WASHINGTON — A meat cleaver hangs over the federal government, but the unflappable men and women of the House majority remain cool and poised.With just a few days to stop automatic spending … more

WASHINGTON — If second-term presidents feel liberated by re-election to pursue bolder agendas, first ladies often become more comfortable to be their own person.Witness Laura Bush, who in her … more

WASHINGTON — Even during this desultory economic recovery, one industry thrives — the manufacture of synthetic hysteria. It is, however, inaccurate to accuse the Hysteric in Chief of … more

WASHINGTON — First they came for the drones.No, not the unmanned kind that kill strangers from a safe distance but the sort who sit in meeting rooms and repeat slogans until they absorb the … more

WASHINGTON — The grand bargain may not be dead, but it has been given its last rites.On Tuesday morning, as President Obama and House Republicans were abandoning hope of reaching a compromise … more

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is talking about climate change like it was 2009.The president, who rarely uttered the words “climate change” or “global warming” … more

Most of us do bad things. We betray friends, make hurtful remarks, lie. Often an apology will suffice in restoring trust and respect. But some very successful people engage in patterns of nutty or … more

WASHINGTON — Jesse Jackson Jr. arrived in court wearing a leather bracelet, not the gold-plated Rolex watch he bought with $43,350 in federal campaign cash.The former congressman’s head … more

President Obama has new priorities. That means new spending. In his State of the Union, he said, “The American people don’t expect government to solve every problem.” But then he … more

WASHINGTON — “Zero Dark Thirty,” a nominee for Sunday’s Oscar as Best Picture, reignited debate about whether the waterboarding of terrorism suspects was torture. This … more