U.S. News

Get the RSS Feed

The Bullpen

Dana Liebelson

The problem with outsourcing the military

Edward Morrissey

Obama's boneheaded health-care fight with Catholics

Daniel Larison

The brewing proxy war in Syria

Robert Shrum

Nominating Mitt Malaprop

Paul Brandus

Obama's 5 biggest mistakes

A woman holds boxing hand puppets of Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney: The two GOP presidential frontrunners have been tearing into each other ahead of Thursday's debate in Florida.

The final Florida debate: How vicious will it be?

January 26, 2012, at 1:55 PM

GOP frontrunners Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are ripping into each other on the campaign trail. Will the fireworks contine onstage Thursday night?

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) receives a standing ovation from members of Congress on Tuesday, a day before handing in her resignation to focus on her recovery.

What's next for Gabrielle Giffords?

January 26, 2012, at 10:07 AM

The Arizona Democrat formally resigns from Congress, vowing she "will recover and will return." But return to where?

5 Comments

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-Ind.) said definitively in May 2011 that he won't run for president, but thousands of his supporters are urging him to reconsider.

Can the GOP 'draft' Mitch Daniels into the presidential race?

January 25, 2012, at 5:58 PM

Many Republicans, dissatisfied with Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, are all but begging the disciplined Indiana governor to step in and save the party

18 Comments

Citibank has decided its frequent flier airline miles are taxable and is sending customers tax documents to that effect.

Good day, bad day: January 25, 2012

January 25, 2012, at 4:21 PM

While a new iPhone app rewards laziness, frequent fliers may soon be taxed on their miles — and more winners and losers of today's news cycle

President Obama addressed the nation Tuesday night with a State of the Union speech that barely registered at the eighth grade reading level, ranking it among the most rudimentary such speeches in history.

Obama's '8th grade reading level' SOTU address: By the numbers

January 25, 2012, at 3:39 PM

Tuesday's State of the Union had one of the lowest reading comprehension levels in decades. Did the president dumb things down too much?

48 Comments

The details of Newt Gingrich's contracts with Freddie Mac may not go over well with Florida voters hit hard by the housing crisis.

Newt's Freddie Mac contracts: How 'toxic' are they?

January 25, 2012, at 12:58 PM

Gingrich has disclosed the terms of his work for the controversial mortgage lender. Will voters care?

During his election-year State of the Union speech Tuesday night, President Obama mentioned Osama bin Laden more than health care reform, his signature legislative achievement.

Obama's 'confrontational' State of the Union: 8 talking points

January 25, 2012, at 10:33 AM

The president hammers the theme of economic fairness, tells a cringe-worthy joke about spilt milk, and targets Mitt Romney — without ever mentioning him by name

29 Comments

A rowdy, Tea Party-heavy crowd cheers during a GOP debate in September, 2011: Newt Gingrich is opposing efforts to silence such audiences.

Should audiences be allowed to cheer at presidential debates?

January 25, 2012, at 10:15 AM

Newt Gingrich says that asking debate audiences to hold their applause is an assault on free speech — and vows that he'll protest such rules

20 Comments

Two weeks ago, only 34 percent of Americans viewed Mitt Romney negatively. But now, a new poll shows that 49 percent of the country has turned on Mitt.

7 reasons voters are souring on Mitt Romney

January 25, 2012, at 9:47 AM

The number of Americans who have negative views of the longtime GOP presidential frontrunner skyrockets in January. What gives?

32 Comments

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that law enforcement officials will need probable cause and a warrant before they can track a vehicle using GPS.

The Supreme Court ruling on warrantless GPS tracking: 'Simply wrong'?

January 24, 2012, at 6:02 PM

The nation's highest court unanimously deems it illegal to digitally track a person's vehicle without a warrant. Will that help criminals go undetected?

10 Comments

Disneyland employees rejoice: For the first time in 12 years, beards are allowed back in the House of Mouse.

Good day, bad day: January 24, 2012

January 24, 2012, at 4:22 PM

Disneyland finally lets its workers grow beards, while a Virginia pastor bans Girl Scouts — and more winners and losers of today's news cycle

Newt Gingrich would guarantee an entertaining election, but is he too unpopular outside the GOP to win?

Would nominating Newt Gingrich be suicide for the GOP?

January 24, 2012, at 2:45 PM

The former House speaker is on fire in the primaries, but he's not so popular outside the Republican Party. Would nominating him be tantamount to re-electing Obama?

39 Comments

Political prognosticators expect President Obama's third State of the Union address to be a campaign-style populist pitch that hammers a "do-nothing Congress."

Obama's State of the Union: A viewer's guide

January 24, 2012, at 1:07 PM

On Tuesday night, the president will spell out his prescription for America's ills, and makes the case for his re-election. A look at what to expect

21 Comments

Mitt Romney reports earning roughly $42 million in 2010 and 2011, and paying just $6.2 million in federal taxes.

Mitt Romney releases his tax returns: 7 talking points

January 24, 2012, at 12:48 PM

The GOP presidential hopeful finally caves to political pressure and discloses his taxes — revealing more than $42 million in income in the last two years

23 Comments