Sean Lengell

Read the latest stories and analysis from Sean Lengell.

President Obama has struggled for years to overcome Republican opposition to his nominations for top government or judicial posts. (Examiner/Graeme Jennings)

Senate Democrats ramping up ‘nuclear option’ threat

Sean Lengell · November 4, 2013 5:00 am

Lindsey Graham vows to block nominations over Benghazi

Lindsey Graham vows to block nominations over Benghazi

Sean Lengell · November 3, 2013 4:00 am

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said "I think there's a hammer lock on the Congress by the gun owners and gun people," making it impossible to pass an assault weapons ban. (AP File)

Dianne Feinstein: Gun owners have ‘hammer lock’ on Congress

Sean Lengell · November 3, 2013 4:00 am

The National Security Agency has been hammered in recent weeks over media reports, based on information leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, that the agency has tracked the phone calls of millions of ordinary citizens in Western Europe for more than a decade. (AP File)

Dianne Feinstein: Full review needed of U.S. spy programs

Sean Lengell · November 3, 2013 4:00 am

National Security Agency Director Gen. Keith Alexander has been hammered over media reports, based on information leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, that the agency has tracked the phone calls of millions of ordinary citizens in Western Europe for more than a decade. (Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)

National Security

On the slide: NSA Director Gen. Keith Alexander defends surveillance programs

Sean Lengell · November 1, 2013 4:00 am

Congressional negotiators finally meet to hammer out farm bill

Congressional negotiators finally meet to hammer out farm bill

Sean Lengell · October 31, 2013 4:00 am

FILE - In this May 1, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama's nominee for the Federal Housing Finance Authority director Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., waves during the announcement of his nomination in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Democrats are struggling to halt a Republican blockade against Obama's pick of Watt and of Patricia Millett for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Senate rejects Obama nominations as fight over White House authority amps up

Sean Lengell · October 31, 2013 4:00 am

House Budget Committee chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., makes his way past reporters as House Republicans move to the chamber for a vote as the federal government remains partially shut down and faces a first-ever default between Oct. 17 and the end of the month, at the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 11. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Budget panel begins work but admits public skeptical it can reach deal

Sean Lengell · October 30, 2013 4:00 am

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer wants to give President Obama more money to help fix the costly federal health care exchanges that have been roiled by problems since they launched at the beginning of the month.ÃÂ (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Steny Hoyer: Obamacare creators knew some Americans would lose health coverage

Sean Lengell · October 29, 2013 4:00 am

National Intelligence Director James Clapper testifies in front of the House Intelligence Committee about the United States' spying programs on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013.

National Security

Chief spy James Clapper says U.S. spies on foreign leaders

Sean Lengell · October 29, 2013 4:00 am

House Speaker John Boehner on Tuesday called for a "fix" of Obamacare but stopped short of demanding an immediate repeal of the health care law, something many of his fellow Republicans still are pushing for. (AP/Susan Walsh)

John Boehner: ‘Fix’ Obamacare now but repeal still ultimate goal

Sean Lengell · October 29, 2013 4:00 am

A sales associate demonstrates the use of a electronic cigarette and the smoke like vapor that comes from it in Aurora, Colo. on March 2, 2011.ÃÂ The electronic cigarette industry is booming, with sales doubling annually since 2008 and revenue expected to reach at least $1.5 billion this year.ÃÂ (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

E-cigarette industry under FDA scrutiny

Sean Lengell · October 25, 2013 4:00 am