TheRepublic.com - Washington & Politics News

Poll: Teens migrating to Twitter

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:16:31 -0400

WASHINGTON - Twitter is booming as a social media destination for teenagers who complain about too many adults and too much drama on Facebook, according to a new study published Tuesday about online behavior. It said teens are sharing more personal information about themselves even as they try to protect their online reputations.

Judge promises more openness in Chandra Levy case

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:20:54 -0400

WASHINGTON - A judge promised more openness Tuesday after months of confidential post-trial proceedings in the case of murdered Washington intern Chandra Levy, disclosing for the first time why a key prosecution witness could be discredited.

Senate votes to make small cut to food stamps

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:16:08 -0400

WASHINGTON - The Senate has voted to keep a $400 million annual cut - or roughly a half of 1 percent - to the food stamp program in a farm bill it is considering this week.

IRS official Lerner to take 5th at hearing

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:57:09 -0400

WASHINGTON - A key figure in the Internal Revenue Service controversy plans to invoke her constitutional right not to testify at a congressional hearing on Wednesday.

No new funds needed for Okla. tornado recovery

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:58:46 -0400

WASHINGTON - Top lawmakers and officials said Tuesday that the federal government has plenty of money on hand to pay for recovery efforts in the wake of the devastating tornado that struck Oklahoma.

IRS chief knew tea party groups targeted in 2012

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:45:10 -0400

WASHINGTON - The former head of the Internal Revenue Service said he first learned in the spring of 2012 - in the heat of the presidential campaign - that agents had improperly targeted political groups that vehemently opposed President Barack Obama's policies.

Key senator to let Myanmar sanctions bill lapse

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:28:25 -0400

WASHINGTON - The top Senate Republican says he plans to let key sanctions legislation against Myanmar (mee-an-MAWR') lapse because of the country's progress toward democracy.

Power of Moore tornado dwarfs Hiroshima bomb

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:25:40 -0400

WASHINGTON - Wind, humidity and rainfall combined precisely to create the massive killer tornado in Moore, Oklahoma And when they did, the awesome amount of energy released over that city dwarfed the power of the atomic bomb that leveled Hiroshima.

Committee nears final vote on immigration bill

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:52:49 -0400

WASHINGTON - Far-reaching immigration legislation neared a final committee vote on Tuesday as the White House and Democratic supporters pressed the panel's chairman to delay a showdown over the rights of gay spouses until a debate in the full Senate.

FBI ID's Benghazi suspects - but no arrests yet

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:56:20 -0400

WASHINGTON - The U.S. has identified five men who might be responsible for the attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last year, and has enough evidence to justify seizing them by military force as suspected terrorists, officials say. But there isn't enough proof to try them in a U.S. civilian court as the Obama administration prefers.

Senate panel approves weapons for Syrian rebels

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:48:04 -0400

WASHINGTON - A Senate panel has voted to provide weapons to rebels battling the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

US lawmakers seek limits on Russia cooperation

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:01:23 -0400

WASHINGTON - Republicans are trying to block Obama administration overtures to Russia on missile defense, creating a potential obstacle to arms control talks.

Court: US can keep bin Laden photos under wraps

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:24:46 -0400

WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court Tuesday backed the U.S. government's decision not to release photos and video taken of Osama bin Laden during and after a raid in which the terrorist leader was killed by U.S. commandos.

US lawmakers seek Asia missile defense safeguard

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:18:05 -0400

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers are seeking to prohibit the U.S. from removing missile defense equipment from East Asia, even if the threat posed by a nuclear-armed North Korea is eliminated.

Obama pledges urgent aid to Oklahoma town

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:35:12 -0400

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama pledged urgent government help for Oklahoma Tuesday in the wake of "one of the most destructive" storms in the nation's history.

Peace Corps to accept same-sex couples

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:31:40 -0400

WASHINGTON - The Peace Corps says it will begin accepting applications from same-sex domestic partners who want to serve together as volunteers overseas.

Lew: IRS actions "unacceptable and inexcusable"

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:52:04 -0400

WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew says the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative political groups was "unacceptable and inexcusable" and he has directed the agency's acting director to hold people accountable.

AP Sources: Obama ok punting gay immigration idea

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:34:12 -0400

WASHINGTON - Two people familiar with the Senate immigration deliberations say the White House has suggested to Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy that it would be best to put off a controversy over gay marriage until a bill goes before the full Senate.

Carol Burnett to win top US humor prize in DC

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:08:14 -0400

WASHINGTON - Carol Burnett, who became famous for playing a variety of characters in sketch comedy routines on her namesake television show, was named the winner of the nation's top humor prize on Tuesday.

Okla. Senator says tornado aid should be paid for

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:48:04 -0400

WASHINGTON - Conservative Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn says that any additional federal aid to help tornado victims and to rebuild devastated areas of his state should be financed with cuts to other programs in the government's $3.6 trillion budget.