Todd Zwillich

Yesterday was the deadline to file taxes in the U.S. and in what has become a tradition, President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden released their tax returns to the public. The Takeaway's Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich  shares his findings.

They represent what may be the last great hope for a grand compromise on the budget crisis facing America. Their success or failure could mean either a new tone in Washington or a long fight to the finish of the 2012 elections. The fight also includes everything from raised retirement age and Medicare changes to higher taxes. But who are the Gang of Six? With the help of Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent, we take a closer look at six men in whose hands the fate of a giant policy resolution may rest.

The House passed a yearlong spending bill on Thursday that would cut $39 billion from national spending. 179 Republicans and 81 Democrats voted for the measure, which will keep the government running until September. But the vote did a lot more than avert a shutdown. It laid bare, for the first time, a new dynamic at work in Congress. Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich explains how the vote showed that sometimes all politics is not always local.

President Barack Obama outlined a comprehensive plan on Wednesday to reduce the nation's looming deficit by $4 trillion over the next 12 years. His plan, which includes tax increases for the wealthy, changes to social welfare programs and long-term spending cuts, was offered as a Democratic alternative to the proposal put forward by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) which would fundamentally alter Medicare and Medicaid. In the next few weeks, members of Congress will have to decide whether to raise the nation's debt ceiling, and Vice President Joe Biden will lead negotiations to move congressional leaders towards common ground. Will they find it? 

President Obama is set to deliver a much anticipated speech 1:30 p.m. at George Washington University in Washington. The speech will detail his long-term plans for reducing the nation's deficit. Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent says that the president will have to prepare the public for tough decisions as he faces the debt.

A government shutdown was averted in the 11th hour last Friday, as Congress and the White House came to a temporary resolution on the budget crisis. President Barack Obama will give a speech on Wednesday night detailing how he hopes to reduce the deficit. But the budget debate is not over, and is actually just beginning, according to The Takeaway's Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich. Republicans want spending drastically reduced, and Democrats want taxes increased — this will make for an even more dramatic confrontation between party lines as the issue of the debt arrives.

With less than a day before the current stopgap budget bill runs out, President Obama met with Congressional leaders to try to prevent a government shutdown. But politicians are not just worried about the fallout a shutdown could have for their 2012 campaign. There is also a worry about the economic ramifications, which would ripple down from Capital Hill to Wall Street and, ultimately, Main Street.

Everyone says that nobody wants a government shutdown, but freshman lawmakers who are backed by the Tea Party are being pressured not to compromise. Meanwhile, in private talks, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) met with President Obama Wednesday night. They said they made progress. However, there is no compromise yet, explains Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich, who is following developments in Washington.

Takeaway Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich has the latest on the government shutdown as lawmakers continue to negotiate the budget.

Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), unveiled his budget yesterday, proposing cuts of some $6.2 trillion over the next decade. Medicare and Medicaid will fundamentally change under Ryan's plan — with Medicare losing $389 billion, and $735 billion being cut from Medicaid. Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent details what parts of the budget will affect Americans the most. Theda Skocpol, professor of sociology and government at Harvard University, explains how Medicare and Medicaid will change under Ryan's plan.

House Majority Leader John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sat behind closed doors yesterday, trying to come to compromise over the budget, but leaders in both parties seemed to be bracing for a real government shutdown by the end of the week. President Obama urged both Democrats and Republicans to put aside petty differences and come to a compromise. If they don't, every federal agency will have to come up with a contingency plan, especially the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Personnel Management. 

President Barack Obama announced his plans to run for reelection in a web video early Monday. Meanwhile, Friday is the deadline for Congress to negotiate a federal budget deal for 2011; and the budget for 2012 still needs to be settled. Todd Zwillich, Takeaway Washington correspondent has the latest from the Capitol.

Gadhafi's forces have made gains in the struggle in Libya while U.S. forces have pulled back their mission, handing control over to NATO. This has lead to questions on Capitol Hill about U.S. policy in Libya. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen testified before Congress Thursday. Takeaway Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich reports.

Today, as the Tea Party Patriots rally outside the Capitol Building, lawmakers might actually be close to a compromise on the federal budget. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee met with their House counterparts last night to see if they could strike a deal to avoid a government shutdown. But the compromise in question would include $33 billion in cuts — $28 billion less than the budget Republicans passed in the House. How will the Tea Party react to a deal with Democrats? What are the implications for Speaker of the House John Boehner?

After weeks of temporary fixes and political battling, Congress is preparing for a government shutdown over the national budget. What is preventing Republicans and Democrats from finding common ground? It could be the Tea Party, which is planning a rally for Thursday at the Capitol to call on Republican leadership to make no compromises on spending. Takeaway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich has more about this continuing standoff and the implications of a shutdown.

President Barack Obama stood before the nation yesterday and explained our role in the allied forces air assault on Libya and its embattled leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi. While he recognized Americans' hesitation for more involvement in the Middle East, the President said that Libya represented a unique situation and a challenge to American ideas about freedom and human decency. Todd Zwillich, The Takeaway's Washington correspondent, has reactions from Washington to the speech. Dirk Vandewalle, professor of government at Dartmouth and the author of, "A History of Modern Libya," looks at how President Obama's speech will impact the current situation in Libya. 

President Obama will speak about Libya Monday evening. His speech comes on the heels of NATO taking full control of the operation in Libya. Todd Zwillich, Takeaway Washington correspondent helps shed light on the debate in Congress over whether our involvement in Libya is in the country's best interest. How will Congress react to the president's speech? There are rumblings of an effort de-fund the effort in Libya by some Democratic members in the House.

Since President Obama authorized military action in Libya, politicians on both sides of the aisle have complained the president did not follow the proper and legal channels towards war. Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) said the President's decision might render him impeachable. House speaker John Boehner (R-OH) complained that Obama hadn't briefed members of Congress. Technically speaking, should the President have asked Congress before attacking Libya? 

Over the last few days, the U.S. moved very quickly from a U.N. resolution authorizing military intervention in Libya to missiles and bombs actually striking the country. In many ways, members of Congress are still catching up with the news from the White House and they have been reacting both with support and anger. Who's in charge of the no-fly zone: Britain, France or the U.S.? Who exactly are the Libyan rebels we're supporting? And why didn't President Obama consult Congress before authorizing military intervention?

"Republicans control one half of one third of our government. There are a lot of other players that we need to work with," House Speaker, John Boehner told the press Thursday as another budget extension was voted on. He finds himself between a rock and hard place, explains Takeaway Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich. Rep. Boehner will have to negotiate with both the Tea Party and democrats Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and President Obama. Meanwhile, the House voted to defund public radio production in a bill that will likely not pass the Senate.