Politics : NPR

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Officiates Same-Sex Marriage

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is shown at a White House state dinner on Oct. 13, 2011. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Officiates Same-Sex Marriage

August 31, 2013 • Two months after she joined a landmark Supreme Court ruling that said the federal government must recognize gay marriages, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Saturday was reportedly officiating such a wedding.

Question For Obama In Congress: Can He Get The Vote On Syria?

President Obama speaks in the White House Rose Garden on Saturday, joined by Vice President Biden, to announce that he wants congressional approval to attack Syria. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Question For Obama In Congress: Can He Get The Vote On Syria?

August 31, 2013 • The outcome is especially difficult to predict in a GOP-led House that's typically opposed to the president. The chances are better in the Senate with its Democratic majority.

The Two-Way

Lawmakers Welcome President Asking For Their OK On Syria

August 31, 2013 • Many congressional leaders had pushed for the White House to seek authorization before going ahead with a strike against the Damascus regime.

Read And Listen: President Obama Turns To Congress On Syria

President Obama speaks about Syria from the Rose Garden at the White House on Saturday. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

The U.S. Response To Syria

Read And Listen: President Obama Turns To Congress On Syria

August 31, 2013 • At the White House Saturday, Obama spoke about the possibility of a U.S. strike against Syria in response to the regime's alleged use of chemical weapons. While he said the U.S. should take military action, Obama said he would seek congressional authorization first.

President Obama's Full Speech

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National

Obama Asks Congress To Approve Action On Syria

August 31, 2013 • President Obama said Saturday he believes the United States should take military action against Syria, in response to last week's deadly chemical weapons attack. But in an about-face, Obama has decided to first seek a vote in Congress authorizing a military strike. It's a gamble. While approval from Congress would strengthen the president's hand, he could also suffer a stinging rebuke from lawmakers, much as British Prime Minister David Cameron did.

National

On Syria, How Might Congress Vote?

August 31, 2013 • Lawmakers from both parties in the House and Senate are praising President Obama for seeking their authorization for any military action in Syria. Still, Congress isn't even scheduled to return to Washington until Sept. 9. And how might they vote? It's "kind of a gamble" says NPR congressional reporter Ailsa Chang.

National

Republican Who Asked For Congressional Say Gets His Wish

August 31, 2013 • Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., had sent a letter to President Obama urging him to seek congressional approval before any military action against Syria. Surprisingly, on Saturday, Obama agreed. Cole talks about what comes next.

Obama To Seek Congressional Approval For Action Against Syria

At the White House Saturday, President Obama said he would seek congressional approval before taking action in Syria. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption

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Charles Dharapak/AP

The Two-Way

Obama To Seek Congressional Approval For Action Against Syria

August 31, 2013 • President Obama, speaking from the Rose Garden, said he'd decided to use military force against Syria, but was also seeking congressional authorization for the action.

President Obama's Full Speech

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Middle East

Does Obama Need Congressional Approval On Syria?

August 31, 2013 • Nearly 200 members of Congress have signed letters insisting that the president submit plans for any military strike in Syria for authorization. Host Scott Simon talks with Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington, who has signed one of the letters.

Conservatives Huddle At Strategy Meeting

August 31, 2013 • Americans for Prosperity, a group founded by the Koch brothers, met in Florida to hear from presidential contenders Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, along with Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry and Rick Scott. One issue stands above all: halting Obamacare.

Newest War Veterans In Congress Troubled By Syria Prospects

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), who served a tour of duty in Iraq, is not convinced a military strike against Syria is the right thing to do. Marc Levy/AP hide caption

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Marc Levy/AP

It's All Politics

Newest War Veterans In Congress Troubled By Syria Prospects

August 31, 2013 • Iraq and Afghanistan War vets have strong misgivings about the idea of military strikes in Syria, especially in the absence of congressional authorization.

6 Things To Keep In Mind As Obama Confronts Syria

President Obama pauses after answering questions from the news media during his meeting with Baltic leaders at the White House on Friday. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

It's All Politics

6 Things To Keep In Mind As Obama Confronts Syria

August 30, 2013 • As President Obama tries to make good on threats to punish Syrian officials for crossing a "red line" with their suspected use of chemical weapons, he's being buffeted by political crosscurrents.

What's Next In Syria? A Sampling Of Opinion

A Tomahawk cruise missile lifts off from the guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) in 2011. If a U.S. strike against Syria goes ahead, what comes next? U.S. Navy/Getty Images hide caption

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U.S. Navy/Getty Images

August 30, 2013 • The National Football League has agreed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in a settlement over concussion-related injuries. But the league also denies any wrongdoing. So is it a victory for the players? The Barbershop guys weigh in.

The Impact of War

Syrians Anxious About Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

August 30, 2013 • As Americans debate military intervention, the UN's refugee agency has warned that Syria could be on the 'verge of the abyss.' Host Michel Martin discusses the millions of Syrians who have been displaced by the conflict with Dr. Zaher Sahloul, president of the Syrian American Medical Society, and Rima Kamal, the Red Cross' spokesperson in Damascus.