- American, French journalist killed in Syrian bombardment of Homs (+video)
- Nuclear talks with Iran? Senators implore Obama to draw line in the sand.
- Climategate sequel? Scientist lies to get Heartland Institute documents.
- High gas prices: How big a problem for Obama?
- Obama sings the blues with Mick Jagger, B.B. King (+video)
Topic: Barack Obama
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Barack Obama: How well do you know America's 44th president?
Test your knowledge of the man currently in the Oval Office with this quiz on notable events – both large and small – from the Obama presidency.
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8 ways to find common ground
Gridlock plagues Washington. Polarizing soundbytes get constant play in the 24/7 news cycle. The culture wars rage on. But these Monitor op-ed writers suggest there’s more common ground than meets the eye. Here are eight powerful perspectives on the possibilities for meeting in the middle.
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China's Vice President Xi is in town: what 6 international newspapers say
Chinese Vice President and presumed leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping is visiting the United States this week. From the increased US militarization of the Asia-Pacific region to China’s human rights record, newspapers across the globe are chiming in with their opinions and expectations for this high-profile visit. Here are a sample of six:
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Black History Month: Five major events and figures
Black History Month is the annual celebration of the struggles, achievements and overall contribution African-Americans have made to the US.
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Five budget realities no politician will talk about (not even Ron Paul)
Ron Paul deserves credit for making the boldest proposals of any candidate in the presidential race. The astonishing reality of the federal government’s budget situation, however, is that even his plans might not be enough to keep Uncle Sam out of bankruptcy. While President Obama offers a $3.8 trillion budget that optimistically might cut the federal deficit to $575 billion by 2018, federal data suggest the United States is already broke. The Federal Reserve estimates that the net value of all private assets, including real estate, stocks, bonds, businesses, cash, etc., is $57 trillion. But the Treasury Department estimates the federal government’s net worth is a negative $61 trillion. Here are five budget realities that no candidate wants to acknowledge:
All Content
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Barack Obama: How well do you know America's 44th president?
Test your knowledge of the man currently in the Oval Office with this quiz on notable events – both large and small – from the Obama presidency.
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The Vote
Mittmageddon: Why Mitt Romney faces an electoral day of truth Tuesday
Mitt Romney now faces 'Mittmageddon,' a single day upon which his political future may depend. Republican primaries in Michigan and Arizona Tuesday are nearly a must-win.
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What keeps SEC chairwoman up at night? Money market funds (+video)
The health of money market funds leads the list of worries of SEC chairwoman Mary Schapiro, America's top financial market regulator. Past wild swings in the stock market rank up there, too.
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Vox News
Santorum on Satan: Who leaked the speech to the press?
We think it’s important here to follow one of the cardinal questions of politics – who benefits? That would narrow the field down to Rick Santorum’s GOP opponents.
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The Vote
Obama sings the blues with Mick Jagger, B.B. King (+video)
President Obama took the microphone Tuesday to sing a few bars of 'Sweet Home Chicago' during a blues concert at the White House. Are Mick Jagger and B.B. King in danger of being upstaged? You decide.
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Could Rick Santorum super PAC do more harm than good?
Rick Santorum's super PAC is keeping him competitive, especially in Michigan. But DCDecoder questions whether big money support may cost Santorum some populist appeal.
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Terrorism & Security
American, French journalist killed in Syrian bombardment of Homs (+video)
As Syria continues its assault on Homs, Russia is backing humanitarian assistance and the US has opened the door to arming the opposition.
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Stolen Valor Act at Supreme Court: Is lying about being a hero a right?
Stolen Valor Act makes it a crime to falsely claim to have been awarded a military medal. Xavier Alvarez did that, but the claim harms no one, says his lawyer in his brief to the Supreme Court. The case is being argued Wednesday.
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Does America need a CEO in the Oval Office?
Mitt Romney has been both vaunted and vilified for his business background. Here's how running a corporation really compares to running a country.
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The New Economy
US budget: fiscal showdown or kick the can?
Congress faces a six-pack of temporary tax cuts that expire soon and could provide the incentive to reshape the tax code and boost the budget.
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How Supreme Court ruling on Texas could reduce affirmative action across US
The Supreme Court, which has shifted to the right, may use the Texas case to overturn the 2003 decision that achieving classroom diversity could justify the use of race-based affirmative action.
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Nuclear talks with Iran? Senators implore Obama to draw line in the sand.
The senators are urging Obama to demand that Iran suspend all of its uranium enrichment during any negotiations over its nuclear program, a position that could scuttle chances for the talks.
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High gas prices: How big a problem for Obama?
The last five times gas prices have spiked, the incumbent party has lost the presidential election. On Tuesday, the national average price of gasoline was $3.57 a gallon.
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The Vote
Does Rick Santorum have a Satan problem?
Parts of a 2008 speech by Rick Santorum have surfaced online, in which he says Satan is subverting great American institutions. Its appearance comes at a time in the campaign when Santorum's rivals are trying to make voters think twice about supporting him.
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Syria stalemate: Is Russia pushing Mideast into cold-war style conflict?
Russia is refusing to attend an Arab League-hosted meeting on Syria, and experts warn its stance could embolden Iran to stand firm against the West. The US meanwhile softened its stance on arming the opposition.
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Is Obama 'dangerous' because he wants you to buy a Chevy Volt? Newt says yes.
Newt Gingrich is railing against President Obama for using federal money to subsidize hybrid plug-ins like the Chevy Volt, likening the vehicle to 'cultural warfare.' Some Republicans agree.
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Evangelist raises Obama faith issue again, 'has no idea' what president believes
Graham, who has led the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association since his father's retirement, also repeated earlier remarks linking Obama to Islam through his African ancestry and said the Muslim world saw him as a Muslim.
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Rick Santorum: Can Democrats' 'mischief vote' give him Michigan win?
Michigan is an 'open primary' state, so some liberal commentators are calling for Democrats to cast a primary vote for the candidate they say is less likely to beat President Obama in the fall.
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Surge, sag, repeat: Why the Republicans are so volatile.
Super PACs, the tea party, a surging and sagging field, and a party rule requiring proportional awarding of delegates in early-voting states are contributing to an unusually unsettled GOP race.
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As Al Qaeda moves fight to Syria, violence in Iraq drops sharply
After Al Qaeda-affiliated fighters left Iraq to join the Syrian rebellion, violence has dropped in Iraq, in some areas by as much as 50 percent in just a few months.
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Mitt Romney remains fundraising king, but look who's hard on his heels
Mitt Romney was both the big fundraiser and the big spender in January, in his quest for GOP's presidential crown. Despite his big war chest, he lags Rick Santorum by 10 points nationally.
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Change Agent
Turning the opinions of Arab Spring youths into data – and creating change
Silatech and Gallup have teamed to collect detailed data on the views of Arab youths toward jobs and success – all to help policymakers make better decisions.
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Affirmative action in college admissions goes back before Supreme Court
US Supreme Court is taking an affirmative action case about the University of Texas admissions policy, which permits race to be a factor in deciding which applicants are admitted.
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Gas prices: Could surge at pump derail recovery?
Gas prices in California rise above $4 a gallon. By spring, some areas could see gas prices rise to $5 a gallon.
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Romney takes on the world as he vies for US presidency
It often appears that Mitt Romney is targeting the rest of the world as fiercely as he does his rivals for the party nomination and President Obama. Could his rhetoric damage US relations abroad?
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