Politics and journalism have never been too far detached. And while professionals in both fields attempt to keep the other at arm’s length, occasionally one is pulled to the other side.
Five weeks into his presidency, President Barack Obama’s White House has invited more than 25 percent of Congress to cocktails parties, bill signings and a gathering to watch the Super Bowl. But his overtures have yet to garner much bipartisan support for his policy proposals.
Few places have been hit harder by the economic downturn than southeast Michigan and the automotive industry that shoulders the region's vitality. As one community there follows congressional conversations about the automakers, its youngest generation learns valuable lessons that could last a lifetime.
President-elect Barack Obama's campaign innovated the fundraising model. The next step may be in the palm of your hand.
Republicans assured the leaders at the front of the party in the Senate and House would return when Rep. John Boehner was re-elected as minority leader Wednesday.
There was much speculation about the potential of the youth vote this election. This much is clear: President-elect Barack Obama is on his way to the White House with their blessing.
As the youth vote trends heavily Democratic this year, more and more young Americans may find themselves opposing their parents at the polls.
Ralph Nader - still considered the spoiler of 2000 in some Democratic circles - may provide an unexpected assist this year in delivering Florida's 27 electoral votes to the Democrats.
A late juror held up the show for two hours at the Antoin "Tony" Rezko trial Thursday morning, but when opening statements finally came it was clear how the case will be fought. The government will attempt to show a tag-team of businessman Stuart Levine and Rezko used influence and clout to extort millions from government partners using Levine's testimony. Rezko's defense will pose Levine as desperate, drug-using and unreliable character, while insisting that Rezko's political involvement has been above board.
The student vote in the 14th Congressional District could be rendered meaningless in Saturday's special election to replace former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert as NIU starts spring break Friday. While students were able to vote early until yesterday, and can still vote absentee in person through Friday, it appears few are taking those opportunities. In what proved to be a strong student Democratic vote on Feb. 5 this lack of turnout could hurt Democrat Bill Foster's chance of upsetting the Hastert-endorsed Republican Jim Oberweis.
It will be a cinch for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke to win her first full 10-year term come November. She collected the Democratic nomination uncontested on Super Tuesday and lacks competition from Republicans in November too. What makes a justice, who has served less than two years on the top bench, so formidable that no one from either party dares challenge her? Is it as simple as a powerful last name?
When a federal judge OK'd an expedited schedule for a special primary and general election for retired U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert's seat, he unleashed a potential nightmare for candidates and voters. Voters on Feb. 5 have to ask for two ballots, and candidates winning one race could conceivably not win the second. The entire process, featuring three elections, could offer three different sets of candidates and possibly two different representatives in the next 12 months.
The last presidential debate left a lot of people talking. Not everyone agreed on the zingers and indelible phrases, or if there were any. Young people watching at three debate parties at American University, the Pour House bar and Summers Bar & Grill share their takes.
Sam Hawkins is a member of one of the least-likely-to-vote demographics in America. As a 19-year-old African American owning a GED but no college degree, the chances were not great that he would become politically engaged.
No matter who gets the keys to the White House come January, the next president will be casing America for more homegrown energy.
It could mitigate climate change, foster national security and create thousands of green-collar jobs, the leading candidates say. But something — and something quite vital — gets missed in all the talk. This domestic energy push needs lots of water and it’s creating more competition for the country’s diminishing freshwater supplies.
Imagine: Suburban commuters all driving plug-in hybrids they charge overnight, city dwellers squeezing micro cars into the smallest of parking spots and ruralresidents having switched to biodiesels that can power less frequent — but longer — trips they make.
Farmers markets around Chicago kick off their season with more cost competitive prices than in past years as food prices rise at grocery stores. The push for buying locally grown food has never been stronger, but public policy is behind the pace. While large argibusiness farms benefit from subsidies, small local farms are often on their own. Now an Illinois task force appointed by the governor is seeking to rectify the discrepancy. Whether their suggestions are taken seriously by the legislature remains to be seen.
The story of Johnnie Lee Savory and Robert Wilson who struggle to get their lives in order after serving time for crimes they say didn't commit.
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and his supporters gathered at the Hyatt Regency Chicago to celebrate his primary victory in Illinois and other states across the nation. A Medill photographer and reporter were there to capture the scene.
Four weeks after Election Day, Democrats must stop dreaming of 60 seats in the Senate now that Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss has finally reclaimed his seat in Georgia. But that number seemed to generate a lot more heat than light.
The House leadership elections this week had a familiar feeling. In fact, it was a fraternal feeling.
President-elect Barack Obama rode a wave of new and young voters to an electoral landslide. His greater task will be to keep those voters engaged in his presidency.
A recent poll found 18-to-24-year-olds favoring Democratic candidate Barack Obama over Republican John McCain. It also found Obama's campaign had personally contacted many more of these young voters than McCain's camp. As new techonolgies paved the way for greater interaction with this potentially powerful voting bloc, it seems Obama's team was quicker to adapt.
Politics seem to be funnier than ever this year. More than 10 million viewers tuned into "Saturday Night Live" last week to watch Tina Fey masterfully mock Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
But while everyone appears to be having a good time, it could be a bad sign for the country.
Whether or not Friday’s debate takes place, the stretch run to the election is primed for a series of must-see TV events. But the strategy behind the scheduling of this mini-series raises questions.