In the News

Our own expert has sorted through the major political issues and prepared this Issues in the News feature. These issues are updated monthly, they include a brief background, questions to ponder, additional articles, weblinks, and tie in's to Wadsworth textbooks you may be using. Below the Issues in the News are links to major newspapers, magazines, and other political news websites.

• July 2006
  The Roberts Supreme Court Rules in Hamdan vs. Rumsfeld that Guantanamo Detainees May Not be Placed on Trial Before Military Commissions/Tribunals
  President Bush Casts the First Veto of His Presidency, Thereby Rejecting Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
  The U.S. and Other Nations Condemn North Korea’s Missile Launches
  A Review of Important Environmental News in July, 2006
• June 2006
  The Roberts Supreme Court Delivers Final Rulings in the Death Penalty/Lethal Injection Case, Hill v. McDonough, and in the Police Search/Use of Evidence/Knock and Announce Rule/ case, Hudson v. Michigan.
  The U.S. Senate Contemplates and Debates a “Flag Desecration” Constitutional Amendment
  The U.S. Senate Rejects A Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage
  Review of Important Environmental News in June
• May 2006
  The Roberts Supreme Court Rules in the Police Search Case (Brigham City v. Stuart) and the “Ohio Tax-Break Challenge” Cases (DaimlerChrysler Corp v. Cuno and Wilkins v. Cuno)
  President Bush’s New Border Plan to Halt Illegal Immigration Via National Guard/Border Guard Personnel
  The U.S. Senate Passes Its Own Immigration Bill That Differs From the House Version
  USA Today Reports that the National Security Agency Has Compiled a Database of Americans’ Telephone Calls
• April 2006
  The Roberts Supreme Court Hears a Police Search Case (Brigham City v. Stuart) and a Lethal-Injection/Death Penalty Case
  Early Echoes of the 2008 Presidential Election—Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Bill Frist, Senator John McCain, and Former NYC May Rudolph W. Giuliani
  Democrats and Republicans Respond to Soaring Gasoline Prices in the United States
  Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Encounters Iraqi War Criticisms and Calls for His Resignation From Six Retired Generals
• March 2006
  The Roberts Supreme Court Rules on the Issues of Military Recruiters on College Campuses and Warrantless Police Searches
  The Clash Between President Bush and Congress Over Dubai’s (United Arab Emirates) Takeover of Port Terminals in Six Major American Cities Ends With Termination of That Deal; Political “Fallout” Ensues
  The South Dakota Ban on Virtually All Abortions Engenders Approval, Resistance, and Controversy; The State Law’s Eventual Impact on Roe v. Wade is Uncertain
  The Iraq War’s Third Anniversary: Reassessments and the Possibility of Civil War?
• February 2006
  The Roberts Supreme Court Will Consider the Partial Birth Abortion Issue This Fall; It Also Hears Two Important Cases Involving the Nation’s Wetlands and the Clean Water Act
  President Bush and Congress Clash Over Dubai’s (United Arab Emirates) Takeover of Port Terminals in Six Major American Cities
  A February Summary of Key Environmental/Energy Issues
  The Controversy over President Bush’s Authorization of Secret Wiretaps by The National Security Agency Continues in February
• January 2006
  The Roberts Supreme Court Delivers a Ruling on Oregon’s Assisted Suicide Law—Gonzales v. Oregon
• December 2005
  The Supreme Court and Two Important Cases—One Ruling and One Hearing--in December; The U.S. Supreme Court and a New Abortion Case; Controversy Continues and Intensifies Over Nominee Alito’s Position on Abortion and <I>Roe v. Wade</I>; The Post-9/11 World and Federal Air Marshals Claim the Life of a Passenger in Miami, Florida; President Bush Admits That He Authorized Secret Wiretaps by The National Security Agency.
• November 2005
  The Supreme Court and Three Important Cases in November; The U.S. Supreme Court—President Bush’s Nominates U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to the U.S. Supreme Court After Harriet E. Miers Withdraws Her Name From Consideration; Controversy Ensues Over Alito’s Position on Abortion and Roe v. Wade; New Congressional, Public, and Other Pressures Urging a U.S. Withdrawal From Iraq; The Administration Strikes Back!; Congress and the Patriot Act—A Near-Agreement Confronts Civil Liberties’ Concerns, Especially in the Area of National Security Letters.
• October 2005
  The Roberts Supreme Court Hears a Case on Oregon’s Assisted Suicide Law— Gonzales v. Oregon; The U.S. Supreme Court—President Bush’s Nomination of His White House Legal Counsel Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court Engenders a Critical Reaction From the Pundits, Even Conservative Senators; The Result is a Miers Withdrawal; The Legal Troubles of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay; Congressional Votes on Environmental Policy: Oil Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Approved by the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee; A House Vote Containing New Constraints on the Endangered Species Act.
• September 2005
  The “Under God” Wording in the Pledge of Allegiance is Ruled Unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court Judge; The U.S. Supreme Court—President Bush’s Nomination of Federal Appeals Court Judge John G. Roberts Jr. For the Chief Justice Position (After Chief Justice Rehnquist’s Death) Appears Headed Toward Senate Approval after a Positive Senate Judiciary Committee Vote; Has the United States Convinced North Korea to End its Nuclear Program? A “Statement of Principles Preliminary Agreement” To Do So Is Debated; The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: Evaluating President Bush’s Popularity and the Hurricane’s Impact Upon His Presidency.
• August 2005
  Congress Passes An Energy Bill and President Bush Signs It Into Law; Approval (Hybrid Cars) and Controversy (Oil Dependency) Ensue; OPresident Bush Employs a “Recess Appointment” to Install John Bolton as Ambassador to the United Nations; Should President Bush Declare A Formal Deadline For Withdrawing Troops From Iraq?; The U.S. Senate Approves a Bill Shielding the Gun Industry from Liability; House Action Awaits.
• July 2005
  Congress and the Extension of the Patriot Act; The House Passes a "Permanent Version" While Senate Action Awaits; Organized Labor Suffers a "Solidarity Blow" As The AFL-CIO is Fractured by Dissident Unions; The U.S. Supreme Court-President Bush Nominates Federal Appeals Court Judge John G. Roberts Jr. To Fill Retiring Sandra Day O'Connor's Vacancy; Competing Views Over His Judicial Philosophy; The Supreme Court- Two Key "End-of-Term Rulings" on Public Displays of The Ten Commandments and Church-State Separation.
• June 2005
  Will Congress Pass a Constitutional Amendment to Ban the Desecration of the American Flag?-The House Does So; The Senate is Next; The Iraq Insurgency Intensifies as American War Dissent Increases; The U.S. Supreme Court-Part One: An Important Ruling on Medical Marijuana Use; The Supreme Court-Part Two: A Key Ruling Involving Race Bias in Jury Selection.
• May 2005
  The U.S. Senate Debates the "Nuclear Option" and the Future of the Filibuster: Part II-A Compromise is Reached But Will It Last?; Military Base Closings: Controversy and Anger Follow the Pentagon's Proposals To Close 33 Large Bases and Other Military Installations; The U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear an Important "Parental Notification" Abortion Case, Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood, in the Fall; An Off-Course Single-Engine Plane Dramatizes the Issue of Washington, D.C. Security in the 9/11 Era.
• April 2005
  The U.S. Senate Debates the "Nuclear Option" and the Future of the Filibuster; The U.S. Supreme Court Delivers a Major Ruling on Age Discrimination in the Work Force; President Bush's Commission on Intelligence-Gathering Confirms Failures Prior to the Iraq War (Robb-Silberman Report); The Accuracy of the "Curveball Source" is Questioned; The Saudis Promise to Pump More Oil in Order to Lower Gasoline Prices; Partisan Bickering over the Nation's Energy Future Continues.
• March 2005
  The U.S. Supreme Court Considers "The Ten Commandments" Cases; The U.S. Supreme Court Rules that the Death Penalty for Juveniles Under 18 (Ages 16, 17) is Unconstitutional; The EPA Sets New Guidelines for Mercury Emissions; The U.S. Senate Approves Oil Drilling in "ANWR"-The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• February 2005
  Howard Dean Becomes Chairman of the Democratic National Committee; President Bush Selects Ambassador John Negroponte as the Nation's First National Intelligence Director (NID); President Bush Pushes His "Private Accounts" Social Security Reform as Controversy Over Those Accounts and Social Security's Future "Insolvency" Intensifies; THE KYOTO PROTOCOL TAKES EFFECT, BUT NOT FOR THE UNITED STATES.
• January 2005
  President George W. Bush's Second Inaugural Address Promises A Vision of Global Freedom; President Bush Selects Michael Chertoff to be his Secretary of Homeland Security Nominee After Former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik Withdraws Due to Scandal; The U.S. Supreme Court Rules On Federal Sentencing Guidelines; Secretary of State-Nominee Condoleezza Rice Confronts Some Tough Questioning During Her Senate Confirmation Hearings; Gun Control in the News-The U.S. Supreme Court and China North vs. Ileto; A Department of Justice Memorandum Reinterprets the Second Amendment.
• December 2004
  President Bush's Second Term Agenda: Will He Be Successful in Partially Privatizing Social Security?; President Bush Selects Former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik to Replace Tom Ridge as Secretary of Homeland Security; Kerik Then Withdraws His Name From Consideration; The U.S. Supreme Court Reacts to Cases Involving Same-Sex Marriages and the Use of Medical Marijuana; More Cabinet Changes for the Bush Administration-Jim Nicholson in Veterans Affairs, Carlos Gutierrez in Commerce, Mike Johanns in Agriculture, Samuel W. Bodman in Energy, and Mike Leavitt for Health and Human Services; A National Guard Soldier Challenges Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld on the Shortage of "Armored Vehicles (Humvees/Trucks)" in Iraq; A Political Uproar Follows.
• November 2004
  President Bush's Second Term Agenda: Will He Be Successful in Implementing It?; White House Counsel Alberto R. Gonzales is Nominated by President Bush to Replace John Ashcroft as Attorney-General; Will There be A Contentious Confirmation Hearing?; Senator Arlen Specter (R, Pa.) Evokes a Political Firestorm on the Abortion Issue and Future Vacancies on the U.S. Supreme Court; More Cabinet Changes--Secretary of State Colin Powell Resigns; President Bush Announces that Condoleezza Rice, His National Security Advisor, Will Succeed Powell; Election 2004: Who are The Democratic and Republican 2008 Presidential Prospects?
• October 2004
  Congress Struggles Over Legislation That Would Restructure America's Intelligence System (9/11 Commission Proposals); The Supreme Court: Part I-The Court Agrees to Hear a Case Involving The Display of The Ten Commandments in Government Buildings; The Supreme Court-Part II: The Court Hears Arguments For and Against The Death Penalty For Juveniles 16-and 17 years of age (Roper v. Simmons); Revisiting the Iraqi Strategy of "Catastrophic Success"-The Insurgency, "Blind Spots," and "Missed Opportunities"; Election 2004: The National Security Issue-Wolves, The Eagle and The Ostrich!
• September 2004
  The Assault Weapons Ban Expires, But the Debate Over the Expiration's Political and Social Implications Continues; President Bush Defends His Iraq Policy Before the General Assembly of the United Nations; The Legacy of 9/11 After Three Years; Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi Expresses Gratitude to America Before a Joint Session of Congress While Claiming Both Progress and the Intention to Hold Elections; Senator Kerry Responds, Criticizing Allawi and President Bush on Their "Unrealistic" Portrayal of Iraq; New Reports, Concerns, and Threats Surface Regarding Iran's Nuclear Program.
• August 2004
  The 9/11 Bipartisan Commission Proposals for Intelligence Reorganization Leads to (a) President Bush Endorsing an “Intelligence Czar” and the Creation of a National Counterterrorism Center and (b) Issue #2-- a U.S. Senator’s Call for Dismantling the CIA
• July 2004
  The 9/11 Bipartisan Commission Issues Their Final Report-Two Proposals for Intelligence Reorganization and Reactions; The 44th Democratic National Convention Convenes (July 26-29) as Gore, Carter, and Bill Clinton criticize the Bush Administration, Introduce 2004 Campaign Themes, and Urge the Election of Kerry-Edwards; The U.S. Senate Passes Legislation Granting the FDA regulation over the U.S. Tobacco Industry in Exchange for a 12 Billion Dollar Subsidy; However, the House Version Differs; THE CHANGING SUPREME COURT-AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2003-2004 TERM; SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS DELIVERS HIS VP NOMINATION ACCEPTANCE SPEECH STRESSING THE "TWO AMERICA'S THEME (7/28)"; ON 7/29, SENATOR JOHN KERRY DELIVERS HIS "PRESIDENTIAL" NOMINATION ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.
• June 2004
  The 9/11 Bipartisan Commission Suggests That the Bush Administration's Claims of a Strong Iraq-Al Qaeda Connection Were Flawed (Or Were They?); Reassessing President Ronald Reagan's Historical Impact; CIA Director George Tenet Resigns-The Possible Reasons and His Legacy; THE SUPREME COURT RULES THAT THE USE OF 'UNDER GOD' IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IS NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL; The Supreme Court-Part Two: A Ruling in the Hiibel Case Strengthens the Power of the Police Over Individuals Who Refuse to Identify Themselves.
• May 2004
  Election 2004--Kerry-Bush Clash Over High Gasoline Prices and the Strategic Oil Reserve; President Bush, Announces a Five-Step Plan for Iraq's Future; Attorney General John Ashcroft Warns of New Al-Qaeda Attacks Upon the U.S., But is the Threat Credible?; The Supreme Court Rules On Whether States Can Be Sued By Disabled Individuals Under The Americans With Disabilities Act for Not Providing Access to State Facilities; The 9/11 Commission Issues a Preliminary Report on Crisis Management in New York City (on 9/11) and Subsequently Hears Testimony from Key New York City Officials, IncludingFormer and Current Mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg.
• April 2004
  Election 2004--Kerry-Bush Clash Over Environmental Issues; Bob Woodward's Book, Plan of Attack, Raises New Controversies about Iraq and Saudi Arabia; Memories of the Vietnam War Grow Stronger as the Fighting in Iraq Intensifies; The U.S. Supreme Court Hears the "Guantanamo-Detainees Cases"; A New Message From Osama Bin Laden Promises European Nations "Immunity" From Terrorist Attacks if Those Nations Cease Military Operations in Muslim Countries.
• March 2004
  The Kerry-Bush Clash of Negative TV Political Ads and Countercharges: The 2004 Presidential Campaign Begins; Issue #1-Strategies and Polls; Issue #2-The TV Ads; Ex-Counterterrorism-Head Richard Clarke Testifies Before the 9/11 Commission, Blaming President Bush for (a) Ignoring Al-Qaida Prior to the 9/11 Attacks and (b) Being obsessed with attacking Iraq; The U.S. Supreme Court Hears the Hiibel Case; In Spain, Voters Select a new anti-Bush National Leader after a Terrorist Railway Attack in Madrid Kills/Wounds Over 1700 People.
• February 2004
  If He is the Democratic Nominee, Who Will Senator Kerry Choose as His Vice Presidential Running Mate?; Two Key Developments involving Iraq--Deadly Suicide Bombings Multiply and Why U.S. Intelligence May Have Been Misled by Iraqi Exiles Prior to the War; In His State Of The Union Address, President Bush Again Proposes the Partial Privatization of Social Security--What are this Policy's Pros/Cons?; A key Pakistani Nuclear Scientist Admits that He Disseminated Nuclear Technology To Iran, Libya, and North Korea; A Ricin Attack Upon the U.S. Senate Invokes Memories of the 2001 Anthrax Attacks.
• January 2004
  Senator John Kerry Wins The New Hampshire Primary; Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean Is The Runner-Up; The Supreme Court Hears An Important Case On Whether States Can Be Sued By Disabled Individuals Under The Americans With Disabilities Act; President Bush Delivers His State Of The Union Address; Iraq And The Weapons Of Mass Destruction Issue--New Charges By Inspector Dr. David Kay That Those Weapons Were Not In Iraq When War Began; President Bush Proposes New Manned Space Exploration Programs For The Moon And Mars.
• December 2003
  Saddam Husein is captured by America troops; The Supreme Court rules in favor of Campaign Finance Refrom; The White House and Pentagon freeze out "Unfriendly nations" from reconstruction contracts in Iraq; Then the policy is reconsidered; Howard Dean-- The Democratic front-runner for the 2004 Presidential Nomination--is formally endorsed by Al Gore; President Bush signs into law a Medicare prescription drug program for senior citizens.
• November 2003
  President Bush travels to visit British Prime Minister Tony Blair and massive protests follow--The Supreme Court will hear the case of the Guantanamo Bay (Cuba) detainees--Targets in Islamic Turkey are attacked by Al-Qaeda terrorists--Howard Dean-Part One: The Democratic front-runner for the 2004 Presidential Nomination, picks up key union endorsements while announcing he will not seek public financing--Howard Dean: Part Two-The "Confederate flag remark" forces Dean to apologize after a political firestorm erupts over the remark.
• October 2003
  Congress passes a law banning "partial birth abortions"--The Supreme Court and the constitutionality of the "under God" phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance--The Supreme Court rules on the issue of "medical marijuana”--Howard Dean, the Democratic front-runner, reveals his campaign finances and major themes--The Presidential Candidacy of General Wesley Clark runs into problems.
• September 2003
  President Bush requests 87 billion more for Iraq (Will even more be needed?)--Four columnists' reactions and analysis; The Constitutionality of the 2002 campaign finance law (The 2002 bipartisan campaign reform act) is debated before the U.S. Supreme Court; Shades of 2000! A Federal Appeals Court, invoking Bush v. Gore, temporarily halts the California Gubernational Recall Election; But then, the recall election is returned to its oringal schedule; Another three Democrats formally announce their Presidential quest for the 2004 nomination: Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, Senator John Kerry of Mass., and retired General Wesley Clark (Part one--Edwards and Kerry); Part two--The Presidential Candidacy of General Wesley Clark.
• August 2003
  Iraq--The New Vietnam? President Bush nominates a new EPA director--Utah Governor Mike Leavitt--And controversy ensues; Attorney General John Ashcroft defends the Patriot Act from increasing criticism; The Democrats and 2004: It is Gore and Lieberman again! North Korea--The continuing saga, amidst the backdrop of American contingency plans for war and a new diplomatic meeting held in Beijing, China.
• July 2003
  The U.S. Tries to promote Iraqi Democracy through a 25 member "Governing Council." The federal budget deficit is estimated at a record $455 billion. British Prime Minister Tony Blair speaks before congress and defends U.S.-British Iraqi policy. President Bush's "Uranium Utterance" in the State of the Union creates a new political problem for the President. New developments in North Korea's nuclear program.
• June 2003
  A New Health Threat--"Monkeypox"--Confronts The Nation. Howard Dean Announces His Run For The 2004 Democratic Presidential Nomination. The U.S. Warns Iran About Developing Nuclear Weapons While Protests Continue Within That Nation. The Supreme Court Rules On Antiporn Internet Filters In Public Libraries (United States V. American Library Association). The U.S. Supreme Court Rules On The University Of Michigan/ Affirmative Action Cases (Law School And Undergraduate Admissions).
• May 2003
  "Amber Alert" (Protect Act of 2003) Legislation Signed by President Bush. Senator Bob Graham of Florida announces his run for the presidency. Senator John Kerry's New Health Care Proposal. Christy Whitman Resigns her Position as the Head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Supreme Court: Potential Vacancies this Year? Also, the Court Rules on Drug Prices and Considers another Church-State Issue.
• April 2003
  Is Saddam Hussein still alive? An Analysis of the U.S. Military action in the Iraqi war. Evaluating media coverage of the War in Iraq. Remaining, unresolved, questions involving post-Saddam Iraq. The U.S. Supreme Court considers the University of Michigan/Affirmative Action case.
• March 2003
  More Democratic presidential contenders for 2004: Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean and Senator Bob Graham of Florida. The U.S. and Great Britain go to war against Iraq; a decapitation hit upon the Iraqi leadership opens the war. The Senate votes against drilling in ANWR -- The Arctic National Wilderness Refuge. American-Russian Relations are strained over Iraq. Recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court on the "Three Strikes and You're Out" doctrine as well as "Megan's Law."
  
• February 2003
  More Democratic Presidential hopefuls. Great Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair, faces a political crisis at home over a war with Iraq. The nation considers fuel-cell driven hydrogen cars. Who will control Iraq if and when Saddam is deposed? The new Osama bin Laden audiotapes.
• January 2003
  Senator Joe Lieberman decides to run for the presidency in 2004. Controversy over the death penalty in Illinois as Gov. George Ryan issues a blanket clemency. President Bush's support drops according to polls. The anti-war (Iraq) movement widens. Calls for a draft and the question of a representative military.
• December 2002
  Henry Kissinger resigns as chairman of the 9/11 Investigatory Commission. The Bush administration pushes a national missile defense system. Iraqi exiles plan a government for a post-Saddam Iraq in a London conference. North Korea, Yemen and scud missiles. The Supreme Court debates "cross-burning" and first amendment rights (virginia v. Black).
• November 2002
  Brief Summaries of Key Monthly Developments in the War Against Terrorism. The War Against Terrorism—Debating the Issue of Iraq and the UN Inspectors--Will the UN Inspection Teams find that Iraq is concealing weapons of mass destruction? Should the U.S. "go it alone" in terms of attacking Iraq or does it need allied support (the unilateral vs. multilateral debate)?
• October 2002
  Congressional Resolution Passed. New FBI warnings about Terrorist Strikes against the Nation's Rail System. Iraq/UN Inspectors/Nukes.
• September 2002
  German-U.S. Relations Worsen After Schroder Attacks America's Iraqi Policy. Smallpox Vaccinations and Terrorism. Former Vice-President Al Gore Criticizes Bush's Iraqi Policy.
• August 2002
  The first year anniversary of 9/11 approaches Is Saudi Arabia still a U.S. ally? The Bush Administration encounters new opposition over its plans for attacking Iraq
• July 2002
  Congressman J.C. Watts. Vouchers Unconstitutional. U.S. & ICC. Small Pox Vaccinations. LAX Shooting.
• June 2002
  Soft Money. Supreme Court Bans Execution of Mentally Retarded. The Federal Government, South Carolina, and Nuclear Waste. The Pledge of Allegiance: Unconstitutional! Terror in the Philippines.
• May 2002
  The war against terrorism, intelligence failures and new threats against America. Yucca Mountain controversy continues, safety and terrorism considerations are paramount. U.S. foreign policy, U.S.-Russia (NATO, arms reduction treaty), India-Pakistan, Iraq.
• April 2002
  Bush and the U.S. senate clash on the issue of human cloning. U.S. Senate rejects Bush's call to drill for oil in ANWR. Bush and Gore clash on "Earth Day" over environmental policy. Powell's mission to the middle east fails to obtain a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians.
• March 2002
  The US Senate finally passes a campaign finance reform bill. The US Supreme Court considers the issue of "expanded" student drug testing. The US Senate and Environmental issues: Fuel efficiency and "green" energy quota. The Saudi peace plan for the middle east.
• February 2002
  VP Cheney issued by the Government Accounting Office. The Supreme Court considers school vouchers. Bush proposals affecting climate change and power plant pollution. U.S. foreign policy: Fighting intensifies in Colombia. Fetal 'rights' and the issue of abortion.
• January 2002
  A major Supreme Court decision on the disability act. Next targets in the war against terrorism: Somalia and the Philippines? Factors that may influence the outcome of the 2002 midterm elections. Controversy: Rights of political detainees. The issue of Airport security.
• November 2001
  Controversy over President Bush's use of terrorist military tribunals. After Afghanistan, what other nations will be targets in the U.S. war against terrorism? congress passes a major aviation security bill. Terrorism and the nuclear threat to America. U.S.-Russian relations: Bush and Putin agree to cut their nuclear stockpiles.
• October 2001
  A new terrorist threat to America's nuclear power plants. The smallpox threat and the U.S. war against terrorism. The smallpox threat and the war against terror. Terrorism and civil liberties, anti-terrorism legislation passed. U.S.-Russian relations: Putin and the war against terrorism; National Missile defense and the ABM Treaty.
• September 2001
  Presidents Bush and Fox meet over the immigration issue. Senator Phil Gramm announces he will not run for reelection in 2002. Al Gore and 2004. President Bush address the nation and congress, pledging a new and protracted war on terrorism. President Bush's speech to the nation on terrorism.
• August 2001
  Helms retires. Budget battle in congress over declining federal surplus. Welfare reform: Has it worked? President makes decision regarding stem cell research. More challenges to American foreign policy.
• July 2001
  Challenges to American foreign policy. Commission gives bleak Social Security report. Congress debates stem cell research.
• June 2001
  Bush and Putin meet in Slovenia. Timothy McVeigh and the death penalty controversy. The saga of John McCain, will there be another defection? Senate debates a "patients' bill of rights."
• May 2001
  Senator Jefford defects from the GOP. Senate passes massive tax cut. Census reveals decline in "nuclear family." The Bush-Cheney energy plan. Bush forms new social security commission.
• April 2001
  The first 100 days. Bush speaks about Taiwan and angers China. Recent Supreme Court rulings. New U.S. foreign policy challenges.
• March 2001
  Cheney's continuing health problems. Proposals to change America's voting system. Bush's foreign policy challenges in Asia. The Senate battles for campaign finance reform.
• February 2001
  Recent Supreme Court rulings. President Bush's attack on Iraq, his meeting with Vicente Fox,
  opposition to controversial energy policy.
• January 2001
  What is Bill Clinton's legacy? Bush's Inaugural Address. Early problems facing Bush administration.

• The New York Times
• The Washington Post
• The Wall Street Journal