Juana Summers

Passing the spending package took intense lobbying from the president to get 60 Democrats on board, and persistence by soon-to-be-Speaker John Boehner to fend off the most Republican representatives.

Material tacked onto the authorization bill adds 250,000 acres of new wilderness, expands national parks, and moves toward a national women's history museum. 'Ethically, it stinks,' says Sen. Coburn.

The House passed a measure that declares President Obama's immigration actions null and void. It's largely symbolic, but could be a first step in further Republican efforts to try to roll back Obama's moves.

New York City's mayor and police commissioner tried to rebuild public trust in the police department, while allies of the Garner family promised a major march on Washington for justice reforms.

With domestic violence by sports figures in the news, members of the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on the issue. But not one commissioner — from the NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL — showed up.

New members tried out any number of rituals — from lucky dances to backflips — hoping the office odds were ever in their favor.

All 45 Republicans were on board, but the bill fell short of just one Democrat. It's a project President Obama has not been a fan of.

Much of the House Democratic leadership is getting along in years, with little prospects for change even after suffering big losses this past election.

While John Boehner has held the speaker's gavel, it often looked like members of his caucus were in control. With a gain of more than a dozen GOP seats, Boehner might have some more maneuvering room.

House Speaker John Boehner will be a key player if the White House and the new Congress are going to get anything meaningful done.

While Kansas is typically a deeply conservative red state, this year two of the party's leaders found themselves in fights for their political lives — and they won.

Kansas, a reliably red state, is not so reliable anymore. Veteran Sen. Pat Roberts is trying to fend off a serious challenge from an independent candidate, businessman Greg Orman.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is one of the most powerful politicians in America. She's the top-ranking woman in the House GOP, and her political ambitions and trajectory have been debated everywhere from Capitol Hill to the pages of Glamour magazine. But when she walks into locally owned businesses like ...

If played just right, members of Congress can see a political payoff from simply doing their jobs and helping out voters who elected them. It's one reason incumbents fare well come Election Day.

With Election Day just over a week away, NPR politics editor Charlie Mahtesian and NPR congressional reporter Juana Summers join us for a look at the state of play in pivotal races across the country.

The first case of Ebola in New York City is raising new questions about U.S. readiness and response to the disease.

For a campaign season in search of an issue, Ebola promises to be a prime topic. The virus touches on issues central to both parties — the role of government and its competence.

Virginia congressional candidates Barbara Comstock, a Republican, and John Foust, a Democrat, are hitting the campaign trail with the usual issues like jobs, health care and immigration. But they're also going a step further to close the deal in a district where Asian Americans are a fast growing ethnic group.

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On Tuesday, The Washington Times reported that a security contractor with a gun and prior assault convictions was allowed on an elevator with President Obama during a trip to Atlanta.

Congress called an unusual recess hearing to grill the Secret Service about the White House fence jumper.