Route Fifty

Congress Will Block D.C. Pot Referendum

Spending bill prevents city from using funds to implement ballot initiative.

Oversight

Obamacare's Naughty Economist Goes to the Hill

"I behaved badly," Jonathan Gruber told a House committee Tuesday, walking back his condemnation of the Affordable Care Act in an exercise in self-flagellation.

Oversight

Federal Spending Bill Slowed by Last-Minute Additions

Weekend session looks possible as omnibus negotiations drag on.

Nextgov

Torture Report: Seized Computers, Not Waterboarding, Thwarted Would-be Bomber

A confiscated computer and the CIA's cyber capabilities -- not waterboarding -- were essential in yielding information.

Oversight

Play of the Day: What Obama Wants For Christmas

Will the president get a lump of coal this year? Jimmy Fallon has the exclusive audio of Obama's hug with Santa.

Oversight

John Kerry Is Trying to Stall the Release of the CIA Torture Report

The secretary of State is reportedly asking the Senate to wait to release its report on the Bush-era use of “enhanced interrogation” techniques.

Oversight

Play of the Day: The Odds of Indicting a Police Officer

The Garner and Brown cases show just how difficult it really is.

Nextgov

Pentagon Watchdog: DOD Stumbles in Cloud Computing Plan

An inspector general found Pentagon policymakers did not fully execute numerous elements of the strategy.

Oversight

Play of the Day: Rand Paul Takes a Stand in Police Chokehold Case

Last night's late-night funnies: The Republican senator sticks to his antitax guns.

Defense

Rand Paul and John McCain Go to War Over ISIS Vote

How a "nice little water bill" sparked a battle between a 2016 White House hopeful and the GOP's top hawk.

Oversight

Reid vs. White House Tensions Cloud Majority's Final Days

Divides over electoral strategy and a tax deal reflect stresses between the Senate's top Democrat and the Obama administration.

Management

Can Presidents Be Managers?

Presidents who bask in the policy limelight are surprised and puzzled when their support erodes.

Oversight

Play of the Day: What Congress Can Finally Agree On

Everyone can gree that Nazis shouldn't get Social Security benefits.

Nextgov

Agencies Under the Gun to Meet Data Transparency Deadlines

The Obama administration has six months to prove its implementation of a sweeping new data transparency law is on track.

Oversight

Obama's Pick to Head Immigration Agency Caught in Executive-Order Crossfire

Nominee to run ICE has cleared two Senate committees, but it's unclear if Democrats will get her approved before they lose the majority.

Management

Top-Performing Executives to Advise Policymakers on Improving Government Performance

Senior Executives Association and Volcker Alliance create network of Presidential Distinguished Rank Award winners.

Oversight

Ted Cruz Pushes the House To Have All-Out Spending Fight On Obama Immigration Action

Conservatives in the House look to Cruz once again for solutions to stop Obama.

Defense

Internal GOP Tensions Simmer Over Terrorism Insurance

Conservatives square off against some fellow Republicans, business groups, and Senate Democrats over TRIA program.