Politics

On December 6, 2012, Washington's marijuana legalization took effect with a midnight celebration at the Space Needle and a wink from Seattle police.

December 7, 2012 · 2 min read

George Zimmerman filed a defamation suit against NBC over its edited 911-call broadcast. A Florida judge dismissed the case before trial.

December 7, 2012 · 2 min read

Shaheen Dhada questioned Mumbai's shutdown for Bal Thackeray's funeral on Facebook. She was arrested. Her friend was arrested for liking the post.

November 19, 2012 · 2 min read

Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old Indian dentist, died in an Irish hospital in October 2012 after being refused a termination during a miscarriage.

November 19, 2012 · 2 min read

In November 2012, Israel released airstrike footage of the killing of Ahmed Jabari, head of Hamas military wing, opening Operation Pillar of Defense.

November 15, 2012 · 2 min read

Tabloids periodically claimed Barack and Michelle Obama had secretly filed for divorce. No credible evidence ever emerged, and the marriage endured.

November 8, 2012 · 2 min read

Romney spent two years hoping for a miracle. On election night 2012, even Fox News called Ohio for Obama, and the hope ran out.

November 6, 2012 · 2 min read

On Election Day 2012, a judge ordered a giant Obama mural covered at a Philadelphia polling place. Workers covered it only partly, leaving it visible.

November 6, 2012 · 2 min read

On Election Day 2012, President Obama made a surprise stop at a Chicago field office, congratulated Mitt Romney, and phone-banked volunteers himself.

November 6, 2012 · 2 min read

Biden vs. Ryan in the October 11, 2012 vice-presidential debate: Democrats saw a fighting comeback after Denver, Republicans saw a smirking interrupter.

October 12, 2012 · 1 min read

After the first 2012 presidential debate in Denver, even CNN's Van Jones conceded: 'Romney was able to out-Obama Obama' — the night Mitt Romney won.

October 4, 2012 · 1 min read

An Aurora shooting survivor publicly asked Obama and Romney to debate gun control in the 2012 campaign. The candidates grieved; neither answered.

October 1, 2012 · 1 min read

In September 2012 a tabloid rumor linked Pakistan's foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Bilawal Bhutto. Both denied it flatly. This is what actually happened.

September 30, 2012 · 1 min read

When the 2012 school-lunch rules capped calories and mandated fruits and vegetables, hungry high schoolers pushed back — with boycotts and a viral parody video.

September 28, 2012 · 1 min read

As FDI in multi-brand retail opened up in September 2012, the fear was Walmart would change India. The counter-argument: India would change Walmart.

September 28, 2012 · 1 min read

On CBS This Morning in September 2012, Bill Clinton told Muslims angered by the anti-Islam film: the insult is real, but 'you can't react every time you're

September 25, 2012 · 1 min read

In September 2012, Pakistani minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour announced a $100,000 bounty from his own pocket for killing the maker of Innocence of Muslims.

September 22, 2012 · 1 min read

In September 2012, Mamata Banerjee withdrew TMC support over FDI in retail — and Manmohan Singh's UPA government held on anyway.

September 20, 2012 · 1 min read

France closed 20 embassies across the Muslim world in September 2012 after Charlie Hebdo's cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad — a landmark free-speech clash.

September 19, 2012 · 1 min read

The Indian Staffing Federation projected FDI in retail would create 10 million jobs in a decade. The claim, the opposition's rebuttal, and why the number

September 18, 2012 · 2 min read