Search results for

Sen. Jim DeMint says the conservative Heritage Foundation inspired him to run for Congress. Once there, he helped to bolster its allies on Capitol Hill. Now, as he leaves Congress to run the think tank, the building blocks are there to create a powerful operation with political clout.

In the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act ruling this summer, it decided that states' plans for expansion of the Medicaid program should be optional. That led governors to ask if they could expand the program in part but still receive federal funding. The administration has said no.

If the mayor and City Council can't agree on a plan to reduce the budget deficit, state officials are poised to take away their power over Detroit's purse strings. The mayor and the council blame each other for the impasse. And with the deficit deepening, residents' frustration continues to mount.

Oprah Winfrey's second pick for her rebooted book club is The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, by first-time novelist Ayana Mathis. It's a chronicle of the Great Migration of African-Americans leaving the rural South, following a family matriarch who leaves Georgia to start a new life in Philadelphia.

The Federal Trade Commission has released a report taking to task the makers of mobile apps for children. It says apps are not transparent enough about the personal information they collect. It's the latest sign the Obama administration is concerned about children's privacy online.

Mel Kline's cactus has a middle trunk and eight arms — perfect for a menorah. And at 30 feet tall, it attracts hundreds of visitors. The Arizona Republic reports Kline bought the cactus 35 years ago. His wife had wanted a maple tree.

The major general who was head of Syria's chemical weapons division until he defected in July says that if rebels advance on Damascus, President Bashar Assad will deploy his deadly arsenal.

Health insurers sometimes pay too much to a doctor or hospital for services rendered. When insurers look to get their money back, patients may be surprised to get stuck with the bills.

President Obama is on the road, promoting his solution to the so-called "fiscal cliff." He's also in negotiations over the issue with House Speaker John Boehner. But can they come to an agreement in time? Host Michel Martin talks with Ron Christie, a Republican strategist, and Michael Fauntroy, an associate professor at George Mason University.

Many parents and even doctors think whooping cough is a disease of the past. But nearly every state saw an increase in cases last year. To find out what parents should know about the disease, host Michel Martin talks with pediatrician Leslie Walker. They're joined by Mariah Bianchi, whose son died from whooping cough.