Obama walks tightrope in reacting to Zimmerman verdict
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin left President Barack Obama trying to dial down tensions on Sunday while reassuring supporters he still stands against discriminatio…
Conservative Texas attorney general announces gubernatorial bid
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) – Republican Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, a social conservative who once joked his job consists of “getting up in the morning, suing Barack Obama, then going home,” announced on Sunday he would seek his party’s nomination f…
Justice Department mulls if further action possible in Zimmerman case
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Justice Department said on Sunday it is evaluating whether it has enough evidence to support further prosecution of George Zimmerman in federal court in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, and whether…
Senior Republican says U.S. must step up efforts to get Snowden
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A key congressional Republican said on Sunday that the Obama administration must step up efforts and exert “any and all pressure” on Russia to get it to hand over Edward Snowden, the former U.S. spy agency contractor turned fugit…
Reid, McConnell yield no ground in filibuster showdown
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate’s top Democrat and Republican yielded no ground on Sunday as they neared a showdown over President Barack Obama’s executive-branch nominees that could dramatically change how the Senate operates.
Republican governor Perry defends Texas abortion measure
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Governor Rick Perry on Sunday defended a measure passed by the Texas legislature to ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, saying states – not the federal government – should decide such matters and rejecting criticism t…
Analysis: Obamacare struggles to meet make-or-break deadline
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With time running out, U.S. officials are struggling to cope with the task of launching the new online health insurance exchanges at the heart of President Barack Obama’s signature health reforms by an October 1 deadline.
Alaska set for vote on oil-tax cut after lobby group submits petition
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) – Critics of an oil-industry tax cut handed a petition with 50,000 signatures to Alaska state officials on Saturday, more than enough to force a referendum that would overturn a new oil tax law.
Obama urges Republican-led House to pass immigration overhaul
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama stepped into the fray in the U.S. Congress over immigration on Saturday, urging Americans to press the Republican-led House of Representatives to approve a plan that is at risk of stalling.
New York’s Spitzer, once a target, makes appearance on late-night comedy
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Eliot Spitzer, the former New York governor who is now attempting a political resurrection, is willing to talk about the prostitution scandal that forced him to resign, but perhaps not crack a joke about it.