Politics

The federal gas tax that's supposed to pay for the nation's highways doesn't bring in enough money. But Congress hasn't raised the tax in more than 20 years and isn't likely to do so now.

In Newark, the New Jersey city held its first mayoral election since Cory Booker left for the U.S. Senate. Ras Baraka won, and Sarah Gonzalez of WNYC explains how the mayor-elect plans to run Newark.

Republicans are using fewer facts and more emotion in campaign advertising in an effort to connect with women's hearts, and their votes. But for every rule, there is at least one exception.

Republican governors across the country have taken a stand against Obamacare by refusing to expand Medicaid. Utah, one of the reddest states in the nation, remains undecided.

The Pentagon's congressionally-imposed budget cuts ran into a powerful opponent this week: Congress itself. The House Armed Services Committee rejected $5 billion worth of proposed cuts.

The intersection of law enforcement and mental health has been an issue in Connecticut since the Newtown shootings. One city is training its officers to better decipher delicate situations.

In Rwanda, nearly two-thirds of Parliament consists of women, a trend that developed after the country's genocide. Cuba is third, with women making up 50 percent of its legislators. The U.S. is 99th.

President Obama is touting a government report on climate change. He's taking steps to limit the greenhouse gases that contribute to a warming planet, but he faces political heat on Capitol Hill.

Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley was considered the favorite to capture the state's open U.S. Senate seat. But an injudicious remark he made about veteran GOP Sen. Charles Grassley has unsettled the race.

Recruiters for political parties say it's hard to get women to run for office. They're happy to join a campaign and raise money for others, but put themselves forward? That's a tougher proposition.