February 2013 Archive
A Graphic Guide to the Sequester
From the budget terms you need to know to how it impacts your state, the best interactives on the looming budget cuts.
How Mom’s Death Changed My Thinking About End-of-Life Care
One-fourth of Medicare spending occurs in the final year of life. But behind the oft-cited statistic are real families making agonizing decisions with outcomes that can’t be reversed.
Under Obama, More Appointments Go Unfilled
More presidentially appointed positions were sitting vacant at the end of President Obama’s first term than at the end of Bill Clinton’s or George W. Bush’s first terms, according to a ProPublica analysis.
Five Ways Courts Say Texas Discriminated Against Black and Latino Voters
Separate federal panels struck down two Texas voting provisions. We look at examples of discrimination they found.
The Drone War Doctrine We Still Know Nothing About
The focus on the targeting of American citizens overlooks many other strikes in which the U.S. doesn’t know who it’s killing.
What Researchers Learned About Gun Violence Before Congress Killed Funding
We spoke with the scientist who led the government's research on guns.
Land Grab Cheats North Dakota Tribes Out of $1 Billion, Suits Allege
Native Americans on an oil-rich reservation have been cheated out of more than $1 billion by schemes to buy drilling rights for lowball prices — and the federal government failed in its legal obligation to ensure a fair deal, lawsuits claim.
Four Disturbing Questions About the Mumbai Terror Attack
Despite extensive evidence and a U.S. indictment, Pakistani authorities haven't moved to arrest accused masterminds in the 2008 massacre or explain the alleged involvement of officers in Pakistan's spy agency.
From Citizens United to Super PACs: A Campaign Finance Reading Guide
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case challenging caps on overall campaign contributions. We roundup the most important stories on campaign finance, and the dark money groups that don’t have to report their donors.
Friends in Low Places: Where The Real Lobbying Happens
To advise him on tax policy, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hires from a corporation infamous for avoiding taxes, while a bank regulator and a Beltway consulting firm swap top officials.
IRS Should Bar Dark Money Groups From Funding Political Ads, Lawsuit Says
A former Illinois congressional candidate joins forces with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington to challenge IRS oversight of social welfare nonprofits.
Can Vote-By-Mail Fix Those Long Lines At The Polls?
A big potential drawback to the convenience of absentee and mail voting: Studies show that ballots are rejected at a higher rate than for voters who brave the wait at polling places.
