Government And Institutions

SOTU: With Nothing to Lose, Obama Will Aim High

The president must figure he has nothing to lose, so in the State of the Union speech he'll likely take credit for the upward tick of the U.S. economy, among other items. In all probability, the applause will last longer Tuesday night than the life of any of these measures in Congress.

Top U.S. Health Official Marilyn Tavenner to Step Down

Marilyn Tavenner, the top official at the U.S. agency overseeing the troubled rollout of the health law and the Medicare insurance program for the elderly, is leaving her post in February, agency officials confirmed Friday.

Regulatory Dump Truck

Rule makers abhor a vacuum, which is why the neurotic urge to meddle by micro regulating U.S. businesses continues.

GOP Picks Up 7 Seats, Takes Senate Majority

Can a Republican-controlled Congress facing off against a second-term Democratic president break the political gridlock that has stalled important policy decisions in Washington?

Retaliation May Follow Latest Russian Sanctions

The Obama administration’s newest sanctions against Russia for its continued aggression in the Ukraine could prompt retaliation against the U.S. Malaysia Airlines Loses Contact with Jet Amid Reports of Crash in Ukraine