The Fix

Christie says he will ‘be here to welcome’ Obama to New Jersey

Sean Sullivan — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:13:31 GMT

EARLIER ON THE FIX: Anthony Weiner’s rocky restart In defense of Lois Lerner The Fix’s top 15 gubernatorial races Ted Cruz vs. John McCain: Welcome to the new normal in the Senate ‘The Daily Show’ on Obama’s counterterrorism speech (VIDEO) … Continue reading →

Lois Lerner’s “Worst Week”

Chris Cillizza — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:50:34 GMT

Earlier in this space, the Post’s Joel Achenbach wrote in defense of Lois Lerner. Proving that reasonable people can disagree, just a few hours later we awarded the now-former head of the IRS’ tax-exempt arm the “Worst Week in Washington”. Here’s … Continue reading →

Anthony Weiner’s rocky restart

Sean Sullivan — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:52:49 GMT

Anthony Weiner announced late Tuesday that he would run for mayor of New York. He’s received a lot of attention in his first few days back in politics. But much of it hasn’t been the good kind. Since kicking off … Continue reading →

In defense of Lois Lerner

Chris Cillizza — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:45:32 GMT

The week that was as seen through the lens of the one and only Joel Achenbach. Reading the commentary on the IRS hearings, it’s clear that the overriding rule in Washington opinion circles is that the moment someone says they … Continue reading →

The Fix’s top 15 gubernatorial races

Aaron Blake — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:13:53 GMT

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) isn’t taking any chances. Riding high as polls continue to show he is a strong favorite to win reelection and one of the country’s most popular governors, Christie’s campaign has taken an aggressive early stance against … Continue reading →

Ted Cruz vs. John McCain: Welcome to the new normal in the Senate

Sean Sullivan — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:13 GMT

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) feuded this week. Then they feuded some more. It wasn’t the first time tensions between the longtime senator and the freshman tea party favorite flared up. And it’s a pretty safe bet … Continue reading →

‘The Daily Show’ on Obama’s counterterrorism speech (VIDEO)

Sean Sullivan — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:49:59 GMT

The Comedy Central host takes stock of President Obama’s Thursday address:

Is Keystone pipeline losing Democratic support?

Juliet Eilperin — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:09:40 GMT

The most interesting aspect of this week’s House vote in favor of constructing the Keystone XL pipeline was not the fact that it passed—which was widely expected—but the fact that it got 20 fewer votes than a similar proposal received … Continue reading →

How the IRS scandal helped immigration reform

Chris Cillizza — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:30:29 GMT

On Wednesday the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would comprehensively overhaul the country’s immigration system. It was a major step for a Congress that has shown an inability to do just about anything over the past few years. You … Continue reading →

Gallup poll: 42 percent say the IRS is doing a poor job

Sean Sullivan — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:22:09 GMT

EARLIER ON THE FIX: Gun control vs. gun rights, in one interactive graphic Generic ballot tilts toward Democrats Why hasn’t Lois Lerner been fired? Ask her anything: Gwen Ifill How the IRS scandal is like ‘The Simpsons’ The IRS hearings: … Continue reading →

Gun control vs. gun rights, in one interactive graphic

Sean Sullivan — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:03:09 GMT

A central question in the debate over guns is whether the public prioritizes protecting gun ownership rights or controlling them. The answer? Americans are pretty evenly split over the question. Thanks to a handy chart from the Pew Research Center, … Continue reading →

Generic ballot tilts toward Democrats

Rachel Weiner — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:32:22 GMT

Even as the White House battles scandals that have empowered Republicans on Capitol Hill, there’s some of good news for Democrats in today’s Washington Post-ABC News poll. Asked if they would support the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate in … Continue reading →

Why hasn’t Lois Lerner been fired?

Rachel Weiner — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:36:21 GMT

Update: Lois Lerner has been put on administrative leave. It’s easier to put a federal worker on leave than to fire him or her outright. One thing Republicans and Democrats probably agree on: Lois Lerner should lose her job. The … Continue reading →

Ask her anything: Gwen Ifill

Sean Sullivan — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:20:14 GMT

From time to time, The Fix will piggyback on Q&A chats with political insiders and commentators. Today, ask questions of Gwen Ifill of PBS NewsHour, host of Washington Week in Review. We’re sitting in on her monthly chat.

How the IRS scandal is like ‘The Simpsons’

Sean Sullivan — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:02:05 GMT

Congress has so far held three hearings on the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups. And, all of those hours can be summed up in just four words: “I didn’t do it.” Those words were, of course, made famous … Continue reading →

The IRS hearings: Winners and losers

Aaron Blake — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:47:00 GMT

Everyone wants a piece of the Internal Revenue Service these days, which is why agency officials have been subjected to three congressional hearings over the past week. So now that the dust has settled, who came out on top? Who … Continue reading →

Stephen Colbert on the IRS scandal (VIDEO)

Sean Sullivan — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:20:29 GMT

Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert connects the dots.

Are background checks a wedge issue for 2014?

Scott Clement — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:00:30 GMT

The Senate’s rejection of a popular expansion of background checks for firearms last month marked an abrupt end to the campaign for gun restrictions after the Newtown shootings. But the “no” votes of 46 senators also represented a political gamble: … Continue reading →

Weiner says he hasn’t spoken to Pelosi since his resignation

Sean Sullivan — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:01:25 GMT

EARLIER ON THE FIX: Did Lois Lerner waive her right to invoke the Fifth Amendment? Jay Carney’s charm offensive Lois Lerner didn’t say anything today. Why that’s a bad thing for the Obama Administration. What today’s ‘nuclear option’ fight means … Continue reading →

Did Lois Lerner waive her right to invoke the Fifth Amendment?

Juliet Eilperin — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:14:22 GMT

While Internal Revenue Service official Lois G. Lerner invoked the Fifth Amendment in her refusal to testify before Congress Wednesday, the fact that she gave a lengthy opening statement defending her innocence infuriated some lawmakers and prompted them to suggest … Continue reading →

Jay Carney’s charm offensive

Aaron Blake — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:27:29 GMT

Maybe it was a birthday resolution. Or perhaps a survival strategy. Whatever the case, embattled White House press secretary Jay Carney, who turned 48 on Wednesday, struck a different tone with reporters during his daily briefing. Gone was the combative … Continue reading →

Lois Lerner didn’t say anything today. Why that’s a bad thing for the Obama Administration.

Chris Cillizza — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:58:37 GMT

Oh Lois Lerner, you say it best when you say nothing at all. As expected, Lerner, the head of the Internal Revenue Service’s tax-exempt office, pled the Fifth Amendment rather than testify today in front of the House Oversight and Government Reform … Continue reading →

What today’s ‘nuclear option’ fight means for filibuster reform

Rachel Weiner — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:23:46 GMT

Democratic threats to reform the filibuster in the Senate are a part of of a “culture of intimidation” that includes the targeting of conservatives at the Internal Revenue Service, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) alleged Wednesday morning. While his … Continue reading →

Anthony Weiner ≠ Mark Sanford

Karen Tumulty — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:56:09 GMT

The comparisons were inevitable: two guys who became a national punchline after being caught in sex scandals make a bid for a political comeback from disgrace. But once you get past the astonishment and the snickers, the differences are more … Continue reading →

Who is Eric Garcetti?

Sean Sullivan — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:19:24 GMT

Los Angeles will have a new mayor beginning July 1. His name is Eric Garcetti, the city councilman who won a Tuesday runoff and made some history. He’ll become the city’s first elected Jewish mayor and its youngest in more than … Continue reading →