After Alabama, what's next for the GOP? President Trump and some Republicans were licking their wounds after Democrat Doug Jones' stunning upset in Alabama's race for the US Senate. But others were positively relieved. Conservatives openly disagree about how much character counts.

Trump's First Constitutional Confrontation Refugees and visa-holders from seven mostly Muslim countries have been allowed into the US again since last Friday. That's when President Trump's order banning them was temporarily halted by Federal Judge James Robart in Seattle. America's new Chief Executive is outraged and has personally denounced Robart, labeling him "a so-called judge," for putting the country "in peril." The Administration's appealed, but three states, technology companies, foreign policy veterans and civil right groups say reinstating the ban would create more chaos than ever. As the issue winds through the court process, will Trump have a scapegoat to blame for a future act of terrorism?

Congressional Hearings From McCarthy to Iran-Contra, GM to Planned Parenthood, Congress has used high-profile hearings as a way to shed light on injustice and score political points. Sometimes it is hard to tell which they’re trying to accomplish. You could say that about the Benghazi hearings now taking place on Capitol Hill.

Another Split Decision, Another Political Firestorm The President says he is "deeply disappointed" with today's decision by a divided US Supreme Court, this time over the voting rights of blacks and other minority citizens. Writing for a 5-to-4 majority of the court, Chief Justice John Roberts declared that Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act -- a major achievement of the civil rights movement -- is out of date and therefore, unconstitutional. Roberts said federal guidelines for oversight of minority voting don't reflect present reality. Nine mostly Southern states and parts of others will no longer have to ask Washington to approve changes in their voting laws. Is voting discrimination against blacks and other minorities a thing of the past?  We hear the dispute that's already raging.

Will Partisanship Take a Break for Immigrant Reforgeorm? In 2009, President Obama promised comprehensive immigration reform, but his first term saw record numbers of deportations. The partial “dream act” won him a break in November’s election, but growing numbers of Latino and Asian voters are losing their patience.  As for Republicans, the angry white voters they’ve come to depend on are declining in number.  All that has led some to predict that comprehensive immigration reform is “not only possible but also likely.”

The August Recess Is Finally Over Legislative proposals for healthcare, global warming and financial regulation present major political and legislative challenges, but Capitol Hill may seem like a refuge to some members of the House and the Senate.  Congress returns to Washington with its lowest public approval ratings in 24 years, according to the Pew Research Center for the Public and the Press.

From Making History to Governing the White House An African-American rode to the White House yesterday on what pollsters call "a storm of voter dissatisfaction" and the promise of change. The challenge facing Barack Obama is to transform his iconic status into effective leadership on war, the economy, health care and global warming. We talk about how he mobilized a diverse coalition of blacks, Latinos and whites, including young people across ethnic lines. What's the reaction from those African-Americans who thought it would never happen? What's left of the Republican Party? Will fellow Democrats help or hinder the Obama Administration?

The Democrats Reclaim Congress Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel helped make history this morning by nominating Nancy Pelosi to be the first woman House Speaker as the Democrats took charge today on Capitol Hill.  Pelosi leads a 31-vote Democratic majority, while the new Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid , has just one vote to work with.  What's the Democratic agenda, and can the new leaders hold their party together? Will new legislation be met with vetoes from the Republican in the White House?  What about the war in Iraq?