Politics

Politics & Government

Is Operation Streamline Worth Its Budget Being Tripled?

6:58am September 05, 2013

by Ted Robbins

The Senate immigration bill calls for tripling a controversial federal court program called Operation Streamline. The program takes people caught crossing the border illegally, gives them prison sentences, then deports them. It's hugely expensive — but does it work?

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Politics & Government

Sen. Tom Udall On Syrian Resolution

6:58am September 05, 2013

On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a resolution authorizing President Obama to take military action against the Syrian regime. It goes to the full Senate over the objections of New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall. Steve Inskeep talks with Sen. Udall about his concerns over intervention in Syria.

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Politics & Government

Lawmakers Struggle With Wording Of Syria Resolution

6:58am September 05, 2013

by Larry Abramson

Congress is trying to fashion language that would restrict U.S. involvement in Syria from escalating. But lawmakers often find it uncomfortable to rein in the commander in chief once U.S. forces have been committed.

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Politics & Government

Sen. McCain Caught Playing Poker During Syria Hearing

6:58am September 04, 2013

During the more than three hour hearing on Tuesday, Sen. John McCain started playing poker on his phone. A photographer for The Washington Post snapped the photo. McCain confessed on Twitter, and said, "Worst of all I lost."

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Justice Department Tackles Quality Of Defense For The Poor

11:37am September 03, 2013

by Carrie Johnson

An unprecedented recent court filing from the Justice Department could have dramatic implications for the representation of indigent defendants. The department argues that the fix for broken public defender systems could include a court-appointed monitor.

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Syria Resolution Could Be A Hard Sell On Capitol Hill

6:41pm September 02, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

A day after President Obama announced he'll wait for congressional authorization before launching strikes on Syria; members of Congress attended a classified briefing at the Capitol. Even though there's still one week left of summer recess, dozens of lawmakers flew to Washington, D.C. from their home districts just for the meeting.

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San Diego Mayor Bob Filner announces his resignation last week. His last day in office is Friday.

Filner's Exit Isn't The End Of San Diego's Mayoral Mayhem

9:51am August 30, 2013

by Sandhya Dirks

On Friday, embattled Mayor Bob Filner officially steps down. Allegations of sexual harassment against Filner have rocked the eighth-largest American city. Now, San Diegans face a potentially contentious special election in November.

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Why Syria Is More Complicated Than Libya

7:23pm August 29, 2013

by Ari Shapiro

To start with, unlike Moammar Gadhafi's regime when the U.S. intervened in Libya in 2011, the Syrian government still has international allies. As the U.S. considers a strike on Syria, here's a look at some of the key differences between the two situations.

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Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., speaks Saturday at the Lincoln Memorial during activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

50 Years After March On Washington, John Lewis Still Fights

12:33pm August 28, 2013

by Allison Keyes

On Aug. 28, 1963, Lewis was the youngest speaker to address the estimated quarter-million people gathered in Washington. Now a Georgia congressman, Lewis is still speaking out, declaring: "I'm not prepared to sit down and give up." He's scheduled to speak again Wednesday on the National Mall.

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A spectator on the National Mall holds an image of President Obama and Martin Luther King during the 2013 presidential inauguration in January.

Obama To Outline Unfinished Work, Decades After King's Dream

12:33pm August 28, 2013

by Scott Horsley

In marking the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, President Obama will celebrate the progress the United States has made, aides say. But he'll also talk about what's left to be done to achieve Martin Luther King's dream of racial justice — including fighting to protect voting rights.

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