Congress
Sen. Dick Durbin, a top Senate Democrat, says he will not seek reelection
The Illinois Democrat has announced he will retire at the end of his term next year after nearly three decades in the Senate. His departure creates a key opening in Democratic leadership.
The next AOC? Young Democrats are aiming to topple incumbents inside their own party
Frustrated with their party's response to President Trump, a wave of young Democrats are challenging incumbents in safe blue districts, hoping to mirror Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's upset win in 2018.
Sen. Jack Reed calls for investigation into Pete Hegseth’s Signal chat
NPR asks Sen. Jack Reed, top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, why he wants an investigation into whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared classified intelligence in a Signal chat.
Top House Democrat says DOGE data access at NLRB may be ‘technological malfeasance’
A top House Democrat is asking independent agency watchdogs to investigate after NPR reporting revealed DOGE may have taken sensitive data from the National Labor Relations Board.
What would a government shutdown mean for me?
If a shutdown arrives, millions of federal employees will be furloughed and many others — including those working in the military and the Transportation Security Administration — will be forced to work without pay until it ends.
2022 Alabama primary results
Statewide races include governor, U.S. Senate, attorney general and secretary of state.
Alabama Republicans Condemn Pro-Trump Mob As Many Vow To Continue The Fight
Alabama lawmakers in Congress ranged in their reactions to Wednesday's Capitol breach by a mob of Trump supporters.
Ongoing: Watch Senate Impeachment Trial Live
The Senate is holding a trial on the impeachment of President Trump, who is accused by the U.S. House of abusing his power and obstructing Congress. At the conclusion of the trial, senators are expected to vote on whether Trump should be removed from office.
WATCH LIVE: Justice Department Inspector General Testifies Before Senate Judiciary
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz is answering lawmakers' questions about his report on the Russia investigation, which was released on Monday. Watch the hearing live, Wednesday, December 11th starting at 10 a.m. Central.
Alabama’s Sole Congressional Democrat Sees Opportunity in House Victory
Of all the congressional candidates in Alabama Tuesday, only one was guaranteed to win. Democratic Representative Terri Sewell faced no opposition as she reclaimed the seventh district seat. But for the first time in her congressional career, Democrats hold the majority in the House of Representatives. Rep. Sewell says Democrats will be able work with Republicans on Capitol Hill.
Lack of Guidance Leads to Web Access Lawsuits
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act required public places to accommodate people with disabilities. But back then, before the Internet grew into what it is now, the law didn’t address the accessibility of websites. Now, with a proliferation of lawsuits, many companies are racing to bring their sites into compliance with industry standards.
Finding Agreement in a Divisive Culture
Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses a shooting that left a congressman wounded and flaws he sees in Alabama's constitution.
President Trump Addresses Joint Session of Congress, Annotated
President Trump will address a joint session of Congress for the first time on Tuesday evening at the Capitol, around 8 p.m., Central time. House Speaker Paul Ryan, following tradition, invited the president to make the speech to lay out his agenda in the early days of his new administration.
Carsen And Lindley Talk Alabama Schools’ Low Test Scores
School test results have been in the news across Alabama lately, often next to words like "sobering" and "not on track." So what's going on? WBHM's News Director Rachel Osier Lindley sits down with education reporter Dan Carsen to shed light on a complex and heated issue. Carsen just returned from a conference put on by NPR's Ed Team, and part of that "Ed Summit" dealt with testing. Perfect timing for a while-the-iron-is-hot interview.
Representative Spencer Bachus Reflects On His Time In Congress
A fixture on the Alabama political scene will soon be no longer. Spencer Bachus has served in Congress since 1993. But this year the Vestavia Hills Republican is retiring. He's one of 24 incumbents to step down this term.Congressman Bachus spoke to WBHM's Sarah Delia about his time in Washington. He started off by explaining why he decided to retire.
Money Tight, Scientists Turn To Crowdfunding
In the past decade, it's gotten much harder for scientists to get the federal grants that fund most American research. This year's sequester has made it even more difficult, and the government shutdown is likely to slow things down even further. So scientists are looking for new ways to pay for their work, including "crowdfunding." But going online and asking the public for money has real drawbacks. Even so, as WBHM's Southern Education Desk reporter Dan Carsen tells us, some think it could "open up" science in a good way.
The Fiscal Cliff Deal And Your Taxes
Wondering how the new fiscal cliff deal will hit your family budget? Here's a breakdown of tax increases by salary.
Carsen, Ott on All Things Alabama Education
These are interesting times for Birmingham City Schools. Standardized testing is underway just as there’s a standoff over the future of superintendent Craig Witherspoon. The Board of Education could vote this afternoon to terminate his contract. Check the station website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed for the latest developments. There’s been some drama on the state and national levels too, with a congressional committee looking into the Alabama Education Association. WBHM’s Tanya Ott interviews reporter Dan Carsen on that and more in this week’s education chat.
