feeds/hardballblog+feeds/hardballvideo

FBI acknowledges using drones on U.S. soil

Aliyah Frumin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:22:40 GMT

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein said during FBI director Mueller's hearing, “I think the greatest threat to the privacy of Americans is the drone, and the use of the drone and the very few regulations that are on it today.”First phone records. Then data mining. Now drone surveillance on U.S. soil.Robert Mueller, head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, acknowledged on Wednesday that the g...

Let Me Start: The GOP’s ‘Clueless Caucus’

Hardball Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:32:05 GMT

House Republicans passed a measure that bans all abortions after 22 weeks, a direct contradiction to Supreme Court rulings and more political stories driving our day. House Republicans passed a measure that bans all abortions after 22 weeks, a direct contradiction to Supreme Court rulings. Considering this bill won’t pass the Senate and has no chance of winning the president’s signature even if ...

Let Me Start: The GOP’s “Clueless Caucus”

Court Harson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:53:27 GMT

House Republicans passed a measure that bans all abortions after 22 weeks, a direct contradiction to Supreme Court rulings. Considering … Read More House Republicans passed a measure that bans all abortions after 22 weeks, a direct contradiction to Supreme Court rulings. Considering this bill won’t pass the Senate and has no chance of winning the president’s signature even if it does pass the S...

Bucking Issa, Cummings releases IRS transcript

Aliyah Frumin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:58:34 GMT

The war of words over the IRS targeting of conservative groups is escalating between House Oversight Committee chair Darrell Issa and ranking Democrat Elijah Cummings. The war of words over the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups is escalating between House Oversight Committee chair Darrell Issa and ranking Democrat Elijah Cummings.Cummings on Tuesday released more than ...

Sideshow: Obama ‘birthers’ still exist

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:21:14 GMT

Steele on GOP abortion bill: ‘This is a crazy conversation to have right now’

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:21:13 GMT

Transcript release sheds new light on IRS scandal

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:21:12 GMT

Immigration: Boehner dances around as decision time nears

Benjy Sarlin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:21:12 GMT

With bipartisan immigration reform nearing a final vote in the Senate , attention is turning to the GOP-led House to see if they'll follow suit with legislation of their own. Boehner is doing his best not to give away his plan until he absolutely has to.A group of migrants gets ready to walk through the desert toward the U.S. border, near the city of Sasabe, Mexico. (Photo by Alexandre Meneghi...

The U.S. should have serious doubts about arming Syrian rebels

Chris Matthews — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:21:12 GMT

"Shouldn't we do it the right way and end diplomatic relations with the Government of Syria before we start handing out rifles to people out to kill the leaders of their country?" asks Chris Matthews. Let me say it loud and clear.If we’re going into another Mideast war – after Afghanistan, after the US invasion of Iraq, after our “leading from behind” in Libya – shouldn’t there be some kind of ...

Rick Perry tries to court gun makers…in Connecticut

Maryalice Aymong — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:53:41 GMT

Governor Malloy, in return, landed a few jabs at Texas' higher crime rate and lower educational achievement.Texas swoops in!Texas Governor Rick Perry is working to lure business owners to Texas from other states. This week, Perry hit Connecticut. There’s a reason why Perry went for Connecticut this time around, as opposed to, say, making a repeat appearance in California. Dan Malloy, Connecticut’...

Matthews: War's become the new damn normal

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:53:41 GMT

‘The Good Wife’s’ Chris Noth talks unscripted politics

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:42:39 GMT

Could foiled terrorist attacked have been stopped without snooping?

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:42:38 GMT

Sideshow: Things got a little rocky for Miss Utah at Miss USA pageant

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:26:21 GMT

Faith and Freedom Coalition looked like 2012 GOP primaries all over again

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:26:21 GMT

Who voted to arm the Syrian rebels?

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:26:21 GMT

FBI: Snooping programs helped thwart more than 50 terror plots

Aliyah Frumin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:59:12 GMT

The post-leak offer of additional information from one of the government’s most secretive organizations seems to signal a White House effort to shore up the public’s confidence and trust.The National Security Agency’s controversial surveillance programs—leaked earlier this month by an ex-CIA employee—has helped stopped more than 50 “potential terrorist events” since the Sept. 11 attacks, accord...

Let Me Start: Back to the culture wars

Court Harson — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:31:40 GMT

Republicans didn't do a very good job appealing to women in the 2012 election. And once again, they're putting their far-right base over the interests of many women by pushing a strict new measure to limit abortion.Republicans didn’t do a very good job appealing to women in the 2012 election. And once again, they’re putting their far-right base over the interests of many women by pushing a stri...

Sen. Graham: GOP in ‘demographic death spiral’ absent immigration reform

Benjy Sarlin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:49 GMT

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the party's leading evangelists for immigration reform, warned on Sunday that the GOP faced certain doom in 2016 unless they dealt with the issue now.Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the party’s leading evangelists for immigration reform, warned on Sunday that the GOP faced certain doom in 2016–and beyond–unl...

Is Snowden actually helping the case for 'big surveillance'?

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:43:24 GMT

Republicans remain divided over immigration

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:43:23 GMT

Lindsey Graham: GOP faces ‘demographic death spiral’ without immigration reform

Benjy Sarlin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:03:25 GMT

Let Me Start: Cheney to the rescue

Court Harson — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:32:02 GMT

Former Vice President Dick Cheney - no fan of the Obama administration - defended the NSA's newly disclosed surveillance program and called its leaker a traitor.Former Vice President Dick Cheney — no fan of the Obama administration — defended the NSA’s newly-disclosed surveillance program and called its leaker a traitor. In an interview on “Fox News Sunday”, Cheney called the leak “one of the wo...

‘Immigrants are more fertile,’ says Jeb Bush

Aliyah Frumin — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:26:56 GMT

At the annual Faith and Freedom Coalition convention, Jeb Bush described why immigrants are important to America, while Rand Paul described a global 'war against Christianity," and Marco Rubio made a pro-life pitch. Seven takeaways from the convention thus far.Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. speaks at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Road to Majority Conference in Washington, Thursday, June 13, 2013.(...

It looks like the IRS drama is not a ‘scandal’ — more like a ‘screw up’

Chris Matthews — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 04:22:52 GMT

"If there's no reason to believe that the Obama people were involved in singling out the Tea Party and Patriot group looking for tax exempt status, then let's be honest - everyone - and say so," says Chris Matthews. Let me finish tonight with this.I’d like to say something about this thing at the IRS.If Elijah Cummings is right, it’s not a scandal. It’s more like a screw-up.If it’s all about so...