Search results for

Accused by Republicans of running an agency that issued "job-killing regulations," Jackson has faced stiff political opposition in her four years at the Environmental Protection Agency.

To keep pace with the nation's increasing racial and ethnic diversity, the Census Bureau could change how it asks about identity in the 2020 count.

A drop in coal severance tax revenues has several Kentucky leaders worried. Money from the tax on mined coal is used largely for state, county and city…

In the last election, the red states got redder and the blue ones bluer. That's true not only in presidential voting, but at the state level, where half the legislative chambers are now dominated by supermajorities of one party or the other. The result is that blue and red states are moving further apart on most major issues, including tax policy, abortion and guns.

Zany presidential candidates, Clint Eastwood's chair, and vice-presidential trips to Costco. 2012 was a significant, and perhaps odd, year for politics. Host Michel Martin is joined by former White House staffers to review some of the best and worst political moments of the year.

People hoping to provide care and independence for aging loved ones may want to consider the 'granny pod.' That's a high-tech cottage set up in your backyard. Host Michel Martin speaks to Socorrito Baez-Page, who bought one for her mother. Also with them is Susan Seliger, regular contributor to The New York Times' 'New Old Age' blog.

Former prime minister and music producer, Edward Seaga, compiled an album to mark Jamaica's 50th anniversary of independence. It's called, Reggae Golden Jubilee: Origins of Jamaican Music. Host Michel Martin speaks to Mr. Seaga about what he sees as the 100 most significant songs to emerge from the country.

Three models of the infant recliners are being recalled voluntarily by some of the nation's biggest retailers, including Amazon.com and Buy Buy Baby. The Consumer Product Safety Commission claims the products are hazardous. The maker has said the infant seats are safe when used as directed.

Authorities say Nouel Alba of the Bronx pretended to be a relative of a 6-year-old victim and collected donations for a "funeral fund." When confronted about it, they allege, she lied to FBI agents. So far, she's only been charged with lying to authorities. Other charges could follow.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said that Congress is on track to have no deal before the Dec. 31 deadline for the "fiscal cliff." One key to the negotiations is the brokering abilities of Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the minority leader. A recent New York Times story notes this: Lawmakers from both parties say Mr. McConnell could be the key to a resolution. He has played the role of adjudicator for Congressional Republicans before, during last year’s fight over a payroll tax extension and the battle between Democrats and Republicans over how, or if, to pay for an emergency disaster financing bill. Yet the same Times story suggests that McConnell may stay out of the brokering because he's up for re-election in 2014 and wants to avoid a primary challenge. McConnell may prefer to let President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner resolve the looming "fiscal cliff" matter instead of inciting Republican elements which are opposed to the compromises with Democrats that any deal would include, writes The Times' Jonathan Weisman and Jennifer Steinhauer. Salon's Steve Kornaki picked up on this same point, noting the Tea Party's past effect on Kentucky elections. The problem, of course, is that the Tea Party’s power resides in Republican primaries, where conservative purists wreaked considerable havoc in the past two election cycles. This included, famously, McConnell’s home state of Kentucky, where the minority leader’s protégé was crushed in a 2010 GOP Senate primary by Rand Paul. McConnell has taken steps that would cover that flank. His campaign manager, Jesse Benton, has the Tea Party bona fides of having worked on campaigns for Rand Paul and Ron Paul.