Obama's response to George Zimmerman's acquittal helped reassure African-Americans that he speaks their language. But issues like unemployment, gun violence and prison sentencing still fester. Read More
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The Syllabus: What you need to know for the September 21 ‘MHP’
Questions about gun violence; the threatened government shutdown and how Millennials are reshaping political culture. Read More
Texas is just the beginning of battle for voting rights, says Holder
"While the suits we’ve filed in Texas mark the first voting rights enforcement actions the Justice Department has taken since the Supreme Court ruling, they will not be the last." Read More
The ‘Gang’ is gone, but immigration reform is alive–for now
Now it's up to Boehner and the GOP leadership to agree on some kind of proposal, and there are signs that this won't be impossible. Read More
On immigration, GOP swing votes try to have it both ways
Immigration policy has divided families, heightened racial tensions and wrecked the careers of politicians who got on its bad side. Can Colorado's top Republican find a way to survive? Read More
Up: September 21
What should you expect from Saturday's Up with Steve Kornacki? Find out here. Read More
Friday Gut Check: Catholic church may be headed in a new direction
Pope Francis had some interesting comments about where the Catholic Church should focus its attention. Read More
Pope Francis refocuses Catholicism on mercy
In an interview with the Jesuit America Magazine Thursday, Pope Francis insisted that the Catholic church "does not want" to condemn homosexuals. Read More
Tea Party dad would vote for son who ‘came out’ as liberal
Massachusetts State Rep. Carl Sciortino and his father laughed about their multi-party family life. Dad's only voted for one Democrat--JFK--but he might have to break that streak. Read More
Progressive Catholics hail Pope Francis’ position on social issues
“He’s trying to get us back to the Gospel, to the real, essential message of Jesus,” said Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founder of New Ways Ministry, on NewsNation Thursday. Read More
Civil rights leaders call for tougher charges in shooting death of unarmed man
The NAACP chapter of Charlotte, N.C., is calling for murder charges in the case of an unarmed black 24-year-old who was shot and killed by a police officer after what may have been an attempt to seek help for a car accident. Read More
Reasons to expect more of the same from Congress
Will the 2014 midterms be another wave election for Congress? Don't bet on it, according to a review of NBC/Wall Street Journal polling. Read More
‘Creepy Uncle Sam’ would like to give you a pelvic exam
A creepy right-wing campaign to get young people to "opt out" of signing up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act has no sense of irony. Read More
Rand Paul takes a stand on mandatory minimum sentences
Though he often toes the line on conservative issues, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell called the senator's testimony the "politically bravest thing said in Washington today." Read More
The only real challenge ‘unapologetic progressive’ Bill de Blasio faces
De Blasio, the city’s public advocate, has been a skillful populist in the race ever since July, when he had to literally get arrested to get noticed beneath the shadow of then-frontrunner Christine Quinn. Read More
How to give a ‘Gift of Purchase’ with purpose
FEED Projects and Clarins cosmetics on Wednesday launched a program at Macy's to provide 10 meals to children across the globe. Read More
Au revoir Mini-Miss pageants
Tuesday night the French senate voted to ban beauty pageants for children under the age of 16. This ban was passed in an effort to protect children, especially young girls, from being sexualized too early. Read More
Former campaign manager reflects on Coakley
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley announced her decision to run for governor. In a year that’s been dubbed “the year of political comebacks,” she is one more in a series of exiled pols who have sought public campaigns for redemption from voters. Read More
Obama on shootings: ‘We don’t have to live this way’
President Obama said that an inadequate system of background checks made Americans vulnerable to mass shootings in an interview with Telemundo's Jose Diaz-Balart. Read More
The 911 call that led to Jonathan Ferrell’s death
After his car crashed, the 24 year old man dragged himself from the wreck and banged on the door of the first house he saw. Cops answered the homeowner's panicked call--and shot the unarmed man to death. Read More
