Opposition to a deal with Obama creates problems for GOP

As the debt ceiling debate enters its final stages, House Republicans face increasing political isolation in their opposition to sweeping budget reforms that President Obama has pushed for and polls show most Americans now prefer.

The tweets fly at first-ever GOP Twitter debate

Six Republican presidential candidates participated in a tea-party sponsored debate on Twitter on Wednesday — and the results showed both the promise and the limits of the social medium.

Senators press officials on Afghan drug trafficking

After representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the State Department and the Defense Department touted the success of U.S. counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan for more than an hour Wednesday, lawmakers aggressively questioned them about a subject that forced panelists into near silence: corruption in President Hamid Karzai's government.

Stuck in Washington, Obama reaches voters on local news

President Obama may be stuck in Washington during the debt ceiling debate, but that doesn't mean he's not reaching out to voters in key battleground states.

Maxine Waters probe: House Ethics Committee hires outside counsel

—The House Ethics Committee on Wednesday announced the hiring of an outside counsel to review the case against Rep. Maxine Waters and misconduct allegations against the committee staffers involved in investigating the veteran Los Angeles congresswoman.

White House may be open to short-term debt deal

The White House signaled Wednesday that President Obama could accept a short-term deal to raise the debt ceiling, but only if it appeared lawmakers were close to an agreement on a significant deficit reduction plan.

Michele Bachmann: Migraines don't keep me from 'rigorous' schedule

Campaigning in Iowa Wednesday, Rep. Michele Bachmann brushed off recent reports that she has severe migraines that have led her to seek hospital treatment.  

Working on a dream race: Chris Christie vs. Bruce Springsteen

Has New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie already seen his “Glory Days?”

Florida Reps. Allen West, Debbie Wasserman Schultz clash

A long-standing feud between South Florida House members Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Allen West turned to insults Tuesday after an exchange of speeches on a debt-reduction bill.

House approves GOP debt reduction bill

The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a Republican-backed plan to extend the nation's borrowing capacity in return for a cap on future government spending and a balanced budget amendment.

Obama backs repeal of Defense of Marriage Act

President Obama has endorsed a new bill by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act, another step in what the president has termed his "evolving" views on same-sex marriage.