To the surprise of much of the beltway, a two-year bipartisan budget deal sailed easily through the House. Ironically, this time around, it’s the Senate, not the House, that’s refusing to play nice. read story

The tea party responded in force to Speaker Boehner’s attacks, signaling that the establishment and tea party forces are entering an all-out war. read story

The House of Representatives passed a compromise defense bill on Thursday night, moving major reforms to the way the military handles sexual assault one step closer to law. read story

North Carolina’s restrictive voting law won’t be struck down before next fall, after a judge ruled that the trial over the measure won’t take place until 2015. read story

A year after Sandy Hook, people in this stricken town are asserting control after tragedy, creating ways to speak out about the unspeakable. read story