It is apparently safe to use the word "compromise" again. Vladimir Putin is granting pardons to his enemies (it took a decade, but still). Nine U.S. senators this week dared to stray from the Republican fold to endorse a modest…

Nelson Mandela, seen here in 1990 embracing a young girl from Soweto, inspired South Africans and the world with his message of peace. He was also a shrewd politician who knew how to fight the necessary battles. Photo by Alexander…

The coin of the realm in Washington, D.C., is delay. Can't agree on whether to raise the debt ceiling? Put it off. Unable to pass a budget to keep the government open? Put a patch on it. Impossible to stop…

When Vice President Joe Biden called the wrong Marty Walsh on Tuesday to congratulate him on winning the Boston mayor's race, he was not the only politician struggling with mixed signals that night. Biden could be forgiven for the…

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 2.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Gwen Ifill interviews Senate…

OK, boys and girls. It's time for another fun trip in the way-way-back-machine. You will remember that just a few weeks ago, I took you back to a 1995 Washington Week discussion about government shutdowns that sounded awfully, awfully…

Is Washington broken? I was traveling last week, and everywhere I went, that question was greeted, understandably, with laughter. I tried to defend democracy and the role of government in our lives. I really did. But Washington wasn't helping.

If it seems like we've been here before, you are not hallucinating. The president, on the stump once again this week, is accusing Republicans of gross irresponsibility. "You don't get to demand ransom for doing your most basic job!" President…