blogging the beltway

In what will likely be remembered as one of history’s greatest ironies, America’s first black president has led the country during a time of some of the greatest civil rights setbacks of the modern era. There was the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court ruling, which undid crucial provisions of the Voting Rights Act. While…

(The Root)—Tuesday night Bill de Blasio became the mayor-elect of New York City. But even more exciting for some of us New Yorkers, Chirlane McCray became the first lady-elect. When history looks back at what led to de Blasio’s landslide, some will credit the missteps of his primary opponents, particularly sexting-prone Anthony Weiner, and Bloomberg…

(The Root) — It is no secret that when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were competing for the presidency, there was no love lost between former President Bill Clinton and the man running against his wife. Once Hillary Clinton moved from Obama rival to Obama Cabinet member, Bill Clinton morphed from chief Obama critic to…

(The Root) — During the last midterm elections when candidates in tough races found themselves in trouble, Democrats dispatched their secret weapon: Michelle Obama. The first lady campaigned in a number of states for candidates. She did so in part because her schedule made it easier for her than her husband, but also because, as…

(The Root) —In recent years when the words “racial controversy” or “race scandal” and “politics” have appeared in the same sentence, the word “Republican” has usually appeared somewhere in the sentence, too. But this week a racially charged scandal has erupted involving Democrats. High-profile Republicans are demanding an apology from Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.)…

(The Root) — Though the president made a point to say during his remarks on the end of the shutdown, “There are no winners here,” that’s not entirely true. While the days of the shutdown marked a low point for the American people and an even lower point for government, the crisis ultimately marked a…

(The Root) — When history looks back on this latest government shutdown, there will likely be a few key culprits who get the blame. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will surely be mentioned, along with the Tea Party and Obamacare. But is it possible that the biggest culprit of all may escape blame? I’m referring to…

(The Root) — Contraception coverage has been one of the most contentious issues in the debate over the Affordable Care Act. As reported by The Root, so-called Obamacare requires insurers to cover birth control as routine preventative care, thereby requiring coverage with no copay. After church groups objected on moral grounds, the White House worked…

(The Root) — Thanks to Charlie Sheen, “winning” has now become more than just a word to describe what happens when one team dominates another in a sports arena. It has become a shorthand to describe when someone is flying high in life or at least thinks he is. For this reason, the use of…

(The Root) — Nearly 800,000 federal workers are furloughed because of a government shutdown, which means nearly 1 million Americans are now unsure when and where their next paycheck will come from, despite being employed. But among those federal workers not feeling the pinch: Congress. Members of Congress, as well as the president and vice…