Gay marriage fight may be over, but new battlegrounds opening up
The dust didn’t settle on the Supreme Court’s landmark gay marriage ruling before advocates began announcing their next agenda items in the fight for equality.
US News
US Supreme Court Backs Same-Sex Marriage
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex couples have a right to marry nationwide, in a historic decision that invalidates gay marriage bans in more than a dozen states.
FBI Rounding Up Islamic State Suspects
The FBI has been rounding up more potential “lone wolf” terrorists, Congressional leaders and the Justice Department say, in response to the perception of a mounting threat of domestic attacks inspired by the Islamic State.
Congress Moves to Impose Sanctions on Iran
Sens. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) and Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) revived on Thursday long-stalled legislation to impose and extend sanctions on Iran for a period of at least 10 more years, according to sources familiar with the move.
Obamacare Tax Subsidies Upheld by Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the nationwide tax subsidies that are a core component of President Barack Obama’s health-care law, rejecting a challenge that had threatened to gut the measure and undercut his legacy.
Most Illegal Immigrants From Border Surge Skipped Court Date After Release
Tens of thousands of illegal immigrant women and children streamed across the U.S. border last year seeking asylum and protected status, claiming a “credible fear” of going home to the violence in Central America. President Obama addressed the crisis through increased border enforcement, more detention beds, more immigration judges and pressure on political leaders in their home countries.
Senate advances fast-track trade bill for Obama
The Senate on Tuesday voted to advance President Obama’s trade agenda, approving a measure to end debate on fast-track authority.
US is at the ‘Highest Threat Level We Have Ever Faced in This Country’
The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee warns that America is dealing with ‘the highest threat level we have ever faced in this country.’
Officials: Chinese Had Access to U.S. Security Clearance Data for One Year
The recently disclosed breach of the Office of Personnel Management’s security-clearance computer system took place a year ago, giving Chinese government intruders access to sensitive data for a year, according to new information.
House OKs Obama trade agenda on 2nd try, bill heads to Senate
The House on Thursday approved a key plank of President Obama’s trade agenda after the push nearly imploded amid Democratic resistance last week, sending the bill to the Senate where it still faces an uncertain fate.
Obama sends ‘warmest’ Ramadan greetings to Muslims
U.S. President Barack Obama offered in a Wednesday message his “warmest greetings” to Muslims celebrating the beginning of Ramadan, saying that the Islamic fasting month was the time to “reinforce faith, compassion and forgiveness, and perseverance through adversity.”
Army Shipped Live Anthrax for 10 Years, Couldn’t Effectively Kill Bacteria
The U.S. Army research facility that has mistakenly shipped live anthrax to unsuspecting labs in the U.S. and abroad for more than 10 years failed to have effective and standardized procedures for killing the deadly bacteria with radiation, according to a federal investigation report.
Fed holds off on interest rate hike, downgrades economic forecast
Federal Reserve policymakers on Wednesday kept the central bank’s benchmark short-term interest rate near zero, opting against the first increase since 2006 after determining the economy still isn’t strong enough to handle it.
Government debt threatens to send U.S. economy into death spiral, CBO warns
Rising federal debt threatens to choke economic growth within a decade, beginning a death spiral that will sap revenue from government programs even as demands grow, forcing the government to borrow even more, Congress’ budget watchdog said in a frightening report Tuesday.
Boehner, House Republicans Working to Resurrect Trade Bill
House Republicans are working to revive the trade bill squashed last week by Democrats led by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
Obama Fights for Asia Trade Deal As Legacy Hangs in the Balance
The next 48 hours could determine whether Barack Obama’s presidency effectively has ended.
House wants answers on Obama’s ISIS strategy
House lawmakers, concerned that President Obama’s tweaks to his strategy against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria won’t reverse the extremist group’s recent gains, are putting pressure on the administration to do more.
Obama’s Trade Deal Barely Passes in Razor-Thin House Vote
The House on Thursday just barely advance legislation that would provide President Obama with “fast track” trade negotiating powers, overcoming the opposition of almost every Democrat and a significant block of conservative Republicans.
GOP aiming for Friday Trade Vote
House leaders, confident but not yet certain they have the support to pass sweeping trade legislation, are aiming to bring the package to a floor vote by the end of this week – even as they rush to resolve a last-minute hangup over how to pay for aid to displaced workers.
U.S. tech industry appeals to Obama to keep hands off encryption
As Washington weighs new cybersecurity steps amid a public backlash over mass surveillance, U.S. tech companies warned President Barack Obama not to weaken increasingly sophisticated encryption systems designed to protect consumers’ privacy.