Topic: Barack Obama
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Playing the IRS card: Six presidents who used the IRS to bash political foes
Since the advent of the federal income tax about a century ago, several presidents – or their zealous underlings – have directed the IRS to use its formidable police powers to harass or punish enemies, political rivals, and administration critics. Here are six infamous episodes.
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Briefing
IRS 101: Seven questions about the tea party scandal
How the tables have turned: The Internal Revenue Service is the one under the microscope now, as revelations emerged Friday that the agency wrongly targeted conservative groups seeking nonprofit status. Here’s an accounting of what has happened, along with the ramifications.
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3 priorities for Pakistan's new government
After 14 years, Nawaz Sharif is back at the helm in Pakistan. The nuclear-armed country faces a welter of problems, from terrorism to tensions with Afghanistan, India, and the United States. To move Pakistan forward, Mr. Sharif must focus on three priorities.
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Five ways to improve Obama's pre-k plan
President Obama’s Preschool for All plan is well intentioned but includes features that are not justified by research and won’t help it pass in Congress. The plan must make the following five adjustments.
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5 myths about amnesty for illegal immigrants in Senate bill
Under a bipartisan Senate immigration bill, immigrants who have come to the United States illegally are given a "path to citizenship." On close inspection, each of the following five claims about the requirements for illegal immigrants to earn amnesty are not what they seem.
All Content
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Decoder Wire IRS official Lois Lerner invokes Fifth Amendment. Why won't she talk?
Lawmakers have plenty of questions for Lois Lerner, the IRS official who ordered the targeting of conservative groups to stop, concerning her past statements. She said she did nothing wrong, but invoked her Fifth Amendment rights.
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Opinion: Is Washington too 'broken' to handle big problems such as immigration reform?
Many Americans worry that Washington cannot handle big problems such as immigration reform and the debt. But the country has been here before, and overcome a supposedly 'broken' political system. Government is divided because 'we the people' are divided on the issues.
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Change Agent Oklahoma City tornado: more ways to help
A massive tornado tore through parts of the Oklahoma City area May 19, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Here are some of the ways you can help.
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Decoder Wire IRS deliberately harassed conservatives, majority say in poll
A new poll on the IRS scandal also finds that those who say the Obama administration is trying to conceal information outnumber those who say it's forthcoming. The tea party, meanwhile, is enjoying a 'bump.'
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Burmese optimistic after historic White House visit
Burmese are celebrating an end to their long international isolation with the first state visit to the US by a Myanmar president in almost 50 years.
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USA Update Oklahoma tornadoes: how you can help (+video)
The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and United Way are among organizations accepting donations to help those affected by tornadoes in Moore, Okla., and nearby areas.
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The Monitor's View: What tornado-hit cities like Moore have learned
The tornado that hit the Oklahoma city of Moore – its fourth in 15 years – brought destruction but also brought out well-learned examples of resiliency, hope, and calm.
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Search and rescue efforts under way in Moore, Okla. (+video)
A monstrous tornado barreled Moore, Okla., Monday, demolishing an elementary school and a hundreds of homes. At least 24 people were killed. President Obama declared a major disaster and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts.
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Oklahoma tornado hits grade school: Search continues for survivors (+video)
Oklahoma tornado hits grade school and flattens Oklahoma City suburban neighborhoods. Oklahoma search and rescue teams are working through the night, and the death toll from the tornado is expected to rise.
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Apple 'tax gimmicks': rotten to the core or sensible business? (+video)
Two senators on Tuesday plan to grill Apple CEO Tim Cook about the company's tax practices, which they say cheat the US out of billions of dollars. Apple says it's playing within the rules.
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Fiery nominee brings 'Herman Cain phenomenon' to Virginia governors race
Virginia's Republican nominee for governor, Ken Cuccinelli, is tacking to the center, but Republicans picked a strong conservative, E.W. Jackson, to run for the No. 2 slot. Democrats dub him extreme.
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Decoder Wire Might Obama fire Attorney General Eric Holder?
Justice Department's pursuit of media leaks, which led to a subpoena of AP phone records, has GOP officials (and some Democrats) calling for the head of Attorney General Eric Holder. Here are three reasons Obama is not likely to oblige.
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Myanmar's White House bow: well done, but not mission accomplished
Thein Sein on Monday became the first Burmese president to visit the US since 1968. His meeting with President Obama is part of an opening of Myanmar to US business, but there's much more to do, a human-rights activist says.
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Why it's John McCain, maverick, stumping for Gomez in Massachusetts
In the Massachusetts Senate race, underdog Gabriel Gomez enlisted the help Monday of GOP maverick-in-chief John McCain. There's a reason he called on McCain and not, say, Newt Gingrich.
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Obama administration targets Fox News reporter in 'chilling' echo of AP probe (+video)
Last week, news broke that the Justice Department obtained records from AP for its investigation into an internal leak. Now, details are emerging about an investigation of a Fox News reporter that some experts say could harm investigative journalism even more.
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In Myanmar, a movement for Muslim and Buddhist tolerance
As Myanmar's head of state visits the US, the first such trip in more than 45 years, religious and ethnic violence are being slowly addressed back home.
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Decoder Wire Ted Nugent's brother slaps Ted on gun background checks. Family feud?
Ted Nugent's brother Jeffrey, in an op-ed, argues that the NRA and Ted are wrong to fight expanded background checks for gun buyers. Ted, naturally, doesn't take that lying down, whips out ... a pen?
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Decoder Wire North Korea missile launches: Pyongyang toying with foes? (+video)
That's one explanation for Day 3 of provocation from North Korea, which again fired short-range missiles or rockets into the ocean. So far, the medium-range North Korea missiles that caused a flap in April are nowhere to be seen.
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Culture Cafe Amy Poehler SNL: The former cast member returns for a 'Really!?!' segment with Seth Meyers
Amy Poehler returned to 'SNL' for the May 18 season finale to riff on the IRS scandal with former deskmate Seth Meyers. Amy Poehler appeared on 'SNL' from 2001 to 2008.
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Opinion: Obama must hold Myanmar's Thein Sein accountable for human rights violations
When President Obama meets with President Thein Sein of Myanmar (Burma) today, he should emphasize Washington’s commitment to Myanmar’s progress, while stressing the importance of preventing discrimination and violence against ethnic minority Muslims and Christians.
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Why did North Korea launch 6 missiles in 3 days?
The launches may be more an effort to get attention and test weaponry rather than actually provoke the region, following the end of the joint South Korea-US military exercises last month.
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Why IRS investigation is already Obama's Watergate – and Benghazi, too (+video)
Since Watergate, every two-term president has had a second-term scandal. First-term mistakes and hyperpartisanship make probes – like those into Benghazi and the IRS – almost inevitable.
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Obama to detail terrorism policy including drone attacks and Guantánamo Bay prison
In a national security speech, President Obama will explain his policies dealing with terrorism, the use of drone aircraft, Al Qaeda, and the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
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The good news – and the bad news – for Obama in scandal-tinged polls
President Obama's approval rating has not slipped in public opinion polls despite a trio of political scandals. But most Americans don't think much of the way the administration has handled the issues, and they believe further investigation is justified.
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Did the Associated Press blow an Al Qaeda informant's cover?
Some officials say the Associated Press scoop on a thwarted terrorist plot by an Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen harmed the effort to neutralize a master bomb-builder. Does that excuse the Obama administration's aggressive crackdown on national security leaks?
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