Stephen Dinan

Obama team crafts ways to ‘jolt’ economy

President-elect Barack Obama's campaign promise to cut spending has been waylaid by the reality of the economy, as he warned Monday the deficit is going to grow. Published November 25, 2008

Obama officially appoints Geithner

Barack Obama officially named Tim Geithner as his first Cabinet appointment Monday, nominating him to lead Treasury and saying he would move swiftly to detail "meaningful cuts and sacrifices" to the federal budget on Tuesday. Published November 24, 2008

EXCLUSIVE: Cantor says GOP is no longer ‘relevant’

Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, poised to ascend to House Republicans' No. 2 leader this week, said the Republican Party in Washington is no longer "relevant" to voters and must stop simply espousing principles. Published November 17, 2008

GOP’s McCain-Feingold suit looks to Supreme Court

Election lawyers say the Republican National Committee is probably banking on changes to the Supreme Court in its latest challenge to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. Published November 14, 2008

Palin urges GOP to put defeat in past

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Thursday argued that her ticket lost the presidential race not because of any campaign failures but because "it was not our time. It was not our moment." Published November 13, 2008

EXCLUSIVE: Agenda disappears from Obama Web site

President-elect Barack Obama over the weekend scrubbed his transition Web site, deleting most of what had been a massive agenda for his first term that appears on his campaign's site. Published November 11, 2008

Obama getting advice from everyone

Want to avoid a Hurricane Katrina-style government foul-up? Congress' watchdog agency has the playbook for President-elect Barack Obama to improve veterans' care, avoid a catastrophic health or food-safety emergency and improve the U.S. image overseas. Published November 11, 2008

Obama weighs Cabinet, early action

Top advisers to President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday to expect at least a "token" Republican in his Cabinet as a gesture of bipartisanship, but his transition manager also said to expect the next president to undo some of President Bush's executive orders. Published November 10, 2008

Obama apologizes for Nancy Reagan joke

President-elect Barack Obama called to apologize to former first lady Nancy Reagan on Friday after he made an errant joke at her expense in his first postelection press conference. Published November 8, 2008

Obama apologizes for Nancy Reagan joke

President-elect Barack Obama called to apologize to former first lady Nancy Reagan on Friday after he made an errant joke at her expense in his first post-election press conference. Published November 7, 2008

At ‘rock bottom,’ GOP choosing leaders

After a second election with big losses and no heir apparent, the Republican Party is looking for a messenger, House Republicans are girding for a leadership battle and relieved senators are standing pat after losing at least five seats. Published November 6, 2008

Election roils GOP leaders

Their losses mounting, House Republican began their struggle for the leadership in earnest Wednesday morning as Rep. John Boehner of Ohio announced he wants to remain the House minority leader and House Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam announcing he would step down from his post. All eyes were watching to see whether House Minority Whip Roy Blunt would also step aside. Published November 5, 2008

BULLETIN: Obama wins presidency

American voters Tuesday elected Sen. Barack Obama the nation's first black president. Published November 4, 2008

All eyes on Pennsylvania as bellwether of McCain’s fate

The political pros say they'll be watching to see whether Pennsylvania goes red Tuesday - if so, Sen. John McCain might pull off one of the greatest comebacks in political history and be on his way to the White House. Published November 4, 2008

Differences in judicial nominees gain little notice

Judicial nominees are a driving force for many voters, and there's a gaping difference between Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama and his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain. Published November 3, 2008

Obama leads; margin not clear

Heading into Tuesday's election, every major independent poll gives Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama the lead over his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain. Published November 3, 2008

Republican rips Bush for caving on principles

A Republican House leader said Wednesday that President Bush and his party's congressional leadership caved on principles to help the top of their presidential ticket during the Wall Street bailout and that there could be a leadership purge if enough Republican lawmakers lose their seats next month. Published October 30, 2008