Republican

Top Republican Senator Rob Portman says he now supports same-sex marriage after his son came out as gay – and reveals David Cameron helped inspire his change of heart.

Assertive, confident and in no mood for compromise. After years of frustration at a bitterly divided Congress, Obama laid out his priorities for the next four years: a wish list, or a realistic plan?

A chance to lay out his priorities and the goals of his second term. As President Obama prepares to make his State of the Union address tonight, he will be warning congress: don’t try to stop me.

She has the experience, the support and an unrivalled fundraising team. Hillary Clinton would make a formidable candidate in 2016, but does she have what it takes to run a presidential campaign?

A president, on the brink of his second term, racing against the clock to push historic legislation through a reluctant House. Does Lincoln’s battle to abolish slavery hold any parallels today?

If the first term is all about making an impact, the second term is about the legacy. For Obama – still weathering an economic storm – gun control has forced itself to the top of his agenda.

President Barack Obama announces a host of measures to crack down on gun violence following the deaths of 20 children at a primary school in Connecticut.

“Congress needs to examine its conscience”, President Obama has declared – promising a range of measures to control gun violence, including a “meaningful” assault weapons ban.

President Obama has nominated maverick Republican Chuck Hagel as his new defence secretary – but critics in his own party are giving him a tough ride over his stance on Israel and Iran.

“Shame on you”: the New Jersey governor Chris Christie has launched a stinging attack on his own party leaders for scrapping a vote on relief aid for victims of superstorm Sandy.

New Hampshire made history today: becoming the first state where women now hold all its top leadership positions. So is the Granite State unique – or a model for others to follow?

Months of brinkmanship, weeks of infighting, and the spectre of economic disaster. A deal to avoid the US falling off the fiscal cliff has finally been agreed. But the battle certainly isn’t over yet.

The US economy appears to have retreated from the threat of recession after congress voted in favour of a fiscal cliff package which will raise taxes for the wealthy and delay spending cuts.

The US Senate approves legislation to avert the fiscal cliff – a combination of tax hikes and spending cuts – that was due to begin in the new year.

US Congressional leaders are scrambling to clinch a last-minute deal to avoid falling off the fiscal cliff and save America’s economy from crippling tax rises and spending cuts.