“By showing you can actually change your gender marker with the Department of Defense, it shows that the Department of Defense actually will do that, and if they do that then it’s another stop toward figuring out a way to have open service for trans people,” activist says.
A slow start to the former congressman’s comeback attempt.
“People did not understand what we were trying to do,” Brock tells BuzzFeed after a talking points controversy. Media Matters plans to spin “Message Matters” off into a separate organization.
Damage control in D.C.
White House releases Benghazi emails. Update: Official tells BuzzFeed the release vindicates the Obama administration.
Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert got into a heated discussion with Eric Holder today over a bunch issues, most notably the FBI’s interview with deceased Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011. He mentions asparagus at one point.
Washington could use a little Olivia Pope right about now.
The head of the DOJ is all like, “idk, man.”
Congressional press galleries call on the Department of Justice to explain how the “unparalleled use of your investigative power is constitutionally consistent.”
“In this case it may be a more an issue of employment rather than policy,” says Spicer.
Longstanding animosities bubble to the surface during tense oversight hearing.
The White House confirms they asked Schumer to reintroduce the bill.
LOL, Government.
Eric Holder told Congress that his Deputy Attorney General signed off on secret subpoenas for AP phone records.
There’s little chance the IRS will enforce campaign finance laws now, say some advocates. Ennui is setting in. But some see hope down the road.
“If I was a Democratic hot-shot politician, I would primary her so fast,” says Stu Stevens. Hickenlooper 2016?
Has anyone ever seen these two in the same place at the same time?
Rep. Trey Radel wants his fellow Republicans to get outside the echo chamber — and gain an appreciation for N.W.A.
“I don’t want to jump to judgment here, because many of us did call on the administration to investigate leaks,” said Sen. John Cornyn. Majority Leader Harry Reid calls the move “inexcusable.”
“The repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was a monumental achievement for our military and for our country; however, it did not finish the entire job of ensuring that our gay and lesbian service members and their families are treated equally under the law,” the New Hampshire senator says.
Good effort! Good try!!
“I wouldn’t say that possibility doesn’t exist,” says Castro. But calls on Republicans to support it.
“Sometimes with the spotlight constantly on it as an issue can make it tougher,” says Rep. Castro.
The law, allowing same-sex couples to marry, takes effect Aug. 1. Minnesota is the 12th state, plus DC, to recognize marriage equality, following on the heels of passage in Rhode Island and Delaware.
DOJ officials stand by the decision to pull phone records for the nation’s largest wire service.
Carney says Obama’s agenda is still on track despite a bad couple weeks.
“The truth is, we have to get this straight, and they’re gonna have to get it straight, and there are going to be hearings until they do.”
Belo Corp. says what Larry Conners wrote “has nothing to do with our company or our television station. And we don’t condone that type of personal opinion being represented as a company or station opinion.”
BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith moderates two conversations on the politics of immigration.
