Politics

As the Bush Administration considers lifting the U.S. trade embargo against Vietnam, former President Richard M. Nixon is quietly trying to head off the idea, declaring that any normalization of relations with Hanoi would be “a tragic mistake.” In a memo to the Senate Committee on POW-MIA Affairs, dated Dec. 30 and not yet made … Read more

I attended the Cincinnati Tax Day Tea Party rally as a speaker. But it was more interesting to be an observer. First, here’s what I didn’t see. I didn’t see a single racist or bigoted sign or hear a single such comment. Nor did I see any evidence of “homegrown fascism.” Though in fairness, such … Read more

Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, one of Africa’s richest men, has built a reputation as a giant of global philanthropy. His name is on a gallery at the Louvre and a medical school in Lebanon, and he has received awards for his generosity to the Catholic Church and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. He owns a seven-bedroom … Read more

Phyllis Schlafly is a longtime opponent of the gay rights movement. Over the years, she has warned that the Equal Rights Amendment would lead to a recognition of gay rights. She has said people may demand “restrictions on homosexuals for public health reasons” because of AIDS. She has complained that children’s sex-education programs are misused … Read more

By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court justices ruled the U.S. government can claim a privilege of secrecy even if there is no secret. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the government may invoke the “state secrets” privilege to block former U.S. contractors from testifying about the now well-known … Read more

COLUMBUS, Ohio — At first glance, Felicia Hill seems to fit the profile of a loyal Democrat: She is African American, married to a General Motors union worker and voted for Dukakis, Clinton and Gore in past presidential elections. But in the weeks before election day 2004, the suburban mother of two was deluged with … Read more

In a victory for social media sites, the Supreme Court declined Thursday to rule on a challenge to Section 230, which protects websites from being sued over its users’ posts. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a major challenge to the internet legal shield known as Section 230, which has … Read more

The London-based Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday that Paul Manafort met privately with Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, in the same month that Manafort joined Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016, a meeting that could carry vast implications for the investigation of Russia’s election meddling. The alleged meeting took place in March 2016 inside Ecuador’s … Read more

Lane Hudson had no idea he would bring down a congressman when he sat in his living room and turned on his laptop one Sunday morning nearly seven weeks ago. The former congressional aide, who is gay, had been railing for weeks on his anonymous blog against congressmen who sexually preyed on young people. That … Read more

When he became chairman of the House ethics committee, Rep. Joel Hefley took on perhaps the most thankless job in Congress: investigating his colleagues and meting out discipline. But after issuing three rebukes last year to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, the chamber’s second-ranking Republican, Hefley is fighting to keep the committee gavel … Read more