Yes, Federal Workers Are Essential Yes, Federal Workers Are Essential
The House votes 407-0 to guarantee back pay for federal employees. But it will not let them do their jobs.
Oct 6, 2013 / John Nichols
Congressional Liberals Mobilize to Keep Social Insurance Out of Shutdown Talks Congressional Liberals Mobilize to Keep Social Insurance Out of Shutdown Talks
Progressive members of Congress are pledging to oppose
Oct 3, 2013 / George Zornick
Shutdown Continues, but Obamacare Is Up and (Mostly) Running Shutdown Continues, but Obamacare Is Up and (Mostly) Running
The future of the GOP, not the Affordable Care Act, is what's at stake now in Congress.
Oct 2, 2013 / Zoë Carpenter
The End of Majority Rule The End of Majority Rule
WRITING CONTEST FINALIST: When a political system is in gridlock, ordinary citizens suffer the consequences.
Oct 2, 2013 / StudentNation / Joao Lee and StudentNation
America Gets Primaried America Gets Primaried
The government shutdown is all about electoral politics—particularly the gerrymandering of Republican districts and primaries that make compromise impossible.
Oct 1, 2013 / John Nichols
Amid Shutdown Scrambling, a Powerful Reminder That DC Should Be a State Amid Shutdown Scrambling, a Powerful Reminder That DC Should Be a State
The city of Washington lacks budget autonomy, so local officials are forced to cobble together a shutdown response. Why?
Sep 30, 2013 / John Nichols
Tea Party Lawmaker Letter on Med Device Tax Repeal Authored by Lobby Group Tea Party Lawmaker Letter on Med Device Tax Repeal Authored by Lobby Group
A letter signed by over seventy right-wing lawmakers was authored by a medical device tax industry group, metadata shows.
Sep 28, 2013 / Lee Fang
This Week in ‘Nation’ History: Government Shutdown as Coup d’État This Week in ‘Nation’ History: Government Shutdown as Coup d’État
In a brilliant 1996 essay, political theorist Sheldon Wolin connected austerity economics to a broader Republican philosophy of governance--or lack thereof.
Sep 28, 2013 / Katrina vanden Heuvel
GOP Debt-Ceiling Bill Violates Boehner’s ‘Pledge to America’ GOP Debt-Ceiling Bill Violates Boehner’s ‘Pledge to America’
The House Republican plan to hold the debt ceiling hostage in exchange for over twenty corporate giveaways violates their ethics pledge, which calls for advancing major legislation...
Sep 27, 2013 / Lee Fang
House GOP Debt-Ceiling Plan: Paul Ryan’s Losing Ideas From 2012 House GOP Debt-Ceiling Plan: Paul Ryan’s Losing Ideas From 2012
In return for allowing the debt ceiling to rise, House Republicans are promoting the agenda voters rejected in 2012.
Sep 26, 2013 / John Nichols