Most of the attention in the current gun debate has been focused on congressional action (or inaction) on legislation designed to protect public safety by preventing dangerous individuals from having easy access to guns. There is much that can be done outside of Congress, however, to help strengthen oversight of the gun industry, enhance law-enforcement investigations of gun-related crime, and make it more difficult for criminals to get guns.... Read more»
U.S. and European intelligence analysts believe Bashar al-Assad’s regime has used chemical weapons against its own people, according to a memo circulated within the U.S. government on Thursday. The White House confirmed Thursday evening that it will be militarily aiding the Syrian rebels in response to convincing evidence of chemical weapons use by the regime.... Read more»
President Obama incorrectly claims that the Senate has taken three times longer to confirm his court nominees than those of his predecessor, George W. Bush. The president made the claim recently as he announced that he would nominate three judges to fill vacancies on the federal Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.... Read more»
The federal budget has dominated the policy and political debate in Washington over the past three years. During this time, both the underlying fiscal landscape and the broader economic context for the debate have shifted in very important ways, yet the debate has remained remarkably static. Most policymakers seem to be stuck in 2010, as if nothing has changed in the years since.... Read more»
The National Security Agency and the FBI are conducting surveillance of Americans’ telephone and internet communications activities. And some people are surprised.... Read more»1
To U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, his bill to bar the president from establishing new national monuments in Arizona without congressional approval is simply about transparency. To U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, it’s a threat to a law that has helped preserve such treasures as the Grand Canyon and the Sonoran Desert.... Read more»
Commentators John Munger and Paul Eckerstrom on the Monday Political Face-off, then Buckmaster contributor on military and foreign affairs Gen. John A. Wickham, former U.S. Army Chief of Staff.... Read more»
Conservative critics of the Affordable Care Act are misrepresenting a study examining the health benefits of expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income people. In Arizona, a group calling itself American Commitment has launched a series of 30-second Web ads claiming that “a recent study shows that Medicaid doesn’t even improve physical health.” But that’s a distortion.... Read more»
Interviews with Vince Rabago and Cathy Arnold about Rosemont Mine, Councilmen Paul Cunningham and Steve Kozachik about Tucson’s new gun laws, incoming PCC Chancellor Lee Lambert about the future of Pima College, and Sentinel reporter Ted Prezelski with TC Tucson’s Chris Keeney.... Read more»1
Senator John McCain visited Syria earlier this week to meet with rebel leaders. Why? He ain’t sayin’.... Read more»
States will have the option to use data from food stamps, other programs, to enroll adults in Medicaid. Officials say the changes are geared to states that are expanding the program next year, but they may also be adopted by others.... Read more»
Many public health experts say the administration deserves credit for increasing access to drug treatment. But others say despite an increase in funding for rehab, the administration has continued to push programs and policies built to punish drug users. As the administration lays out its latest plan on a new approach to drugs, here’s look at what’s in it, and what they’ve done so far.... Read more»1
Since the United States first sent troops to Afghanistan in 2001, a signature goal of the war has been to increase the capability of Afghan national security forces. But estimates of the size of the Afghan force trained to take over this lead security role have suddenly grown fuzzy and possibly unreliable.... Read more»
Wrapping up 90 minutes of talks Thursday afternoon, Presidents Barack Obama and Enrique Peña Nieto told reporters they’ve agreed to push their countries toward greater economic consolidation while not abandoning Mexico’s bloody battle against criminal gangs.... Read more»
The power of the gun lobby is rooted in multiple factors, among them the pure passion of many gun owners, the NRA’s ability to motivate its most fervent members to swarm their representatives, and the lobby’s ability to get out the vote. Lawmakers’ fear may not be justified, but recent votes reveal that it still exists.... Read more»
Analysis: Obama and Mexico’s Peña Nieto will play up the positives this week in Mexico. But what about the countries’ glaring drug war failures?... Read more»
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