May 26 Key Player: Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. By Admin, PBS News Hour When Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties in April 2008, Sen. Jeff Sessions became the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, bringing a more conservative voice to the hearings vetting President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominees. Continue reading
May 26 Key Player: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. By Admin, PBS News Hour Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, 69, is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy and the now-ranking GOP member of the committee, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, will be responsible for overseeing the upcoming Supreme Court nomination hearings. Continue reading
Apr 28 Watch Other News: Sebelius Confirmed as HHS Secretary In other news, the Senate voted to confirm Kathleen Sebelius as the next secretary of Health and Human Services, and lawmakers reached a pact that would endorse President Obama's budget agenda. Continue watching
Feb 03 Watch Tax Lapses Derail Daschle and Killefer Nominations Two prominent Obama nominees, Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer, withdrew their nominations Tuesday over controversies surrounding tax lapses. Political reporters mull the impact. Continue watching
Sep 02 Watch McCain Spokesman Defends Palin Pick and her Privacy Amid growing controversy surrounding the personal and professional life of Sarah Palin, Tucker Bounds, a spokesman for the GOP campaign, asserts her strengths as a running mate, her appeal on the ticket and her family's right to privacy. Continue watching
Sep 01 Watch La. Delegates React to Delay of GOP Convention Some Louisiana RNC delegates flew home on a chartered plane Sunday to help family with evacuation efforts. The NewsHour talks to Louisiana delegates about attending the convention as Gustav threatens. Continue watching
Aug 29 Watch Shields and Brooks Reflect on Democrats’ Big Week With the Democratic convention now complete, analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks offer insight on the strengths and weaknesses of Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field and on the roles Hillary and Bill Clinton played at the DNC. Continue watching
Aug 29 Watch Shields and Brooks Mull Road Ahead for McCain-Palin Ticket Sen. John McCain's unexpected choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin stirred a flurry of speculation over the evolving dynamics of the 2008 presidential race. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks assess the move. Continue watching
Aug 29 Watch McCain Sees Fellow Reformer in VP Pick Palin GOP Sen. John McCain named little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate Friday. Writers who have followed Palin's career discuss her rise to national politics. Continue watching
Aug 28 Watch Obama’s Acceptance Speech a Mix of Politics and Policy Sen. Barack Obama delivered his speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president before a crowd of thousands at Denver's Invesco Field. A panel of NewsHour analysts and historicans react to Thursday night's event. Continue watching