Criminal justice issues showing up in 2016 presidential race
By ERIC TUCKER On the campaign trail, among candidates of both parties, the idea of locking up drug criminals for life is a lot less popular than it was a…
Rand Paul
The House’s big day: Budget deal vote, GOP nominating Ryan
By ALAN FRAM The House was poised Wednesday to approve a bipartisan pact charting a two-year budget truce and Republicans were set to nominate Rep. Paul Ryan as the new…
Shifting debate strategies, GOP hopefuls to take on Trump
By JULIE PACE In the first Republican presidential debate, most candidates took a hands-off approach to Donald Trump and hoped the brash billionaire would hurt himself. Instead, he only got…
Trump embraces role as bully, bids Perry a thorny farewell
By STEVE PEOPLES A growing divide has emerged in the Republican Party’s unruly presidential contest, as the race bid farewell to a once-powerful White House contender. On one side stands…
Trump’s first victim? Perry exits in early 2016 shake-up
By STEVE PEOPLES Rick Perry’s political career ended with a whimper, a remarkable if predictable fall for the longest-serving governor in Texas history and a leader many considered the Republican…
GOP debate lineup: Trump and Bush in, Fiorina and Perry out
By STEVE PEOPLES It’s the first really good news — and really bad news — for Republicans seeking the presidential nomination: Who’s in the first prime-time debate and who’s not.…
Obama visits prison to call for a fairer justice system
Peering from the back seat of his armored black limousine, President Barack Obama rode into a razor wire-surrounded federal prison Thursday and said he met young inmates “who made mistakes…
Iran deal sets 2016 clash between Clinton and GOP hopefuls
By LISA LERER and KEN THOMAS Hillary Rodham Clinton’s embrace of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran as a worthwhile agreement that also needs strict enforcement underscores the tension between…