Politics

Four years in, shifts in Obama strategy, outlook
Four years ago he was the fifth-youngest president to take the oath of office. Now Barack Obama is 51, his hair more gray, his face more lined.
Most crew leaves US Navy ship stuck in Philippines
Most of the sailors on a U.S. Navy minesweeper that struck a coral reef in the Philippines left the ship Friday for safety reasons after initial ...
NYC, union miss deadline for teacher eval plan
New York City and a union representing the city's 75,000 teachers missed a deadline Thursday for a teacher evaluation plan, putting the city at risk ...
US slams hostage-taking; Clinton to call Algeria
The Obama administration appeared to be in the dark Thursday about a hostage situation at a natural gas plant in Algeria, where Algerian forces ...
Judge considers San Francisco's public nudity ban
A federal judge considering San Francisco's public nudity ban rejected arguments Thursday that simply disrobing in public was protected political ...
Troops worry about defense, job cuts
The soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team have gone to war five times since 9/11, and 84 have been killed — including 13 during their ...
Defense: FBI terrorism sting targeted 'a kid'
For days, prosecutors in an Oregon terrorism trial have hammered jurors with recording after recording in which undercover agents gave the target of ...
Michelle Obama shows off new hairstyle: bangs
There's something a little different these days about Michelle Obama: bangs in her hair. The first lady's office posted a picture of Mrs. Obama's new ...
US commandos boost numbers to train Mexican forces
The Pentagon is stepping up aid for Mexico's bloody drug war with a new U.S.-based special operations headquarters to teach Mexican security forces ...
House GOP may seek short-term debt limit extension
House Republicans may seek a quick, short-term extension of the government's debt limit, a move that would avoid an immediate default by the Treasury ...
Maine Sen. King: No strong reason to oppose Hagel
Maine Sen. Angus King said Thursday that he sees no strong reason to oppose President Barack Obama's pick for secretary of defense. The newly elected ...
Family: $22.5M police settlement 'bittersweet'
The parents of a California woman who was raped and severely injured after Chicago police released her from custody in a troubled neighborhood despite ...
Judge dismisses terror charges against Fla. cleric
Citing a lack of evidence, a federal judge on Thursday dismissed terrorism support and conspiracy charges against the younger of two Muslim clerics ...
Report: Miss. school discipline too hard on kids
Civil rights advocates say harsh disciplinary practices at many Mississippi schools lead to children being expelled and even incarcerated for minor ...
Lawyer: NJ man in cannibalism case wanted FBI help
The lawyer for a New Jersey man accused of conspiring with a New York City police officer to rape and murder a Manhattan woman said Thursday he was ...
Judge orders sanity review in Afghan massacre case
An Army staff sergeant accused of massacring Afghan civilians must undergo an official sanity review before a mental health defense can be presented, ...
Biden: Nation needs to respond to gun violence
Vice President Joe Biden said the nation could not wait any longer to respond to gun violence, telling mayors on Thursday that the White House would ...
School bus strike in New York City enters 2nd day
New York City's first school bus strike in 34 years entered its second day Thursday with no resolution in sight and tens of thousands of parents ...
Sheriffs, state lawmakers push back on gun control
From Oregon to Mississippi, President Barack Obama's proposed ban on new assault weapons and large-capacity magazines struck a nerve among rural ...
IMF's Lagarde sees improved world economic outlook
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said Thursday that the threat of financial collapse in the global economy appears to have eased.
PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama curbs ambition this time
Despite a relentless workload ahead, President Barack Obama is lighter on his feet in one sense as he opens his second term. Gone are the hundreds of ...
First lady launches new Twitter account: @FLOTUS
Trying to find Michelle Obama on Twitter? Try tweeting her at (at)FLOTUS, which is Washington shorthand for "first lady of the United States." Mrs.
Obama names 8 citizens to highlight his successes
President Barack Obama is featuring eight Americans as "citizen co-chairs" of his inauguration, a new role created to highlight his first-term ...
Obama will nominate prosecutor to lead of ATF
President Barack Obama will nominate B. Todd Jones as the next director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, selecting the ...
By the numbers: Obama's second-term inauguration
Before President Barack Obama can march from his swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol to the White House, D.C. transportation crews will have to remove the ...