation calling for the government to investigate “hate speech” on broadcast, cable, and Internet outlets – a bill that is raising concerns from First Amendment advocates and constitutional experts.
Lawsuit Alleging IRS Discrimination Against Pro-Israel Groups Moves Forward
A lawsuit alleging that the IRS discriminates against pro-Israel groups will be allowed to move forward, a federal judge ruled this week in Washington, D.C.
Duck Dynasty Patriarch Phil Robertson Will Address GOP Conference
Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson will address the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans on Thursday.
Directive outlines Obama’s policy to use the military against citizens
A 2010 Pentagon directive on military support to civilian authorities details what critics say is a troubling policy that envisions the Obama administration’s potential use of military force against Americans.
Is a new state coming? Voters in California contemplate forming new state
Residents of California’s largely rural, agrarian and politically conservative far northern counties long ago got used to feeling ignored in the state Capitol and out of sync with major urban areas.
Hundreds of vets not on official wait list at Phoenix VA facility, preliminary report finds
A preliminary report released Wednesday found “serious conditions” at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs facility, including hundreds of veterans who were never placed on an official wait list and faulty scheduling practices that meant some veterans would never see a doctor.
Modern Family? Birth Certificate Bill Offers New Options
California is well on its way to further redefining the family, this time through a bill that would change state-issued birth certificates.
Latest Poll: Record 55% of Americans Now Support Same-Sex Marriage
Some 55 percent of Americans now say they support same-sex marriage, the highest number since Gallup polling on the question began in the 1990s, according to a new Gallup poll.
Congress: US should confront Russia on nuke treaty
Congress is stepping up pressure on the White House to confront Russia over allegations that it is cheating on a key nuclear arms treaty – a face off that could further strain U.S.-Moscow relations and dampen President Barack Obama’s hopes to add deeper cuts in nuclear arsenals to his legacy.
Obama plans to cut U.S. presence in Afghanistan to 9,800 Troops
President Obama plans to cut the U.S. presence in Afghanistan dramatically by the end of the year and announced the next steps in winding down the war in Afghanistan on Tuesday afternoon.
Obama Close to Authorizing Military Training of Syrian Rebels
President Barack Obama is close to authorizing a mission led by the U.S. military to train moderate Syrian rebels to fight the regime of Bashar al-Assad and al Qaeda-linked groups, a move that would expand Washington’s role in the conflict, U.S. officials said.
Tea Party Makes Strides in Texas Republican Primaries
The tea party has won big in Texas. In virtually every Republican match up in Texas, candidates have espoused the movement’s talking points, attended groups’ forums, and adopted their issues.
Tornado injures 9, destroys trailers at camp in North Dakota oil patch
Officials in North Dakota said early Tuesday that nine people were injured, one critically, when a tornado struck an oil worker camp.
I.R.S. Bars Employers From Dumping Workers Into Health Exchanges
Many employers had thought they could shift health costs to the government by sending their employees to a health insurance exchange with a tax-free contribution of cash to help pay premiums, but the Obama administration has squelched the idea in a new ruling. Such arrangements do not satisfy the health care law, the administration said, and employers may be subject to a tax penalty of $100 a day – or $36,500 a year – for each employee who goes into the individual marketplace.