‘Vote No, Hope Yes’ Defines Dysfunction in Congress  —  WASHINGTON — After the shutdown, the filibusters and years of stalled bills, it was the actual passage of legislation this week that revealed the true depth of congressional dysfunction.  —  The House vote to raise the debt limit …

Comcast Deal Seeks to Unite 2 Cable Giants  —  Comcast announced on Thursday an agreement to acquire Time Warner Cable for more than $45 billion in stock, a deal that would combine the biggest and second-biggest cable television operators in the country.  —  For Comcast, which completed …

Release Detail  —  February 13, 2014 - Cuomo Thumps Trump, Astorino In New York Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Clinton Runs Better Against Christie In 2016 Race  —  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a 63 - 28 percent job approval rating, higher than the current scores for any governor …

Dramatic debt vote stirs Senate  —  The Senate sent a bill hiking the debt ceiling to President Obama's desk on Wednesday, but only after a dramatic fight that forced GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) to cast a surprise vote advancing the legislation.  —  McConnell and top lieutenant Sen. John Cornyn …

Chris Christie's Entire Career Reeks  —  It's not just the bridge  —  Has there ever been a political reversal of fortune as rapid and as absolute as the one just experienced by Chris Christie?  At warp speed, the governor of New Jersey has gone from the most popular politician in the country …

Rand Paul and Ken Cuccinelli accused of stealing NSA lawsuit  —  Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has been caught using purloined passages in several of his speeches.  Now the aspiring presidential candidate stands accused of filing a lawsuit stolen from its author.  —  Since December …

How the Case of an Amish Farmer Could Doom Hobby Lobby in Court  —  It doesn't matter whether an employer is secular or religious, non-profit or for-profit.  The Supreme Court's precedents show that the government's interest in nationwide programs trumps all.  —  Edwin Lee was a Pennsylvania Amish farmer and carpenter.

Is opposing gay marriage the same as being a racist?  —  Conservative opposition to same sex marriage is deeply rooted in religious belief  —  W  —  riting at The New Republic, Isaac Chotiner doesn't much appreciate my argument about the growing cockiness of secular liberals.

Vulnerable Dems want IRS to step up  —  Senate Democrats facing tough elections this year want the Internal Revenue Service to play a more aggressive role in regulating outside groups expected to spend millions of dollars on their races.  —  In the wake of the IRS targeting scandal …

Gay Republican Candidate's Ad Poses Test for Party  —  Carl DeMaio is one of three openly gay Republicans running for Congress this year, and he would be at least the third to serve in the House if he wins.  But Mr. DeMaio on Thursday will take a step that none of them has …

Americans' Views of Russia, Putin Are Worst in Years  —  Clear majority view the Russian president and his nation unfavorably  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — As host nation Russia dominates the world stage at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Americans clearly do not think highly of the country or its president, Vladimir Putin.

Maddow Defends Bridge Coverage Following ‘Morning Joe’ Criticism (VIDEO)  —  Rachel Maddow kicked off her show Wednesday evening with what seemed like a repudiation to what was said on her own network several hours earlier.  —  “It has been a big day today in the biggest political story …

Why The Senate STILL Isn't Able To Get Anything Done Even After The ‘Nuclear Option’  —  It wasn't supposed to be this way.  —  In 2013, the Senate adopted two of the most significant changes to its rules in nearly 40 years.  The first significantly reduced the amount of time senators …

The first rule: You do not talk about perverse incentives.  —  You've no doubt heard about the latest ObamaCare “delay”—the announcement that the Internal Revenue Service will waive fines on certain employers that do not provide workers with medical insurance.

Bill de Blasio lifts the left  —  On great matters of income inequality and social justice for what is called the 99 percent, a new star is born from the streets of New York, who has lifted the spirits of progressives everywhere.  The election of Bill de Blasio as mayor of New York City creates …

Americans in poorer counties face few health-plan choices, high premiums on online exchanges  —  Hundreds of thousands of Americans in poorer counties have few choices of health insurers and face high premiums through the online exchanges created by the health-care law, according to an analysis …

Venezuela protests end in violence  —  At least three people were shot dead as violence erupted during anti-government protests in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, on Wednesday.  —  The violence broke out after some 10,000 demonstrators had gone home following a mainly peaceful rally.