Ideas

Despite Torture Report, Obama Is Standing By the CIA

President Obama is showing solidarity with the CIA even as it deals with the fallout of the release of the Senate’s torture report. By James Oliphant

Business

Senate Releases Long-Awaited CIA Torture Report

After a long political battle, the Senate has released a report on the agency's interrogation of terror suspects. By Adam Chandler

Policy

NSA's Mass Phone Spying Will Continue for at Least Another 90 Days

The NSA’s mass spying program earns another rubber stamp nearly a year after President Obama’s pledge to end it. By Dustin Volz

Policy

Former CIA Director Braces for 'Torture Report'

Anticipating a Tuesday release of a report from the Senate Intelligence Committee, Michael Hayden said it's is as if the agency 'has been tried and convicted in absentia.' By Allen McDuffee

Policy

John Kerry Is Trying to Stall the Release of the CIA Torture Report

The secretary of State is reportedly asking the Senate to wait to release its report on the Bush-era use of “enhanced interrogation” techniques. By Dustin Volz and Lauren Fox

Policy

House Lawmakers To Reintroduce Bill To Limit NSA 'Backdoor' Spying

The measure passed the House earlier this year with major bipartisan support, but was cut out of ongoing funding negotiations. By Dustin Volz

Policy

Rand Paul Wants To Tie Declaration of War Against ISIS To Defense Bill

Under Sen. Paul's largely symbolic bill, the U.S. would have 12 months to fight ISIS with limited ground troops. By Alex Brown

Business

Military Pay Raise Set for 1 Percent

The final version of the fiscal 2015 defense authorization bill, which the House could vote on this week, includes a 1 percent pay raise. By Kellie Lunney

Policy

Will Sexual Assault Reform Derail the Defense Bill?

With time running short, Senate Armed Services leaders want to rush passage of the new defense bill without any amendments tacked on. By Jordain Carney and Alex Brown

Policy

Rand Paul Says War Should Be a ‘Last Resort’

The Republican senator and possible 2016 contender warns that ‘intervention has unintended consequences.’ By Shane Goldmacher

Policy

Lawmakers Warn Ash Carter’s Easy Confirmation Will Be Tough on Obama

To lawmakers, it’s not about Ash Carter as defense secretary. The pick is about the president. By Molly O’Toole

Policy

Congress Has Less Than 10 Days To Make All of These National Security Decisions

From Iraq to the budget, Congress has a long way to go and a short time to get there. By Molly O’Toole

Policy

Boehner Snubs Report, Pushes Forward on Benghazi

After the release of a recent GOP-led report vindicating the Obama administration, the House speaker wants to reappoint his own select inquiry into the 2012 terrorist attacks. By Russell Berman

Policy

Last-Minute Pitches for NSA Reform Fail To Gain Consensus

After a recent Senate defeat, the tech industry, privacy groups and reform-minded lawmakers are clamoring to salvage portions of the USA Patriot Act. By Brendan Sasso and Dustin Volz

Policy

What Rand Paul Gets By Declaring War Against ISIS

By declaring war against the Islamic State, he's also picking a legal battle with the White House. By Emma Roller

Policy

Only One Redacted Item Is Holding Up the CIA's Torture Report

Senators still think they can wrap up negotiations with the White House over redactions in a Senate report before the year ends. By Dustin Volz and Lauren Fox

Policy

The Battle Over Hagel’s Replacement For Defense Secretary Has Already Begun in Congress

Republican leaders cast Hagel’s fall as Obama’s fault, warning the White House to send a nominee they can confirm. By Molly O’Toole

Policy

Military Suicides Decline, But Continued Failures Hold Lessons for Future Wars

To win the wars of tomorrow, we must understand the ways we are continuing to fail our troops today.

Policy

Democrat to NSA: Forget Congress, Stop Mass Spying Now

Senate Republicans blocked a bill to restrict domestic surveillance. But Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff says the administration should act anyway. By Brendan Sasso

Policy

Did Rand Paul’s NSA Vote Fight Government Spying or Protect It?

The libertarian says his opposition to a Senate bill protected Americans’ privacy. Privacy advocates disagree. By Dustin Volz