US Politics News

Welcome to Wonkbook, Ezra Klein and Evan Soltas's morning policy news primer. Send comments, criticism, or ideas to Wonkbook at Gmail dot com.

Rep. Steve Stockman surprised the political world Monday when he filed at the last minute to challenge Sen. John Cornyn , complicating the senator's reelection bid just when it looked to be virtually problem-free .

Signing off : Two of Washington's longtime radio fixtures are leaving town. DC101 WWDC morning personality Elliot Segal is picking up stakes and moving to New York to host "Elliot in the Morning" for a morning news station starting next month.

John D. Podesta, who was chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and is one of the Democratic Party's most experienced strategists, is joining the White House to help President Obama salvage what has become a difficult second term.

A campaign by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to reform how the military addresses the epidemic of sexual assaults in its ranks suffered a setback Monday.

Chinese hackers eavesdropped on the computers of five European foreign ministries before last September's G20 Summit, which was dominated by the Syrian crisis, according to research by computer security firm FireEye Inc The hackers infiltrated the ministries' computer networks by sending emails to staff containing tainted files with titles such as ... (more)

McKeon said negotiators met last week to work out agreements on amendments. Top defense authorizers held a news conference Monday afternoon to announce they have a deal on the NDAA.

Republican operatives cede Dold's race will be tough in 2014, but they also argue that if any Republican can win in Illinois' 10th District, it's him.

The U.S. Senate gave final approval on Monday to a bill to renew a ban against firearms that can pass undetected through metal detectors, but rejected calls to update the law in response to the advent of plastic guns made with 3-D printers.

Mitch McConnell is taking his opposition to President Barack Obama's recess appointments all the way to the Supreme Court.

North Carolina is expected to host one of the nation's toughest U.S. Senate races next year.

Two U.S. senators are preparing legislation to impose new sanctions on Iran in six months if an interim deal on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program goes nowhere, penalties that Iran's foreign minister has said would kill the agreement.

President Barack Obama headed to South Africa on Monday to speak at a national memorial service for anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

Senator Charles E. Schumer says an Environmental Protection Agency act could cost the city $1 million if it requires the replacement of fire hydrants.

Sen. Lindsey Graham said he would sign up on the health care exchange in South Carolina but reject a subsidy: "I don't think Members of Congress should get a special deal."

Peters is running against lobbyist David Jolly in the competitive primary for Florida's 13th District.

U.S. military officials insisted a top-secret Pentagon study proved the need to buy Russian helicopters for Afghanistan's security forces.

Eight U.S. web giants have joined hands to start a public campaign for new limits on how governments collect user information amid concerns of growing online surveillance.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand , left, and members of the New York Public Interest Research Group discuss the annual safety report on dangerous and toxic toys Sunday.

A minimalist U.S. budget deal that congressional negotiators hope to reach in coming days will do almost nothing to tame rising federal debt, but it could usher in a nearly two-year fiscal truce, minimizing the risk of future funding crises and government shutdowns.