In the Loop - Afflicting official Washington since 1993

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

BACKGROUND CHECK: National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis

By Emily Heil

The Loop chats with National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis.

By Emily Heil | 09:00 AM ET, 07/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:04 PM ET, 07/03/2012

Lawmakers head to Monaco for meeting

By Al Kamen

Lawmakers flock to the south of France for an interparliamentary meeting.

By Al Kamen | 02:04 PM ET, 07/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Monaco, John McCain, Dennis Cardoza, Ogranization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, Chris Smith, French Riviera, Fairmont Montecarlo, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 05:55 PM ET, 06/29/2012

White House releases annual list of staffers and salaries

By Emily Heil

How much does your favorite staffer earn?

By Emily Heil | 05:55 PM ET, 06/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:21 PM ET, 06/29/2012

Senate approves slew of White House nominees on way out the door

By Emily Heil

The chamber approves a slate of White House nominations.

By Emily Heil | 05:21 PM ET, 06/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:26 AM ET, 06/29/2012

Hyperbole on health care; that other Supreme Court case; DNC official apologizes for Tweet (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup: Doomsdayers should take comfort; Thursday’s other Supreme Court ruling; and a DNC official walks back on a Tweet.

By Emily Heil | 10:26 AM ET, 06/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:07 PM ET, 06/28/2012

Chief Justice Roberts votes for Obama, who didn’t vote for him

By Al Kamen

Sen. Barack Obama wanted to, but ultimately didn’t vote for John Roberts to be chief justice.

By Al Kamen | 01:07 PM ET, 06/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: supreme court ruling, supreme court, richard wolffe, john roberts, obama and roberts, supreme court health care ruling, supreme court decision today, supreme court health care, supreme court ruling, individual mandate, health care upheld, supreme court rulings, individual mandate upheld, health care tax, obamacare, supreme court opinion, supreme court, scotus healthcare, aca, supreme court upholds health care, health care ruling, obamacare decision, healthcare decision, roberts supreme court, supreme court opinion, health care ruling, affordable care act, supreme court health, supreme court decision, health care reform, scotus obamacare, obamacare decision, Richard Wolffe, Al Kamen, Glenn Kessler, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 10:52 AM ET, 06/28/2012

On health-care predictions, how did pundits’ crystal balls perform?

By Emily Heil

How well did the talking heads do in predicting the big health-care case?

By Emily Heil | 10:52 AM ET, 06/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:21 PM ET, 06/27/2012

Scalia criticized by conservative jurist Richard Posner

By Al Kamen

U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Richard A. Posner faults Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent in the Arizona immigration case.

By Al Kamen | 04:21 PM ET, 06/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:16 PM ET, 06/27/2012

Air Force may reward those who can stand the cold

By Al Kamen

The Air Force is looking for medals and ribbons and some can go to civilians.

By Al Kamen | 02:16 PM ET, 06/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Air Force, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, Vietnam, Korea, World War II, U.N., NATO, Andmiral Byrd, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:01 PM ET, 06/27/2012

FDA to regulate fine cigars, but foes say stogies breed bipartisanship

By Emily Heil

Advocates of exempting fine stogies from FDA rules say smoking brings people together.

By Emily Heil | 02:01 PM ET, 06/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:01 PM ET, 06/27/2012

Tanning bed tax gets a tweak; will it survive Supreme Court health-care decision?

By Emily Heil

The provision was expected to pull in $2.7 billion over 10 years — nothing to sneeze at.

By Emily Heil | 12:01 PM ET, 06/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:41 AM ET, 06/27/2012

Supreme Court doesn’t leak; Romney’s immigration squish; and Pentagon pride (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, the Supreme Court doesn’t leak; Romney’s immigration squish; and the Pentagon’s gay pride.

By Emily Heil | 08:41 AM ET, 06/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:22 PM ET, 06/26/2012

Barack Obama: The new book

By Al Kamen

An In-the-Loop summer book recommendation: the Obama biography by David Maraniss

By Al Kamen | 07:22 PM ET, 06/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:06 PM ET, 06/26/2012

Obama vacation? Loop contest reminder

By Al Kamen

Don’t forget to enter the In the Loop contest to advise on the best vacation spot this summer for the Obamas.

By Al Kamen | 12:06 PM ET, 06/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: President Obama, Obama vacation, Martha's Vineyard, GOP convention, Bush, Clinton, Lake Erie, Cedar Point, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 10:16 AM ET, 06/26/2012

Old guard on defense; book blamed for Edwards-Hunter split; Jesse Jackson Jr.'s ‘exhaustion’ (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup: Two congressional stalwarts face primaries; how a book ended the Edwards-Hunter romance; Jesse Jackson Jr.'s “exhaustion.”

By Emily Heil | 10:16 AM ET, 06/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 06/26/2012

50 things you didn’t know about women lawmakers

By Emily Heil

Players in the Congressional Women’s Softball Game gave interesting tidbits about themselves to the game’s announcers.

By Emily Heil | 07:00 AM ET, 06/26/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:49 PM ET, 06/25/2012

Ted Olson: On the expert express?

By Al Kamen

Former solicitor general Ted Olson, whose views on the high court are much sought after, was heading to New York when the Supreme Court’s rulings were coming down Monday.

By Al Kamen | 05:49 PM ET, 06/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Supreme Court, Arizona, Immigration law, Arizona law, Acela Express, Ted Olson, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:11 PM ET, 06/25/2012

CATCHING UP WITH . . . Webb Hubbell

By Al Kamen

The Loop checks in to see how the former associate U.S. attorney general is doing.

By Al Kamen | 01:11 PM ET, 06/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Webb Hubbell, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Kenneth Starr: Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 06/25/2012

Obama’s summer vacation contest--last call for entries!

By Emily Heil

Submit your suggestions for where the Obamas should vacation this election-year summer.

By Emily Heil | 11:40 AM ET, 06/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 06/25/2012

Obama family vacation: Where should they go? (A Loop contest)

By Emily Heil

Where should the first family spend their summer getaway this year?

By Emily Heil | 11:40 AM ET, 06/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:41 AM ET, 06/25/2012

Lawmakers dial Treasury; the waiting game on health care; and Cory Booker in action (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, lawmakers call on Treasury; the waiting game on health care; and Cory Booker’s in action again.

By Emily Heil | 08:41 AM ET, 06/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:46 AM ET, 06/22/2012

Govs’ sunny outlook; Clinton’s goofy glasses; ex-State official’s provocative essay (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, governors have a sunny outlook; Clinton wears goofy glasses; and an ex-State official pens a provocative essay.

By Emily Heil | 08:46 AM ET, 06/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 06/22/2012

Federal officials beware! Lobbying for unsavory governments may be banned

By Al Kamen

A House Appropriations Committee-passed bill includes a provision banning

By Al Kamen | 06:00 AM ET, 06/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:44 PM ET, 06/21/2012

Congressional trip to Monaco? Not happening

By Al Kamen

A possible congressional delegation trip to an international conference on the French Riviera is not going to take place.

By Al Kamen | 06:44 PM ET, 06/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Monaco, Monte Carlo, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, Bolivia, Jacob Ostreicher, Chris Smith, human trafficking, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:57 PM ET, 06/21/2012

Congress team, in wake of defeat, vows comeback

By Emily Heil

The softball team fielded by Members of Congress looks ahead.

By Emily Heil | 02:57 PM ET, 06/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:57 PM ET, 06/21/2012

War on Terror creates buzz

By Al Kamen

An unmarked building in Northern Virginia is emitting a high-pitched whine that is driving some residents nearly crazy.

By Al Kamen | 01:57 PM ET, 06/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Northern Virginia, Vienna, office building, FBI, CIA, GSA, buzzing, terrorist screening center, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:54 AM ET, 06/21/2012

Patrick Leahy close to milestone vote

By Emily Heil

Sen. Patrick Leahy is within spitting distance of his 14,000th Senate vote.

By Emily Heil | 11:54 AM ET, 06/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:38 AM ET, 06/21/2012

‘Congress’? Never heard of it; a scramble on egg lobbying; (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Congress is the institution that dares not speak its name and a scramble over egg lobbying.

By Emily Heil | 08:38 AM ET, 06/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:51 PM ET, 06/20/2012

Journalists’ mighty bats carry the day

By Emily Heil

The journalists carry the day, despite the confidence of the lawmakers. “Two times the age, three times the determination,” said Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), noting — and dismissing — the relative youth of the media team.

By Emily Heil | 08:51 PM ET, 06/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:24 PM ET, 06/20/2012

Cabinet secretaries may want to rethink official portraits

By Emily Heil

Cabinet secretaries might want to consider foregoing the traditional portrait treatment.

By Emily Heil | 03:24 PM ET, 06/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:27 AM ET, 06/20/2012

Romney’s money shot; a not-so-hot GSA property; and Harry Reid jumps the shark (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s Romney’s money shot; a not-so-hot GSA property; and Harry Reid jumps the shark.

By Emily Heil | 08:27 AM ET, 06/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:09 PM ET, 06/19/2012

Judicial Zumba in Maui on taxpayer dime

By Al Kamen

A judicial conference in Hawaii has raised some senatorial eyebrows

By Al Kamen | 05:09 PM ET, 06/19/2012 | 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 02:21 PM ET, 06/19/2012

Women lawmakers, journos face off in softball game

By Emily Heil

Women lawmakers, journos prepare to face off in annual charity softball game.

By Emily Heil | 02:21 PM ET, 06/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:57 AM ET, 06/19/2012

Congressional fundraisers don’t stop election day

By Al Kamen

Lawmakers can never stop thinking about hitting up contributors for cash, even if they’ve got a safe seat.

By Al Kamen | 11:57 AM ET, 06/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Pebble Beach Liinks, Golf, congressional fundraiser, Tom Reynolds, Pat Tiberi, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 08:57 AM ET, 06/19/2012

Romney’s new swagger; Bristol Palin’s show ends in tears; and more Rielle Hunter (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Mitt Romney’s new swagger; the tears of a Bristol; and more (really!) from Rielle Hunter.

By Emily Heil | 08:57 AM ET, 06/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:57 PM ET, 06/18/2012

Pearlie Reed, top USDA official, departs

By Emily Heil

Pearlie Reed ends a 30-plus year career at the agency with his second retirement.

By Emily Heil | 04:57 PM ET, 06/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:22 PM ET, 06/18/2012

Colin Powell: ‘Not. . . hiding in a bunker.’

By Al Kamen

By Al Kamen | 02:22 PM ET, 06/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Colin Powell, Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton, "It worked for me", George Kennan, State Department, William Rogers, New York Times, Washington post, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 06/18/2012

Loop Missile Contest Winners!

By Al Kamen

The winners of the In the Loop contest to pick the best sites for a House-passed East Coast missile interceptor system are. . .

By Al Kamen | 12:00 PM ET, 06/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Missile Defense, East Coast, Interceptors, House of Representatives, Iran, North Korea, Fenway Park, Nationals Park, Yankees, Snookie, Jersey Shore, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 08:43 AM ET, 06/18/2012

Ruth Bader Ginsburg gets few laughs; it’s GOP veep tryout time; Irish Embassy hails Joyce (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

Ruth Bader Ginsburg gets few laughs, it’s GOP veep tryout time, and the Irish Embassy salutes Joyce.

By Emily Heil | 08:43 AM ET, 06/18/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:41 PM ET, 06/15/2012

McGurk invited then-mistress to be Harvard guest lecturer

By Emily Heil

Iraqi ambassador nominee Brett McGurk invited his then-mistress to be a guest lecturer at a Harvard course he taught.

By Emily Heil | 03:41 PM ET, 06/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:35 AM ET, 06/15/2012

Inside Congress members’ mortages; fed humor; Bill Richardson tanks (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup: peeking at Congress members’ mortgages, funny feds and Bill Richardson tanks.

By Emily Heil | 09:35 AM ET, 06/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:46 PM ET, 06/14/2012

Mari Carmen Aponte confirmed as ambassador to El Salvador

By Al Kamen

Senate voted Thursday to break a GOP filibuster and confirm Obama nominee Mari Carmen Aponte as ambassador to El Salvador.

By Al Kamen | 04:46 PM ET, 06/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Mari Carmen Aponte, el salvador, aponte, Marco Rubio, recess appointment Senate, filibuster, In the Loop, Al Kamen, Emily Heil

Posted at 02:47 PM ET, 06/14/2012

Monte Carlo codel: Sign up now!

By Al Kamen

A conference official blames In the Loop’s inquiries for shrinking a congressional delegation headed to a gathering at the gambling mecca.

By Al Kamen | 02:47 PM ET, 06/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: OSCE, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, NATO, Spencer Oliver, Nixon, Watergate, Congressional Delegation, Codel, Soviet Union, European Union, Chris Smith, Robert Aderholt, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 06/14/2012

Commerce Secretary: The Cabinet-level curse?

By Emily Heil

John Bryson is only the latest man to hold the job to suffer bad luck or scandal.

By Emily Heil | 11:53 AM ET, 06/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:48 AM ET, 06/14/2012

Iraq ambassador nominee vote could be delayed

By Emily Heil

IN THE LOOP | Criticism of relationship with WSJ’s Gina Chon may push back vote on Brett McGurk.

By Emily Heil | 08:48 AM ET, 06/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:15 AM ET, 06/14/2012

H.W.’s happy; Michelle Obama pins; and Romney’s out of the Fox-hole (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup: George H.W. Bush is content, Michelle Obama is pinning and Mitt Romney steps out of the FOX-hole.

By Emily Heil | 08:15 AM ET, 06/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 06/14/2012

Army orders ‘hot pink’ burqas for Afghanistan

By Al Kamen

The Army has issued a solicitation for various Afghan national police and army uniforms as well as scarves and burqas in various colors for women.

By Al Kamen | 06:00 AM ET, 06/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:54 AM ET, 06/13/2012

Obama’s June designations

By Timothy R. Smith

President Obama is giving June an identity crisis with a slew of commemorations.

By Timothy R. Smith | 10:54 AM ET, 06/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:37 AM ET, 06/13/2012

Women face congressional district glass ceilings; who’s Bryson?; a spy mourned and a scribe resigns (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup: women in Congress, who’s Bryson?, a spy mourned and a resigned scribe.

By Emily Heil | 08:37 AM ET, 06/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:59 PM ET, 06/12/2012

Obama nominates two for key appeals court

By Al Kamen

By Al Kamen | 04:59 PM ET, 06/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Obama, judges, appellate, Caitlin Hannigan, Sri Srinivasan, Patricia Wald, J. Harvie Wilkinson, Stephen Breyer, Sandra Day O'Connor

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 06/12/2012

White House softball team smoked by pot lobby’s bats

By Emily Heil

The White House team gets smoked by the pot lobby’s bats.

By Emily Heil | 12:30 PM ET, 06/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 06/12/2012

After Asma al-Assad’s Vogue profile, more despot chic needed

By Emily Heil

Forget Asma al-Assad. The Loop has ideas for other wives of tyrants we’d like to see profiled in Vogue.

By Emily Heil | 11:05 AM ET, 06/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:23 AM ET, 06/12/2012

Commerce secretary takes a break; bringing moderate back; texting donations (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, the commerce secretary takes a leave; a candidate brings moderate back; and the FEC approves texting donations.

By Emily Heil | 08:23 AM ET, 06/12/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:42 PM ET, 06/11/2012

Mari Carmen Aponte nomination to resurface in the Senate?

By Emily Heil

The Senate might take another vote on the nomination of Mari Carmen Aponte.

By Emily Heil | 05:42 PM ET, 06/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:11 PM ET, 06/11/2012

Anti-Muslim bias at religious freedom commission?

By Al Kamen

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has been sued in federal court for discriminating against a Muslim lawyer.

By Al Kamen | 05:11 PM ET, 06/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Muslims, discrimination, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, lawsuit, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 02:17 PM ET, 06/11/2012

BACKGROUND CHECK: Rick Knabb

By Emily Heil

In the Loop grills the Rick Knabb, the new director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center.

By Emily Heil | 02:17 PM ET, 06/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:05 PM ET, 06/11/2012

Rep. Steve King seeks pro-life agriculture aide

By Al Kamen

By Al Kamen | 01:05 PM ET, 06/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: abortion, pro-life, agriculture, Rep.Steve King, House Agriculture Committee, Iowa, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 06/11/2012

Herman Cain accuser Kraushaar stays off the record

By Emily Heil

The federal spokeswoman who once accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment gave a talk on keeping your agency out of the news...and it was off the record.

By Emily Heil | 11:30 AM ET, 06/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:45 AM ET, 06/11/2012

Super PACs for pals; Obama won’t take a hike; and and end to the ‘-gate’ trend?

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Super PACs for pals; Obama won’t take a hike; an end to the ‘-gate’ trend; and a fine red for Speaker Boehner.

By Emily Heil | 09:45 AM ET, 06/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

In the Loop: July, 2012