blogging the beltway

(The Root) — As the Supreme Court prepares to decide three potentially historic civil rights cases, the nation’s leading legal advocate weighed in on America’s civil rights evolution. Thursday evening Attorney General Eric Holder joined a star-studded roster, which included filmmaker Spike Lee and actress Rosie Perez, at the National Action Network’s annual gala in New…

(The Root) — On Wednesday, news broke that President Obama was doing something that a lot of Americans have done in recent years: preparing to watch his income shrink. Only, unlike most Americans, the president is doing so voluntarily. Because of the sequester, many government workers may be forced to take unpaid leave, known as…

(The Root) — While he has spent much of his second term battling Republicans on a host of issues, from the sequester debate to his Cabinet nominees, President Obama has also endured critiques from fellow Democrats. One of the most common complaints from his base of supporters has been that his administration is sorely lacking…

(The Root) — Since their dismal showing in the 2012 elections, the Republican Party has spent much of the last several months behaving as a contestant on Extreme Home Makeover. With an overwhelming majority of voters of color choosing the Democratic candidate in the last presidential contest, Republicans began mapping out a plan to introduce…

(The Root) — The man who made history by becoming America’s first black president just made history again by appointing the first woman to head the Secret Service in the agency’s 147-year history. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama swore in Julia Pierson, a 30-year Secret Service veteran, as head of the agency. Pierson’s selection is…

(The Root) — Quick question: Who is the latest Democratic senator to come out in support of affirmative action? OK, another question: Who is the latest Republican senator to come out in support of affirmative action? How about this one: Do any Republican senators support affirmative action? Last question: Do you know the answer to…

(The Root) — To the extent that he is known to minority audiences at all, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is likely best known for his controversial criticism of the Civil Rights Act. But he may soon emerge with a much higher profile among black Americans, and a much more positive one, thanks in…

(The Root) — Late Monday, news broke that an aspiring New York firefighter would resign from the city’s fire department, where he was working as an EMT, because of racially inflammatory tweets. Making the matter even more newsworthy and shocking is that the author of the offensive tweets is the son of the city’s fire…

(The Root) — While Sarah Palin and her Big Gulp stunt generated the most laughs at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, the event made clear that she is no longer the GOP’s rising star. Only five short years after she burst onto the national scene, Palin was overshadowed by those perceived as representing the GOP’s…

(The Root) — Every presidential administration has one or two moments it is best remembered for — some good, some bad. President Nixon will always be better-remembered for Watergate and his final farewell wave following his resignation than for any of his policies. President Obama will always be remembered for the night he made history…