In the Loop: In the loop


Posted at 02:45 PM ET, 06/12/2013

State Department’s ambassador ‘charm school’ is in

By Emily Heil
At the State Department, would-be ambassadors are getting a crash-course on their missions.

By Emily Heil  |  02:45 PM ET, 06/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  state department, obama ambassadors, ambassadors, donald blinken, in the loop, emily heil, al kamen

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 06/11/2013

TSA Knife Fight loss not inevitable
By Al Kamen
A couple of serious blunders likely helped doom lifting ban on pocket knives on board.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 06/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  TSA, Knives, Victorinox, leatherman, Pistole, Kip Hawley, Star Wars, Chewbacca, Peter Mayhew, Wookiee, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:24 PM ET, 06/03/2013

British lords stung by media stings
By Al Kamen
Three members of British parliament hit by bribery allegations after undercover taping by reporters.

By Al Kamen  |  05:24 PM ET, 06/03/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  British parliament, Lords, bribery, sting, bribe, Fiji, Lord Laird, Lord Mackenzie, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 05/30/2013

James Comey won’t be a pushover at the FBI
By Al Kamen
He faced down even Cheney and Addington over surveillance program.

By Al Kamen  |  05:40 PM ET, 05/30/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  James Comey, Comey, FBI, Dick Cheney, John Ashcroft, David Addington, Andrew Card, Barton Gellman, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, in the Loop

Posted at 12:15 PM ET, 05/29/2013

Tax breaks for floating homes mean jobs
By Al Kamen
Proposal to exclude boats from “second home” tax deductions opposed by manufacturers.

By Al Kamen  |  12:15 PM ET, 05/29/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Superyachts, tax deductions, family boating, U.S. Superyacht Association, Kitty McGowan, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 05/29/2013

Full house at the D.C. federal appeals court?
By Al Kamen
White House says Obama may soon nominate three for remaining openings.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 05/29/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, judges, court of appeals, sri srinivasan, Will Smith, Mark Wahlberg, Brad Pitt, Thelma and Louise, Mike Tyson, Clarence Thomas, George H.W. Bush, Thurgood Marshall, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:16 PM ET, 05/21/2013

Obama White House policy: ‘Don’t tell Dad’
By Al Kamen
Seems President Obama was just about the only one in town who didn’t know of IRS probe.

By Al Kamen  |  12:16 PM ET, 05/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, IRS, Watergate, Howard Baker, Tea Party, Denis McDonough, Mark Childress, Jack Lew, Mark Patterson, Treasury, IG, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 05/20/2013

Rumsfeld’s Rules: ‘Leadership lessons’ on war and life
By Al Kamen
The former defense secretary opines on most all things.

By Al Kamen  |  12:00 PM ET, 05/20/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Don Rumsfeld, Rumsfeld's Rules, Dick Cheney, Henry Kissinger, Rahm Emanuel, Seneca, Jon Stewart, Machiavelli, Iraq, Tonkin Gulf, WMD, Panama, James Brudenell, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:56 AM ET, 05/17/2013

Did Sarah Palin have her own Umbrellagate?
By Al Kamen
Sarah Palin weighs in. Does she remember Lancaster, Pa.?

By Al Kamen  |  11:56 AM ET, 05/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Palin, Obama, umbrella, Turkey, Erdogan, umbrellagate, Scandalous, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:02 PM ET, 05/16/2013

Benghazi! IRS! Government spying on the press!
By Al Kamen
Which of these stories might damage President Obama the most?

By Al Kamen  |  01:02 PM ET, 05/16/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Benghazi, IRS, phone records, Dick Cheney, Hannity, Pew Research, Andrew Kohut, Public Policy Polling, Libya, Egpt, Cuba, Iran, Holder, Obama, Iran-Contra, Victoria Nuland, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 05/16/2013

Obama’s books earn big bucks. Biden’s, well . . .

By Al Kamen
It’s hard to beat the audience for presidential memoirs.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 05/16/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Promises to Keep, Audacity of Hope, Dreams from My Father, royalties, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:49 AM ET, 05/14/2013

Kerry faces climate, spying, smoking in Sweden
By Al Kamen
Arctic Circle meeting may include a grumpier than usual Russian diplomat.

By Al Kamen  |  11:49 AM ET, 05/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Biden, Hagel, World War II, NATO, Afghanistan, Kerry, Arctic, Stockholm, Kiruna, Lavrov, spy, Moscow, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 05/14/2013

New State Department briefer on the podium
By Al Kamen
Former White House aide Jen Psaki tries levity with State Department reporters

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 05/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Psaki, State Department, spokeswoman, briefing, joke, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 05/13/2013

Dodd-Frank reform act: how it happened
By Al Kamen
A new book, Act of Congress, tells how Congress responded to the Great Crash of 2008.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 05/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Act of Congress, Dodd-Frank, Robert Kaiser, Dodd, Frank, financial reform, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 05/10/2013

Loop Quiz! Name Obama 2009 Cabinet withdrawals
By Al Kamen
Quick Loop Quiz: which three Cabinet nominees withdrew in 2009?

By Al Kamen  |  12:00 PM ET, 05/10/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Cabinet, nominees, withdrawal, quiz, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:57 PM ET, 05/07/2013

Fast and Furious official lands new gig
By Al Kamen
Jason Weinstein lands post at white-shoe law firm Steptoe & Johnson.

By Al Kamen  |  04:57 PM ET, 05/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Jason Weinstein, Steptoe & Johnson, Reid Weingarten, Eric Holder, Fast and Furious, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:34 PM ET, 05/06/2013

Obama’s Cabinet diversity still bests Reagan’s
By Al Kamen
But some groups unhappy with fewer minorities in second term.

By Al Kamen  |  01:34 PM ET, 05/06/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, cabinet, diversity, Kirkpatrick, Cavazos, Clinton, Reagan, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 04/30/2013

Lugar’s got one medal, one’s on the way . . .
By Al Kamen
Former Indiana lawmaker knighted by the Brits, gets Grand Cross from Germans, French can’t be far off.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 04/30/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Lugal, Dick Lugar, knighted, British, Westmacott, Queen Elizabeth, Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Germany, Guido Westerwelle, Peter Ammon, Legion of Honor, NATO, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 04/25/2013

Pols’ pay not huge but perks are excellent
By Al Kamen
A 12-day, expense-paid, fact-finding trip to India can be part of the job.

By Al Kamen  |  01:30 PM ET, 04/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  India, codel, Boehner, Shock, Lummis, McMorris Rodgers, congressional, travel, National Indian American Public Policy Institute, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 04/25/2013

More Cabinet members cut pay as furloughs hit
By Al Kamen
An updated list of who’s donating and who’s not.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 04/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  sequester, furloughs, Obama, cabinet, donate, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 04/23/2013

Bush library event brings back 1,000+ alums
By Al Kamen
Dedication in Dallas includes ex-presidents and Bush White House staff.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 04/23/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush, library, dedication, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Obama, Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:26 AM ET, 04/17/2013

Why Obama’s chief of staff is anti-Blackberry, iPhone
By Al Kamen
Cybersecurity means checking your smartphones at the door.

By Al Kamen  |  11:26 AM ET, 04/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, White House, Denis McDonough, Buzzfeed, Bloomberg, BlackBerrys, cybersecurity, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:31 PM ET, 04/15/2013

Drone pilots not getting medals
By Al Kamen
Award approved by former defense secretary Leon Panetta canceled by new Secretary Chuck Hagel.

By Al Kamen  |  04:31 PM ET, 04/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Drone, medal, Pentagon, pilots, drone pilots, canceled, Panetta, Hagel, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:28 PM ET, 04/12/2013

Canadian foreign service in strike mode

By Al Kamen
Government threatens disciplinary action up to dismissals over e-mail use.

By Al Kamen  |  01:28 PM ET, 04/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Canada, foreign service, stike, labor, union, embassy, work to rule, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 04/11/2013

Survey shows huge gap between federal leaders and workers

By Al Kamen
Where senior officals at agencies see merit promotion, lower-level employees see favoritism.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 04/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Federal workers, survey, Senior Executive Service, Partnership for Public Service, Max Stier, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:27 PM ET, 04/08/2013

Senate finance aides pressed for time on Asia trip
By Al Kamen
Australia environment, labor groups unable to get a meeting.

By Al Kamen  |  01:27 PM ET, 04/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Trans-Paciific Partnership, Senate Finance Committee, Australia, New Zealand, Australia, labor, enironmentalist, free trade, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 04/08/2013

Was Michigan Dem chief the Easter Bunny?
By Al Kamen
The names of those who’ve played Mr. Bunny apparently are being kept on “close hold.”

By Al Kamen  |  11:40 AM ET, 04/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Lon Johnson, Michigan, Easter Bunny, Egg Roll, White House, Julianna Smoot, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:02 PM ET, 04/05/2013

Panetta political dynasty taking shape?
By Al Kamen
Former representative Leon Panetta’s son is talking about running for Congress.

By Al Kamen  |  03:02 PM ET, 04/05/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Panetta, Leon Panetta, James Panetta, Sam Farr, Congress, The Carmel Pine Cone, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:10 PM ET, 04/04/2013

Sequester Solidarity Stampede picks up steam
By Al Kamen
More Obama Cabinet members chipping in a chunk of their pay as sequester looms. But who’ll be last?

By Al Kamen  |  04:10 PM ET, 04/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  sequester, furlough, obama, cabinet, contributions, solidarity, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:09 PM ET, 04/04/2013

Lyndon Johnson still a no-show at the White House Egg Roll
By Al Kamen
The Johnson Library offers proof that The Loop was right in the first place.

By Al Kamen  |  03:09 PM ET, 04/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Lyndon Johnson, Easter Egg Roll, Johnson Library, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:39 AM ET, 04/04/2013

Embassies for mega-donors: A venerable tradition
By Al Kamen
Obama’s naming of wealthy contributors is in keeping with a long-standing tradition.

By Al Kamen  |  11:39 AM ET, 04/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Bruce Heyman, Ruth Farkas, Nixon, Kalmbach, Canada, ambassador, mega-donor, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:59 PM ET, 04/03/2013

Hagel, Obama cut their pay. Who’ll be the last Cabinet member?
By Al Kamen
Hagel’s was cut in solidarity with sequester pay cuts. Now that Obama’s done so, who’ll be the last cabinet member to jump in?

By Al Kamen  |  03:59 PM ET, 04/03/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Chuck Hagel, voluntary pay cut, Obama, pay cut, sequester, furlough, federal workers, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 02:26 PM ET, 04/02/2013

President Lyndon Johnson did indeed attend an Easter Egg Roll
By Al Kamen
Turns out he was there at least in 1964 — and we have the photo.

By Al Kamen  |  02:26 PM ET, 04/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  White House, Easter Egg Roll, Lyndon Johnson, beagles, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, in the loop, William Eaton, Marilyn Eaton

Posted at 12:51 PM ET, 04/02/2013

Lawmakers’ invitation to barred Indian leader might be problematic
By Al Kamen
A House delegation’s invitation to banned Gujarat leader could be problematic.

By Al Kamen  |  12:51 PM ET, 04/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  India, Gujarat, Narendra Modi, Aaron Schock, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Cynthia Loomis, Hi India, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:28 PM ET, 04/01/2013

Syria civil war not blocking all government work
By Al Kamen
The country last month became the first to endorse a treaty on movie copyright protections

By Al Kamen  |  01:28 PM ET, 04/01/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Syria, civil war, Aleppo, Assad, refugees, copyright, Beijing treaty, Damascus, refugees, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:39 PM ET, 03/28/2013

White House Easter Egg Roll bunnies of yore
By Al Kamen
Those large bunnies are now a key part of the event.

By Al Kamen  |  12:39 PM ET, 03/28/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  White House, White House Easter Egg Roll, Ursula Meese, Fred Fielding, Robert De Niro, Sean Spicer, Keith Hennessey, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:58 AM ET, 03/27/2013

Political talk shows going ‘all in’
By Al Kamen
Intense competition in the gabfest market sparks some odd show titles

By Al Kamen  |  11:58 AM ET, 03/27/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Jake Tapper, Chris Hayes, Oprah, Ellen, The Cycle", "All In", Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:33 PM ET, 03/26/2013

Senate staff on 13-day Asia trade trip
By Al Kamen
A grueling schedule of meetings is on tap in trip to Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand.

By Al Kamen  |  12:33 PM ET, 03/26/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  codel, staffdel, Senate Finance Committee, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Hanoi, Australia, Mordor, Vietnam, Trans-Pacific Partnership, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:22 AM ET, 03/25/2013

U.S. ‘National Day’ in March?
By Al Kamen
Seems the embassy in Saudi Arabia has come up with a new celebration.

By Al Kamen  |  11:22 AM ET, 03/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Fourth of July, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, U.S. embassy, James Smith, Saudi Gazette, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 03/14/2013

Government furloughs — time to get buff?
By Al Kamen
An area physical fitness promo targets furloughed employees, restaurants may also be offering discounts.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 03/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Forecasts | Tags:  spending cuts, sequester, federal budget cuts, federal agency cuts, automatic spending cuts, cliff, sequester news, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 03/13/2013

CIA’s Brennan identifies with hostages
By Al Kamen
In Senate testimony, Brennan denies knowledge of the tussle over secret drone documents.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 03/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  John Brennan, CIA, drone strikes, Senate, Intelligence, Jay Rockefeller, hostages, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:26 PM ET, 03/12/2013

Larry Craig on Senate business during airport sex-sting arrest?
By Al Kamen
Former senator seeks to avoid repaying $217,000 in campaign funds he used to defend against charges.

By Al Kamen  |  12:26 PM ET, 03/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Larry Craig, Sen. Craig, sex-sting, Minneapolis, airport, Federal Election Commission, suit, official business, District Court, Amy Berman Jackson, arrest, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:33 PM ET, 03/08/2013

McGurk, denied Iraq ambassadorship, may get senior State job, report says
By Al Kamen
Brent McGurk’s nomination was derailed last year, but he may be landing well.

By Al Kamen  |  03:33 PM ET, 03/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  McGurk, Brett McGurk, Baghdad, Embassy, Iraq, nomination, withdrawn, deputy assistant secretary of state, Iran, Al Kamen, Emily Heile, In the Loop

Posted at 01:40 PM ET, 03/08/2013

Sequester hits Interior Department campsites
By Al Kamen
BLM may need to close or reduce hours at campsites, delay grazing and drilling permits.

By Al Kamen  |  01:40 PM ET, 03/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  spending cuts, sequester, federal budget cuts, federal agency cuts, automatic spending cuts, budget deal, sequester news, BLM, Bureau of Land Management, campsites, permits, gatherings, furloughs, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 03/07/2013

Sequester requires tight rein on travel
By Al Kamen
Looking for savings in California wine country

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 03/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  spending cuts, sequester, federal budget cuts, federal agency cuts, automatic spending cuts, fiscal cliff, delay sequester, delay spending cuts, budget deal, what’s in the budget deal, whats in fiscal cliff deal, fiscal cliff wiki, fiscal cliff news, sequester news, Tom Vilsack, Tom Coburn, wine, California, conferences, Agriculture, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 04:02 PM ET, 03/06/2013

Filibusters ain’t what they used to be
By Al Kamen
Sen. Rand Paul’s worthy effort, even with help from pals, may fall many hours short of the record-breakers of yore.

By Al Kamen  |  04:02 PM ET, 03/06/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  filibuster, Rand Paul, Huey Long, Strom Thurmond, Senate, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, Alfonse D'Amato, Robert Byrd, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 03/05/2013

Goolsbee wins a dubious award
By Al Kamen
The former White House Council of Economic Advisers chairman creates most horrible new word for 2013.

By Al Kamen  |  11:30 AM ET, 03/05/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Austan Goolsbee, Michael Boskin, Council of Economic Advisers, dreadfulize, horrible word, Joint Economic Committee, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:40 PM ET, 02/27/2013

Boehner cuts House members’ greatest perk
By Al Kamen
Citing the impending sequester cuts to the federal budget, the Speaker canceled all House congressional delegation travel on military jets.

By Al Kamen  |  04:40 PM ET, 02/27/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  sequester, John Boehner, Boehner, congressional delegations, codels, cancel, trips, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 02/27/2013

Army assault ladders — headed to Afghanistan soon
By Al Kamen
The Army needs them pronto to continue operations against the Taliban.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 02/27/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Joint special operations task force, afghanistan, bagram, ladders, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 02/26/2013

Hillary Clinton memoir titles — Loop contest winners
By Al Kamen
Loop Fans suggest titles for the former secretary of state’s new memoir.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 02/26/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Hillary Clinton, memoir, title, contest, Laurence Haim, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 02/22/2013

John Kerry, a ‘recovering politician’
By Al Kamen
He’s now backing foreign aid. Back when he was running for president, not such a big fan.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 02/22/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  John Kerry, Baghdad, George W. Bush, fire houses, foreign aid, Charlottesville, University of Virginia, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:29 PM ET, 02/20/2013

I’m stranded abroad and need your help!
By Al Kamen
Having your passport and money stolen overseas is no joke. . . maybe.

By Al Kamen  |  01:29 PM ET, 02/20/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Philip Mudd, stranded, New America foundation, Manila, CIA, FBI, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 02/20/2013

Karzai’s dig at Menendez?
By Al Kamen
Afghan president calls for “sincere” U.S. effort to fight corruption during Sen. Bob Menendez visit to Kabul.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 02/20/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bob Menendez, Hamid Karzai, Salomon Melgen, Kabul, Dominican Republic, corruption, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:48 AM ET, 02/19/2013

Some alleged terrorists can’t read enough about themselves
By Al Kamen
9/11 conspirator reads about 9/11 rather than “The Cosby Show.”

By Al Kamen  |  11:48 AM ET, 02/19/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Ramzi Binalshibh, 9/11, military trial, Guantanamo, Fresh Prince, Harry Potter, al Qaeda, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 02/15/2013

Judicial confirmations inch forward in the Senate
By Al Kamen
The Senate confirmed its first Obama-nominated judge for 2013.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 02/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Judges, judicial nomiinees, confirmations, Obama, Clinton, Bush, Kayatta, Halligan, Patty Shwartz, Lindsay Graham, Jay Carney, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:33 PM ET, 02/13/2013

Obama’s speech didn’t excite Ginsburg
By Al Kamen and Emily Heil
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had a tough time staying awake during the State of the Union.

By Al Kamen and Emily Heil  |  01:33 PM ET, 02/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, State of the Union, Justice ginsburg, sleeping, Supreme Court, Chuck Grassley, Stephen Breyer, Anthony Kennedy, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:18 PM ET, 02/11/2013

Don’t serve John Kerry any celery
By Al Kamen
The secretary of state does, however, like scallops, clam chowder and Zinfandel.

By Al Kamen  |  12:18 PM ET, 02/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  John Kerry, celery, George H.W. Bush, broccoli, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 10:55 AM ET, 02/08/2013

K Street alert! Bangladesh wants you
By Al Kamen
Bangladesh officials, after speaking with a visiting congressional delegation, are thinking they need some lobbying help.

By Al Kamen  |  10:55 AM ET, 02/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bangladesh, lobbyist, trade, congressional delegation, Jack Kingston, Dipu Moni, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:28 PM ET, 02/07/2013

Rep. LoBiondo: Getting honored no matter what
By Al Kamen
An airports trade group will give him a leadership award even if he doesn’t support a key issue of theirs.

By Al Kamen  |  03:28 PM ET, 02/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Frank LoBiondo, Airports Council, Airports, Morgan Dye, Atlantic City, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:11 PM ET, 02/01/2013

Will Kerry’s arrival make for longer cabinet meetings?
By Al Kamen
The new secretary of state appears to match Joe Biden’s gift for opining at length.

By Al Kamen  |  12:11 PM ET, 02/01/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  John Kerry, Daniel Webster, Senate, speech, Obama, meetings, cabinet, Biden, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 02/01/2013

Agency for International Development’s general counsel resigns
By Al Kamen
Lisa Gomer had been ‘reassigned’ pending an internal investigation over possible contract-rigging.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 02/01/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Agency for International Development, Lisa Gomer, Inspector general, contract, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 01/30/2013

Hillary Clinton only secretary since Nixon years to skip the Vatican
By Al Kamen
Loop fix: The historical record didn’t note that Warren Christopher visited Pope John Paul II with Bill Clinton.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 01/30/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Hillary Clinton, travel, countries, Warren Christopher, Vatican, Pope John Paul II, Ray Flynn, Bill Clinton, Rome, Vatican, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:29 PM ET, 01/25/2013

Obama taps Denis McDonough as chief of staff
By David Nakamura
Obama names trusted aide to post on Friday.

By David Nakamura  |  01:29 PM ET, 01/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, McDonough, chief of staff, Lisa Monaco, Tony Blinken, David Plouffe, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:13 PM ET, 01/24/2013

Clinton vs. Rice: Compare their travels
By Al Kamen
A great graphic on the last six secretaries of state.

By Al Kamen  |  05:13 PM ET, 01/24/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Interactive, Washington Post graphic, secretary travels, Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, James Baker, Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, Warren Christopher, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 01/22/2013

Broadcasting Board ‘dysfunctional,’ IG says
By Al Kamen
State Department inspector general’s scathing report on international broadcast board

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 01/22/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  BBG, Broadcasting Board of Governors, report, inspector general, IG, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Marti, TV Marti, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 01/18/2013

Kerry, if confirmed as secretary of state, will have scores of top jobs to fill

By Al Kamen
Nearly 200 State Department jobs could be up for grabs.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 01/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  John Kerry, Obama, Senate, Hillary Clinton, State Department, David Wade, Bill Danvers, Frank Lowenstein, Tom Nides, Bill Burns, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop, washingtonintransition

Posted at 03:29 PM ET, 01/17/2013

Jim Messina to be given the Machiavelli award
By Al Kamen
Former White House aide and 2012 campaign chief to receive award Sunday.

By Al Kamen  |  03:29 PM ET, 01/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Messina, Jim Messina, Machiavelli, Machiavelli award, Obama 2012, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:13 PM ET, 01/17/2013

Obama inaugural swag is not for lobbyists
By Al Kamen
The online store won’t sell to lobbyists, but there’s a work-around, if you’re in town.

By Al Kamen  |  01:13 PM ET, 01/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Obama inaugural, inaugural store, inauguration store, lobbyists, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:53 PM ET, 01/16/2013

Budget season approaches, agency ‘fact sheets’ abound
By Al Kamen
Government agencies want you to know what they do.

By Al Kamen  |  01:53 PM ET, 01/16/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Foreign aid, budget, fact sheet, State Department, AID, Robert Gates, military bands, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:34 PM ET, 01/15/2013

Obama should skip the last question
By Al Kamen
Beware questions that prompt you to talk about being a “friendly guy.”

By Al Kamen  |  01:34 PM ET, 01/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  President Obama, Obama, friendly, friendly guy, press conference, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:59 PM ET, 01/09/2013

U.N. black helicopters? No, just Energy Department

By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Nuclear safety officials are testing “natural” radiation levels in D.C. area.

By Al Kamen  |  01:59 PM ET, 01/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  radiation, radiation testing, National Nuclear Security Administration, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:52 PM ET, 01/08/2013

Obama’s presidential vote count historic
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Not many pollsters predicted the nearly 4-point victory.

By Al Kamen  |  01:52 PM ET, 01/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama: popular vote, Romney, election, electoral vote, polls, Nate Silver, Real Clear Politics, David Wasserman, Cook Political Report, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 06:21 PM ET, 01/07/2013

Hillary Clinton’s hair: No helmets here
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | The media isn’t alone in its concern for the secretary’s coiffure.

By Al Kamen  |  06:21 PM ET, 01/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Hillary Clinton, helmet, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, in the loop

Posted at 12:36 PM ET, 12/20/2012

An ambassador’s holiday card like no other
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Ambassador to Finland Bruce Oreck flexes some muscle.

By Al Kamen  |  12:36 PM ET, 12/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bruce Oreck, Oreck Christmas card, ambassador, Finland, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 12/20/2012

In the Loop’s presidential election contest winners
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | The winning predictions for President Obama’s popular vote percentage.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 12/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Forecasts | Tags:  Cook Political Report, David Wasserman, Nate Silver, contest, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:54 PM ET, 12/18/2012

Millionaires will take a nasty tax hit down the fiscal cliff
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Tax Policy Center calculations show the extent of the pain for the wealthy.

By Al Kamen  |  02:54 PM ET, 12/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  john boehner, fiscal cliff, fiscal cliff deal, boehner obama, obama boehner, boehner obama talk, fiscal cliff news, white house, fiscal cliff, the fiscal cliff, president obama, fiscal cliff talks, fiscal cliff obama, obama fiscal cliff, fiscal cliff boehner, tax cuts middle class, definition fiscal cliff, fiscal cliff 2012, fiscal cliff calculator, fiscal cliff taxes, fiscal cliff wiki, Michelle Bachmann, Tax Policy Center, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:01 PM ET, 12/13/2012

Still no truth in Pravda?
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Pravda editorial cracks up the State Department daily briefing.

By Al Kamen  |  05:01 PM ET, 12/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Pravda, State Department, Nuland, Lee, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:18 PM ET, 12/13/2012

The IMF holiday bash - don’t miss it
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Excellent food, unlimited booze and live music at the IMF.

By Al Kamen  |  12:18 PM ET, 12/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  International Monetary Fund, IMF, holiday party, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 12/11/2012

Washington’s peculiar ways confound visitors
By Peter Finn
A visiting federal judge from New York meets the CIA’s litigation style.

By Peter Finn  |  07:00 AM ET, 12/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  CIA, lawsuit, Justice Department, Judge, Frederick Scullin Jr., Marcia Cowles, Mark S. Zaid, Anthony Moses, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:11 PM ET, 12/07/2012

Stumped for holiday gifts? Look no further!
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Conservative media outfit’s online store has it all.

By Al Kamen  |  02:11 PM ET, 12/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  World Net Daily, WND Superstore, Hermain Cain, Jerome Corsi, Barack Obama, birthers, Karl Rove, Craig Unger, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 12/07/2012

No more points for diplos in Yemen
By Ernesto Londoño
IN THE LOOP | Sheraton turns hotel over to State Department in unstable country.

By Ernesto Londoño  |  07:00 AM ET, 12/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Yemen, State Department, Sheraton, Starwood, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Westin, Sanaa, points, Ernesto Lodono, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:08 PM ET, 12/06/2012

Hillary Clinton for president? President Clinton for ambassador?

By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | The speculations are reaching new heights

By Al Kamen  |  03:08 PM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Transition, washingtonintransition, Hillary Clinton, president, Bill Clinton, polls, Ireland, Michael Sneed, Chicago Sun-Times, President Clinton, Walter Mondale, William Taft, John Quincy Adams, Anne Gearan, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 12/06/2012

Rice nomination and White House musical chairs
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP| A Susan Rice move to the State Department could spark other moves at the White House

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Susan Rice, nominations, secretary of state, U.N. ambassador, Tom Donilon, Denis McDonough, Jack Lew, Rwanda, Samantha Power, Valerie Jarrett, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:38 PM ET, 12/04/2012

Obama administration wannabes’ paperwork nightmare may ease
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Working group has plan to coordinate data collection.

By Al Kamen  |  12:38 PM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  nominations, paperwork, working group, Lisa Brown, Lamar Alexander, Ted Kaufman, Sean Joyce, Walter Shaub, streamlining, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 12/04/2012

Lugar trips were no junkets, Obama recalls
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Obama says that foreign travel with “a rock star,” was hard work.

By Al Kamen  |  06:00 AM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Lugar: National Defense University, nuclear weapons, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, junket, rock star, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:47 PM ET, 12/03/2012

Justice Department Chief of Staff Grindler is leaving
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Other top Justice officials also said to be departing.

By Al Kamen  |  04:47 PM ET, 12/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Gary Grindler, Eric Holder, Robert Mueller, Lanny Breuer, Margaret Richardson, Janet Reno, Ignacia Moreno, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 12/03/2012

Gitmo detainee’s deep thoughts on dogs, basketball
By Emily Heil
A detainee wants a pet dog to chase another detainee’s cats, and other dispatches from inside.

By Emily Heil  |  01:30 PM ET, 12/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  muhammed rahim, gitmo, guantanamo bay, majid khan, osama bin laden, fox news, in the loop, emily heil, al kamen

Posted at 03:07 PM ET, 11/29/2012

Vilsack seen likely staying for second Obama term
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Latest word is that Christie Vilsack may be heading this way after losing tough House race.

By Al Kamen  |  03:07 PM ET, 11/29/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  washingtonintransition, Transition, Tom Vilsack, Christie Vilsack, Steve King, President Obama, Agriculture, Cabinet, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 06:31 PM ET, 11/28/2012

FCC chief’s successors-in-waiting
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Federal communications chief’s likely departure touches off successor talk.

By Al Kamen  |  06:31 PM ET, 11/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  jTransition, ulius genachowski, federal communications commission, Blair Levin, Reed Hundt, Jessica Rosenworcel, Mignon Clyburn, Lawrence Strickling, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:17 PM ET, 11/28/2012

Al Franken sometimes can’t resist
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP| The former SNL comedian works to shed that image, but sometimes. . .

By Al Kamen  |  12:17 PM ET, 11/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Al Franken, Saturday Night Live, Martin Heinrich, Patrick Murphy, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop, Senate

Posted at 05:55 PM ET, 11/27/2012

Andrew W.K.: ‘I would have done a great job’
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP| Rocker responds to the State Department’s cancellation of his Bahrain trip.

By Al Kamen  |  05:55 PM ET, 11/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Andrew W.K., Party til you puke, Bahrain, State Department, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, in the loop

Posted at 05:41 PM ET, 11/27/2012

Marc Grossman resigning Afghan-Pakistan post
By Karen DeYoung
IN THE LOOP | Special representative had taken over after Richard Holbrooke’s death.

By Karen DeYoung  |  05:41 PM ET, 11/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Marc Grossman, Afghanistan, pakistan, Turkey, Richard Holbrooke, special representative, SRAP, David Hale, David Pearce, Karen DeYoung, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:11 PM ET, 11/27/2012

Santa’s off to Kabul in an armored sleigh
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | An armored vehicle firm is chipping in for a Christmas party for troops in Afghanistan.

By Al Kamen  |  12:11 PM ET, 11/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Santa, Christmas, Kabul, Bagram, Afghanistan, Air Force, International Armored Group, t-shirts, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 06:22 PM ET, 11/26/2012

Andrew W. K. as ambassador to Bahrain? Not likely
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | State Department says it concluded “Party Til You Puke” just wouldn’t do.

By Al Kamen  |  06:22 PM ET, 11/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bahrain, Andrew W.K, State Department, Victoria Nuland, Party Til You Puke, cultural ambassador, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:16 PM ET, 11/20/2012

Latino groups eye Cabinet jobs
By Al Kamen
A key Obama voting bloc is looking for some payback.

By Al Kamen  |  01:16 PM ET, 11/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Ken Salazar, Interior Department, Hilda Solis, Labor Department, Jon Tester, Heidi Heitkamp, John Berry, Leo Gerard, United Steelworkers, Antonio Villaraigosa, Manny Diaz, Ralph de la Vega, Cesar Conde, Univision, AT&T, Penny Pritzker, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:48 PM ET, 11/19/2012

Will Richard Cordray stay at consumer bureau?
By Danielle Douglas
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director’s term to end late next year.

By Danielle Douglas  |  05:48 PM ET, 11/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Richard Cordray, recess appointment, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, Danielle Douglas, In the Loop

Posted at 01:19 PM ET, 11/19/2012

Sophia McCrimmon, the new Nate Silver?
By Al Kamen
An eighth-grader predicts the precise electoral vote for Obama.

By Al Kamen  |  01:19 PM ET, 11/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Nate Silver, electoral contest, winners, Obama: electoral votes, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop, Sophia McCrimmon

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 11/16/2012

EPA chief Lisa Jackson may be moving on
By Al Kamen
Jackson joked recently about candidates to succeed her.

By Al Kamen  |  06:00 AM ET, 11/16/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Lisa Jackson, Environmental protection agency, EPA, Brad Campbell, Jeff Holmstead, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:34 PM ET, 11/15/2012

Kirk said to be leaving job as U.S. Trade Rep
By Al Kamen
Kirk may be heading back to Dallas.

By Al Kamen  |  12:34 PM ET, 11/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Ron Kirk, U.S.Trade Rep, USTR, Obama cabinet, Dallas, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:11 PM ET, 11/14/2012

Republicans cruising to victory?
By Al Kamen
The Weekly Standard”s Caribbean cruise features panel discussions and karaoke.

By Al Kamen  |  04:11 PM ET, 11/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Weekly Standard: cruise, Terry Eastland, Bill Kristol, Fred Barnes, Mike Murphy, President Obama, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 01:10 PM ET, 11/14/2012

Romney, Obama campaign swag: perfect holiday gifts?
By Al Kamen
The campaigns may be over, the shopping opportunities live on

By Al Kamen  |  01:10 PM ET, 11/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Homicide | Tags:  Romney, Obama, Romney memorabilia, swag, t-shirts, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:36 PM ET, 11/13/2012

Pelosi talks about political future Wednesday

By Al Kamen
Speculation is she may decide to step down from her leadership post.

By Al Kamen  |  05:36 PM ET, 11/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Nancy Pelosi, pelosi press conference, House, House Democrats, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:14 PM ET, 11/13/2012

Kerry surprised by possible Pentagon offer
By Al Kamen
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) had been eyeing secretaryship at state, not defense.

By Al Kamen  |  12:14 PM ET, 11/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  John Kerry, Susan Rice, President Obama, State Department, secretary of state, Pentagon, secretary of defense, united nations, Elizabeth Warren, Scott Brown, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 07:54 PM ET, 11/12/2012

Graham and White House to clash over Susan Rice?

By Al Kamen
Lindsey Graham indicates opposition to Rice nomination as secretary of state.

By Al Kamen  |  07:54 PM ET, 11/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Lindsey Graham, Susan Rice, Benghazi, Chris Stevens, John McCain, confirmation, Secretary of State, graham, opposition, Obama, White House, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:47 PM ET, 11/12/2012

Congressmen who took the plunge in Galilee all got reelected
By Emily Heil
Congressmen who splashed in the sacred waters all won their reelection bids.

By Emily Heil  |  01:47 PM ET, 11/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  tom reed, jeff denham, michael grimm, steve southerland, ben quayle, kevid yoder, sea of galilee, congressmen sea of galilee, in the loop, emily heil, al kamen

Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 11/12/2012

Broadwell’s bio says ‘embedded’ with Petraeus
By Al Kamen
An online bio says “embedded” with former CIA chief.

By Al Kamen  |  12:13 PM ET, 11/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Paula Broadwell, David Petraeus, CIA, Jill Kelly, Abbe Lowell, Judy Smith, Bill Clinton, Chandra Levy, John Edwards, Monica Lewinsky, Jack Abramoff, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:02 PM ET, 11/09/2012

White House eyeing replacements if Susan Rice leaves U.N. post
By Al Kamen
Samantha Powers and Eileen Donahoe are said to be in the mix.

By Al Kamen  |  05:02 PM ET, 11/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Susan Rice, Samantha Power, Eileen Donahoe, United Nations, Hillary Clinton, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, in the Loop

Posted at 04:10 PM ET, 11/09/2012

Obama and the press: an inauspicious start
By Al Kamen
This president, unlike some of his predecessors, declines to hold press conference right after reelection.

By Al Kamen  |  04:10 PM ET, 11/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  President Obama, media, press, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Bob Haldeman, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 06:12 PM ET, 11/08/2012

Romney presidential transition team closes headquarters
By Al Kamen
The offices are to be closed by the end of day Friday.

By Al Kamen  |  06:12 PM ET, 11/08/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Romney, Romney transition office, office closes, General Services Administration, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:47 PM ET, 11/08/2012

Rove warned the GOP about Latinos
By Al Kamen
The veteran operative is being blamed for wasting $400 million, but he did warn against angering Latino voters.

By Al Kamen  |  12:47 PM ET, 11/08/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Karl Rove, GOP, Romney, $400 million, Republicans, John Kerry, Bush, latinos, Heritage Action, Michael Needham, Ed Whelan, National Review Online, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:29 PM ET, 11/07/2012

Bachmann, DesJarlais and Grayson win, but West in danger
By Al Kamen
Some Loop favorites won Tuesday, though Rep. Allen West in jeopardy.

By Al Kamen  |  04:29 PM ET, 11/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Latest, U.S. Weather, Winter Storms | Tags:  Scott DesJarlaisl, Allen West, Michele Bachmann, Alan Grayson, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:59 PM ET, 11/07/2012

Obama’s cabinet: Some go, some stay
By Al Kamen
Don’t look for wholesale, rapid turnover.

By Al Kamen  |  12:59 PM ET, 11/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Cabinet, Transition, Clinton, Kerry, Scott Brown, Susan Rice, Tim Geithner, Jack Lew, Erskine Bowles, Suzanne Nora Johnson, Leon Panetta, Ashton Carter, Michele Flournoy, Eric Holder, Janet Napolitano, Arne Duncan, Shaun Donovan, Kathleen Sibelius, Hilda Solis, Eric Shinseki, Ray LaHood, Ken Salazar, Tom Vilsack, Steven Chu, Lisa Jackson, Byron Dorgan, Jeff Bingaman, Ernie Moniz, Mary Nichols, Bob Perciasepe, Elaine Chao, Janet Reno, Donna Shalala, Bruce Babbitt, Richard Riley, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop, washingtonintransition

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 11/06/2012

Bubba’s a friendly guy
By Al Kamen
Former President Clinton’s working to help congressional candidates.

By Al Kamen  |  02:30 PM ET, 11/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Manan Trivedi, Jim Gerlach, Dan Maffei, Suzan DelBene, John Koster, Patrick Murphy, Allen West, Ann Marie Buerkle, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:45 AM ET, 11/06/2012

Josh Mandel taking heat from the in-laws
By Al Kamen
Some of Mandel’s cousins object to his views on gay marriage.

By Al Kamen  |  11:45 AM ET, 11/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Josh Mandel, Sherrod Brown, Cleveland Jewish News, Senate, Ohio, gays, gay marriage, gays in military, Cleveland, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 11/06/2012

Grassley knows how to pick winners
By Al Kamen
Two Grassley staffers have been champions on Jeopardy!

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 11/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Jeopardy!, Grassley, Iowa, Tom Walsh, Paul Nelson, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:42 PM ET, 11/05/2012

Who was the last GOP president to win without a Bush or Nixon on the ticket?
By Al Kamen
When was the last time a Republican won the presidency without a Nixon or Bush on the ticket?

By Al Kamen  |  03:42 PM ET, 11/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush, Nixon, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:28 PM ET, 11/05/2012

Congressional Research Service report gets pulled
By Emily Heil
Republicans objected to a study’s finding that reducing top tax rates doesn’t fuel economic growth.

By Emily Heil  |  01:28 PM ET, 11/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Congressional Research Service, report, tax cuts, CRS, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:19 PM ET, 11/02/2012

Obama pardons far fewer than other presidents
By Al Kamen
President pardons fewer applicants than other recent presidents.

By Al Kamen  |  03:19 PM ET, 11/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, pardons, commutations, propublica, study, Justice Department, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 11/02/2012

Campaign cash frenzy never ends
By Al Kamen
Candidates already working for the 2014 campaign.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 11/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  campaign fundraising, 2014 elections, Kay Hagan, Mark Warner, Jim Inhofe, Jim risch, John Hoeven, Roy Blunt, Bill Huizenga, Tom Reed, Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Obama, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:14 PM ET, 10/30/2012

Rep. Scott DesJarlais: doing the impossible
By Al Kamen
A detractor says DesJarlais has embarrassed Congress.

By Al Kamen  |  04:14 PM ET, 10/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  smoking dope, resignation, Tennessee Conservative Union, Lloyd Daugherty, Congress: Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:06 PM ET, 10/30/2012

Romney’s and Obama’s agency creation, elimination bluster
By Al Kamen
Romney suggests trimming FEMA, Obama wants a business department.

By Al Kamen  |  03:06 PM ET, 10/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Hurricane Sandy, Obama, Romney, FEMA, Rick Perry, Oops, cabinet agencies, department of education, HUD, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:08 PM ET, 10/26/2012

Hurricane Sandy’s first effects felt in Washington
By Al Kamen
Disaster conference postponed.

By Al Kamen  |  02:08 PM ET, 10/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Sandy, conference, canceled, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:26 PM ET, 10/25/2012

Romney attorney general list shrinks by one?
By Al Kamen
Former deputy attorney general George Terwilliger looks to be unavailable.

By Al Kamen  |  03:26 PM ET, 10/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  George Terwilliger, Romney administration, attorney general, White & Case, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 10/25/2012

13 Italians die, 33 wounded during hunting season
By Al Kamen
Activists call for hunting ban.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 10/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Italy, Italians, hunting, hunting season, hunters, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 06:22 PM ET, 10/24/2012

Pelosi looks more likely to stay on as Dem. leader
By Al Kamen
New leadership vote date still leaves some time for a challenger to organize.

By Al Kamen  |  06:22 PM ET, 10/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, leadership, vote, House, Democrats, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:35 PM ET, 10/23/2012

Bush fades back to obscurity in third debate
By Al Kamen
After a dozen mentions of the former president in debate #2, Bush comes up only twice in last debate.

By Al Kamen  |  01:35 PM ET, 10/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, George Bush, Dick Cheney, debate, no-mention agreement, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 10/23/2012

Romney won’t give on Iran-Syria ‘route to the sea’
By Al Kamen
Iran, of course, has about 1,500 miles of coastline on the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea

By Al Kamen  |  12:13 PM ET, 10/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Romney, Obama, debate, Syria, Iran, coastline, "route to the sea, Glenn Kessler, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:54 PM ET, 10/22/2012

Pelosi wants no distractions
By Al Kamen
A possible delay in votes for new House Democratic leadership after election prompts speculation on Rep. Pelosi’s future.

By Al Kamen  |  04:54 PM ET, 10/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Nancy Pelosi, House Democratiic leader, Steny Hoyer, leadship elections, Peter Defazio, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 10/19/2012

How safe is our man in Beijing?
By Al Kamen
Confusion reigned when protesters surrounded Ambassador Gary Locke’s car

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 10/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  U.S. embassy, Japan, China, disputed island, protestors, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:11 PM ET, 10/18/2012

Army Sec. McHugh back in the office after fall
By Al Kamen
John McHugh spent three weeks in rehab at Walter Reed for a pelvic fracture.

By Al Kamen  |  03:11 PM ET, 10/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Army Secretary, John McHugh, Walter Reed, bike accident, pelvis, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:55 PM ET, 10/17/2012

FEMA ‘shakeout’ has nothing to do with rock-and-roll
By Al Kamen
It’s nothing to do with rock-and-roll.

By Al Kamen  |  02:55 PM ET, 10/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  FEMA, Jerry Lee Lewis, earthquake drill, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 10/17/2012

Pentagon Channel: Emmys and then pink slips
By Al Kamen
Defense contractors won five Emmys for their work on the Pentagon Channel, and then got squeezed out in budget cuts.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 10/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Defense Department, The Pentagon Channel, Emmy Awards, budget cuts, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 10/16/2012

Henry Kissinger once called Brzezinski ‘a total whore’
By Al Kamen
The State Department Historian’s office publishes a series which, subject to security concerns, aims to give readers ”a comprehensive record of the major foreign policy decisions of the United States.”

By Al Kamen  |  12:13 PM ET, 10/16/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski, whore, State Department, Brent Scrowcroft, Shah of Iran, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, David rockefeller, Trilateral Commission, Bilderburg Group, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:10 PM ET, 10/15/2012

State Department spokeswoman: paid to be dumb?
By Al Kamen
A jocular defense to media attacks on the administration’s shifting takes on the killings in Benghazi.

By Al Kamen  |  03:10 PM ET, 10/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  State Department, Libya, Christopher Stevens, ambassador, killing, Obama, Victoria Nuland, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 10/11/2012

Pew poll: Obama has commanding lead among Latinos

By Al Kamen
The president has a 3-1 edge, but will enough of those voters turn out?

By Al Kamen  |  02:00 PM ET, 10/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Pew poll, Latinos, Obama, Romney, Hispanics, Dream Act, immigration, voterID, photo ID, Pew Hispanic, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 10/10/2012

Smithsonian’s exploding trinkets
By Al Kamen
A suspicious package near L’Enfant Plaza that led to evacuations turned out to be tied to a museum’s upcoming exhibit.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 10/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Smithsonian, bomb scare, trinkets, bomb squad, suspcious package, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:57 PM ET, 10/09/2012

Dutch and Danish, punching above their weight: a Loop correction
By Al Kamen
A Loop Correction

By Al Kamen  |  01:57 PM ET, 10/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Danish, Dutch, punch, weight, correctiion, Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, fact checker, Pinocchio, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 10/09/2012

Star Wars robot joins the Navy?
By Al Kamen
The Naval Research Laboratory is working with Virginia Tech to develop a fire-fighting robot.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 10/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Navy, Star Wars, robots, 3-CPO, Virginia Tech, Dennis Hong, RoboCup, firefighting robot, ASH, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:16 PM ET, 10/08/2012

Romney casts wide fundraising net
By Al Kamen
Occasionally the requests for help go to the wrong people.

By Al Kamen  |  12:16 PM ET, 10/08/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Romney, fundraising, letter, Obama, Tom Kahn, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:19 PM ET, 10/04/2012

Pentagon delays McChrystal memoir
By Al Kamen
Pentagon security checking to ensure no secrets revealed.

By Al Kamen  |  01:19 PM ET, 10/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Stanley McChrystal, Gen. McChrystal, book, Mark Bissonnette, Navy Seal, Tom Ricks, NATO, Afghanistan, secret, Rolling Stone, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 10/03/2012

Buyer lobbies for smokeless tobacco
By Al Kamen
The former Indiana congressman is still battling restrictions on chewing tobacco and snuff

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 10/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Steve Buyer, smoking, tobacco, smokeless tobacco, Indiana health commission, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:57 PM ET, 10/02/2012

HUD chief Donovan is very, very happy
By Al Kamen
Shaun Donovan says if Obama asks him. . .

By Al Kamen  |  12:57 PM ET, 10/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Shaun Donovan, HUD, Housing, Arne Duncan, Obama, C-Span, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:38 PM ET, 10/01/2012

Romney’s Latino numbers up in the battlegrounds
By Al Kamen
Obama’s overall lead expands but perhaps not in some key states.

By Al Kamen  |  04:38 PM ET, 10/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Romney, Obama, Latinos, polls, battleground states, Latino decisions, Al Kamen, Emily Heile, In the Loop

Posted at 12:26 PM ET, 10/01/2012

Navy works to resolve toilet problems on new carrier
By Al Kamen
Sailors suffering from ship’s chronic clogging problems.

By Al Kamen  |  12:26 PM ET, 10/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  toilets, Navy, aircraft carrier, USS George H.W. Bush, clogs, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/28/2012

Army chief McHugh rehabs pelvic fracture
By Al Kamen
The Army secretary injured his pelvis in a biking accident in Northern Virginia on Monday.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 09/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Army Secretary, John McHugh, Walter Reed, bike accident, pelvis, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:10 PM ET, 09/27/2012

Arne Duncan says he’s staying — if Obama does
By Al Kamen
The Education Secretary says he’s in it for the “long haul.”

By Al Kamen  |  05:10 PM ET, 09/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Arne Duncan, Education Secretary, second term, Obama, cabinet, Hamilton project, brookings institution, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:36 PM ET, 09/27/2012

Petraeus to Princeton?
By Al Kamen
There are rumors that the CIA chief is interested in the top job at the Ivy League university.

By Al Kamen  |  12:36 PM ET, 09/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  David Petraeus, CIA, Princeton, pesident, Daily Princetonian, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/26/2012

Pentagon warns on former Seal’s Osama book
By Al Kamen
Defense security official issues guidelines on reading new book.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 09/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Osama bin Laden, Navy Seals, Seal Team 6, Book, Matt Bissonnette, Pentagon, Defense Department, Obama mission, No Easy Day, Dutton Books, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:34 PM ET, 09/24/2012

Mitt Romney’s sinking Latino poll numbers
By Al Kamen
New tracking poll shows GOP candidate’s increasing problems with Latinos

By Al Kamen  |  12:34 PM ET, 09/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Romney, Berlin, Latinos, Latino Decisions, poll, Univision, University of Miami, candidates forum, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 12:40 PM ET, 09/21/2012

Ann Romney wins Loop Quote of the Week
By Al Kamen
Ann Romney shot back at Mitt’s critics.

By Al Kamen  |  12:40 PM ET, 09/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Ann Romney, Bill Kristol, Peggy Noonan, contest, deadline, Loop contest, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 10:15 AM ET, 09/21/2012

GOP to yield on taxing the rich if Obama wins? Is the new iPhone worth getting? Wind power tax break is up for grabs (read-this roundup)

By Al Kamen
More on the iPhone 5 and wind power in the Loop’s read-this roundup

By Al Kamen  |  10:15 AM ET, 09/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  iPhone 5, review, Taxes, House, GOP, Republicans, Obama, re-elected, wind power, credits, Lori Montgomery, Paul Kane, Juliet Eilperin, Hayley Matsunaga, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:58 PM ET, 09/20/2012

State Department: Rosemary Woods redux?
By Al Kamen
Seems the transcript loses words sometimes.

By Al Kamen  |  05:58 PM ET, 09/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  State Department, Victoria Nuland, schools, embassies, transcript, Rosemary Woods, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:27 PM ET, 09/20/2012

Senate fails to confirm pending judges before recess
By Al Kamen
The gridlocked Senate was unable to confirm 17 trial court judges before leaving for recess.

By Al Kamen  |  04:27 PM ET, 09/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Judges, judicial vacancies, Senate Judicary Committee, confirmation, judgeships, Obama, Bush, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:57 PM ET, 09/20/2012

Obama’s not the only critic of lobbyists
By Al Kamen
The ambassador in Washington from Argentina says they are fueling trade war.

By Al Kamen  |  12:57 PM ET, 09/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Argentina, trade war, lobbyists, Obama, Jorge Arguello, Gucci, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 10:18 AM ET, 09/20/2012

Behind the big-bucks fundraisers; Panetta’s bumpy China trip; Washington’s richest (read-this roundup)
By Al Kamen
Behind the big-bucks fundraisers; Panetta’s bumpy China trip; Washington’s wealth (read-this roundup)

By Al Kamen  |  10:18 AM ET, 09/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Washington region wealth, richest counties, Panetta, China, Xi Jinping, Gary Locke, Mitt Romney, fundraisers, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 09/20/2012

Loop pick the president: Contest deadline looms!
By Al Kamen
Time is getting shorter to enter the Loop’s quadrennial Pick the President Contest.

By Al Kamen  |  06:00 AM ET, 09/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Romney, contest, deadline, Loop contest, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:20 PM ET, 09/19/2012

BACKGROUND CHECK: FEC Chairman Caroline Hunter
By Emily Heil
Meet Caroline Hunter, who heads the agency tasked with overseeing all those pesky campaign-finance rules.

By Emily Heil  |  04:20 PM ET, 09/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  caroline hunter, fec, federal election commission, background check, in the loop, al kamen, emily heil

Posted at 12:50 PM ET, 09/19/2012

Mitt Romney’s 47 percent first used by Nixon?
By Al Kamen
Seems Mitt Romney’s worry about 47 percent of people being freeloaders is nothing new

By Al Kamen  |  12:50 PM ET, 09/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Mitt Romney, 47, 47 percent, Nixon, McGovern, commercial, 1972, welfare, hard hat, Democrats for Nixon, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 10:46 AM ET, 09/19/2012

Romney does well with irresponsible moocher voters; Where does he go from here? Eastwood opines (read-this roundup)
By Al Kamen

By Al Kamen  |  10:46 AM ET, 09/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Mitt Romney, taxpayers, moochers, video, Clint Eastwood, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:23 PM ET, 09/18/2012

Senate may confirm new missile defense chief
By Al Kamen
There are hints of a move on the Hill to confirm a new MDA director by the end of the week.

By Al Kamen  |  05:23 PM ET, 09/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Senate, Jim Syring, James Syring, Missile Defense Agency, MDA, Parick O'Reilly, Pentagon, inspector general, report, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:06 PM ET, 09/18/2012

Korea set to reclaim former Logan Circle embassy
By Al Kamen
The Korean government is purchasing a house once used as its embassy here.

By Al Kamen  |  02:06 PM ET, 09/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Korea, Japan, Logan Circle, embassy, disputed islands, Hillary Clinton, Timothy Jenkins, Lauretta Jenkins, Joseon, Phelps House, Teamsters, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 10:36 AM ET, 09/18/2012

Romney viral video silver lining? Happy birthday to the Constitution (read-this roundup)
By Al Kamen
Here’s what the Loop is reading Tuesday morning

By Al Kamen  |  10:36 AM ET, 09/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Mitt Romney, Romney video, class warfare, 47%, secret video, Obama, Constitution, birthday, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 04:21 PM ET, 09/17/2012

World Bank President Kim on the move again
By Al Kamen
World Bank Institute officials are working hard to ensure bank President Jim Yong Kim is pleased when he pops in on employees there.

By Al Kamen  |  04:21 PM ET, 09/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  World Bank, Kim, Jim Yong Kim, President Kim, World Bank Institute, visit, Kim visit, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:11 PM ET, 09/17/2012

Guillermo Clinton’s star power with Latinos
By Al Kamen
A new poll shows Obama at 71 percent favorability with Latino voters, Romney at 24 percent and Bill Clinton at 82 percent.

By Al Kamen  |  01:11 PM ET, 09/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Clinton, Latinos, Obama, Romney, poll, Latino Decisions, Hispanic, ratings, Bush, McCan, Julian Castro, Republican convention, Democratic convention, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 10:41 AM ET, 09/17/2012

D.C. Panda’s new cub! Romney losing his edge; Iranians admit to troops in Syria (read-this roundup)
By Al Kamen
In the Loop’s top reads of the day.

By Al Kamen  |  10:41 AM ET, 09/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Mei Xiang, panda baby, national zoo, panda cub, Romney, Obama, deficit, polls, Iran, Syria, Iranian forces, wolves, endangered species list, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:43 PM ET, 09/14/2012

Adelstein to head PCIA, the wireless infrastructure trade association
By Al Kamen
Former FCC commissioner and now head of the Agricuture Department’s Rural Utilities Service is said to be heading to private sector.

By Al Kamen  |  12:43 PM ET, 09/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Jonathan Adelstein, telecommunications, FCC, Federal Communications Commission, Rural Utilities Service, Tom Daschle, PCIA, wireless, AT&T, Verizon, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:02 PM ET, 09/13/2012

Romney’s bad patch doesn’t mean it’s over (Loop contest)
By Al Kamen
Recent polls and criticism of Romney’s attack on Obama as kowtowing to anti-American Muslims can be overcome. The race is open and so is the Loop Contest to pick the winner.

By Al Kamen  |  12:02 PM ET, 09/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Romney, polls, election, Muslims, Reagan, Bush, John McCain, Ed Rogers, Jimmy Carter, Iranian hostages, contest, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:34 PM ET, 09/12/2012

Florida’s chads or chad, hanging either way
By Al Kamen
Is chad singular or plural?

By Al Kamen  |  03:34 PM ET, 09/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  chads, hanging chad, florida presidential election, Bryce Harper, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop, Oxford English Dictionary

Posted at 04:25 PM ET, 09/11/2012

Latino voter enthusiasm lagging?
By Al Kamen
A recent poll finds that, despite both parties’ convention efforts, Latino voters don’t appear as enthusiastic as they were in 20008.

By Al Kamen  |  04:25 PM ET, 09/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Latino vote, latinos, Romney, Obama, Republican Convention, Democratic Convention, polls, turnout, President Bush, Sen. McCain, Latino Decisions, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:49 AM ET, 09/11/2012

Obama or Romney? Predict the winner! (A Loop contest.)
By Al Kamen
It’s time for the traditional Loop contest to guess who’ll win the electoral and popular vote in November.

By Al Kamen  |  11:49 AM ET, 09/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama, Romney, convention bounce, Dick Morris, Bill Clinton, David Axelrod, presidential race, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop, contest

Posted at 02:32 PM ET, 09/06/2012

Missile Defense Agency chief out? Not so fast
By Al Kamen
Don’t look for the Missile Defense Agency to get a new director any time soon.

By Al Kamen  |  02:32 PM ET, 09/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Missile Defense Agency, Patrick O'Reilly, James Syring, Berlin, President Obama, Obama, Multinational Ballistic Defense Conference, Partnership for Public Service, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:24 PM ET, 09/05/2012

Seamus is not alone
By Al Kamen
A black kitten recently found herself wedged in the bumper of a Plattsburgh, N.Y. woman’s Jeep.

By Al Kamen  |  03:24 PM ET, 09/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Seamus, Romney dog, dog on the roof, Mitt Romney, Pumpkin, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 09/05/2012

Wasserman Schultz tripped by the tape
By Al Kamen
Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s comments about an Israeli ambassador cause a ruckus.

By Al Kamen  |  01:15 PM ET, 09/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Michael Oren, Israel, Washington Examiner, Fox News, Republicans, dangerous, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/05/2012

State Department offers prizes for arms-control ideas
By Al Kamen
You can win $10,000 in prizes for coming up with ways for new technologies to catch cheaters and proliferators.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 09/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  State Department, arms control, challenge, Facebook, Twitter, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:36 PM ET, 09/04/2012

Paul Ryan’s marathon runs to Charlotte
By Al Kamen
Look for Democrats at their convention this week to ridicule Ryan’s claim to have run a sub-three-hour marathon.

By Al Kamen  |  12:36 PM ET, 09/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Paul Ryan, marathon, Grandma's Marathon, Runner's world, Runner's world newswire, Scott Douglas, Democratic National Convention, Henry Hyde, Youthful indiscretion, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:19 PM ET, 08/15/2012

Devo pens song for Seamus Romney
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | New wave group has song and mobile game about the famous Romney dog’s ad­ven­ture on the roof of the family car.

By Al Kamen  |  01:19 PM ET, 08/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Devo, Whip It, Seamus, Romney, Gerald Casale, Gail Collins, Republican National Convention, National Dog Day, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 08/15/2012

Congress scours the globe in search of facts
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Retiring lawmakers make swan-song journeys before they leave office.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 08/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Lame duck travel, codels, congressional travel, lame duck, Kent Conrad, Olympia Snowe, Dennis Cardoza, Richard Lugar, Devin Nunes, European Command, Bonjardim, Praca dos Restauradores, Pasteis de Belem, Jack Kingston, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 08/14/2012

Did Romney ensure a great Olympics?
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Could Romney’s musing before the Games have pushed the Brits to do their best?

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 08/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  British, Olympics, British Olympics, David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Olympic games, President Obama, medals, China, Russia, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 08/13/2012

Romney’s Ryan pick surprises pundits — and that’s no surprise

By Al Kamen
The media cognoscenti don’t have particularly sparkling track records when it comes to predicting vice presidential selections, especially GOP candidates.

By Al Kamen  |  07:00 AM ET, 08/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Mitt Romney, Rob Portman, Tim Pawlenty, vice president, Walter Mondale, Lloyd Bentsen, Al Gore, John Edwards, Geraldine Ferraro, Joe Biden, Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Sarah Palin, Dick Cheney, Jack Kemp, Dan Quayle, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Bob Dole, John Kerry, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:57 PM ET, 08/09/2012

Loop Quote of The Week
By Al Kamen
This week goes to Mitt Romney, lamenting that campaigns keep repeating claims long after they’ve been debunked by fact-checkers.

By Al Kamen  |  03:57 PM ET, 08/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, campaign ads, welfare ad, Glenn Kessler, Pinocchio, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:14 PM ET, 08/09/2012

Biden: ‘a quote by any other name. . .’
By Al Kamen
Seems politicians often lay claim to good — or bad — prose.

By Al Kamen  |  03:14 PM ET, 08/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Joe Biden, Neil Kinnock, plagiarism, Michael Dukakis, Democratic nominee, Jon Kyl, Michael Turner, Mary McGrory, House Armed Services Committee, Obama administration, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:42 PM ET, 08/08/2012

Judicial Zumba in Maui is a go!
By Al Kamen
The judges tell two senators it’s too late to cancel the pricey conference in paradise.

By Al Kamen  |  12:42 PM ET, 08/08/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, Maui, Judicial Conference, judges, Charles Grassley, Jeff Sessions, Alex Kozinski, Zumba, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop, Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito

Posted at 01:46 PM ET, 08/07/2012

Obama campaign and the hemp connection
By Al Kamen
Hemp legalization advocates point out a scarf being sold on the campaign store is made of a cotton/hemp blend, though hemp can’t be grown in the United States.

By Al Kamen  |  01:46 PM ET, 08/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Hemp, Marijuana, legalize, Obama: Obama campaign store, Monique Pean, scarf, china, Vote Hemp, Ron Wyden, Rand Paul, Ron Paul, Barney Frank, Dana Rohrabacher, Dr. Bronner, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/07/2012

Senate ‘pro formas’ to be held down the street
By Al Kamen
The Senate Chamber is getting a facelift, so the “pro forma” sessions will be in the Hart Senate office building.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 08/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Harry Reid, Senate, Senate recess, Senate pro forma, Senate chamber, pro forma sessions, Senate Judiciary Committee, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 03:23 PM ET, 08/06/2012

Obama picks new Missile Defense Agency director
By Al Kamen
Fate of incumbent director Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly is unclear.

By Al Kamen  |  03:23 PM ET, 08/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  President Obama, Leon Panetta, Pentagon, Patrick O"Reilly, Missile Defense Agency, James D. Syring, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/03/2012

Iraq invasion: Greatest strategic decision?
By Al Kamen
Former Pentagon intelligence chief says decision may be greatest of first half of 21st century.

By Al Kamen  |  08:00 AM ET, 08/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Iraq, U.S. invasion, Donald Rumsfeld, Stephen Cambone, Pentagon, Aspen Security Forum, Noah Schachtman, Wired, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:59 PM ET, 08/02/2012

Congress flies to rescue the euro zone
By Al Kamen
Lawmakers are taking off for a week of talks with finance ministers and bankers in Ireland, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

By Al Kamen  |  02:59 PM ET, 08/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Congress, congressional travel, Europe, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Kent Conrad, Pat Leahy, Thad Cochran, Olympia Snowe, Jeanne Shaheen, Dennis Cardoza, Treasury, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:12 PM ET, 08/01/2012

Judicial wannabes’ chances — slim to none
By Al Kamen
The climate these days is stacked against Obama judicial nominees getting confirmed.

By Al Kamen  |  12:12 PM ET, 08/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obama judges, judicial appointments, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Al Gore, Pat Leahy, Senate Judicarry Committee, judicial vacancies, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:31 PM ET, 07/31/2012

House approves streamlined Senate confirmation process
By Al Kamen
The House is expected to pass a measure to improve the clogged presidential appointee confirmation process by eliminating 169 jobs from requiring Senate approval.

By Al Kamen  |  01:31 PM ET, 07/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Presidential appointments, Senate confirmation, confirmation process, Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, Charles Schumer, Lamar Alexander, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop, Barack Obama

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 07/23/2012

Inhofe’s Pilots Bill of Rights set to pass
By Al Kamen
Pilot and Sen. James Inhofe’s bill, sparked by his near-miss of workers on a closed runway, is awaiting President Obama’s signature

By Al Kamen  |  03:00 PM ET, 07/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, James Inhofe, Pilot's Bill of Rights, license, closed runway, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:58 AM ET, 07/23/2012

Afghanistan: The troubled U.S. effort
By Al Kamen
“Little America,” a new book by Rajiv Chandrasekaran, reveals in detail the bureaucratic infighting and ineptitude that have plagued the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan

By Al Kamen  |  11:58 AM ET, 07/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Afghanistan, "Little America, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Taliban, Imperial Life in Emerald City, State Department, Pentagon, Kabul, Iraq, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:44 PM ET, 07/19/2012

Romney and Obama thinking about transition
By Al Kamen
A new federal law kicks in right after the conventions to allow the government to provide earlier support for both candidates to work up a plan before settling, or resettling, into the Oval Office.

By Al Kamen  |  01:44 PM ET, 07/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Romney, Obama, Bush, Clinton, transitions, planning, Clay Johnson, John Podesta, Ted Kaufman, 9/11, Presidential Transition Act, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:12 PM ET, 07/18/2012

Hillary Clinton’s miles: In the Loop gets one Pinocchio
By Al Kamen
Washington Post Fact Checker columnist finds fault in an item on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s travels.

By Al Kamen  |  03:12 PM ET, 07/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, miles traveled, days, State Department, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:14 PM ET, 07/18/2012

Missile Defense Agency awaits ‘corrective action’

By Al Kamen
A DOD inspector general report called on Army Secretary John McHugh to take action on a scathing report on MDA director’s management style.

By Al Kamen  |  12:14 PM ET, 07/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Missile Defense Agency, Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, Leon Panetta, George Little, inspector general, George Wright, Army, John McHugh, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:44 PM ET, 07/17/2012

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s travel logs
By Al Kamen
The secretary of state is No. 1 in terms of countries visited and days on the road.

By Al Kamen  |  05:44 PM ET, 07/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Madeleine Albright, travel, miles traveled, days on the road, countries visited, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:31 PM ET, 07/17/2012

World Bank prepares for a presidential visit
By Al Kamen
Elaborate preparations smooth the way when a dignitary comes to call.

By Al Kamen  |  03:31 PM ET, 07/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:08 PM ET, 07/16/2012

Maui judicial conference still a go
By Al Kamen
IN THE LOOP | Bowing to Senate pressure, a court postponed its 2013 California conference, but this year’s Maui one is still on.

By Al Kamen  |  01:08 PM ET, 07/16/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Maui, judicial conference, judges, 9th circuit, federal judges, Zumba, Hawaii, Chuck Grassley, Jeff Sessions, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:28 PM ET, 07/12/2012

Bill Clinton’s summer reading fave
By Al Kamen
Our former colleague E. J. Dionne’s new book gets high marks from the former president.

By Al Kamen  |  02:28 PM ET, 07/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bill Clinton, Clinton Global Initiative, E.J. Dionne, Ashley Judd, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:53 PM ET, 07/11/2012

Pentagon and House committee exchange fire
By Al Kamen
Pentagon effort to reduce reports to the Hill prompts rebuke from House committee chairman.

By Al Kamen  |  05:53 PM ET, 07/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Leon Panetta, Buck McKeon, Bob Gates, Pentagon, Congress, China, China's military, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 01:27 PM ET, 07/10/2012

IG report blasts missile defense chief
By Al Kamen
The Pentagon inspector general faulted the leadership style of the head of the Missile Defense Agency.

By Al Kamen  |  01:27 PM ET, 07/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Missile Defense Agency, DOD, Pentagon, Inspector General, IG Report, Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop