Media

Last week, President Barack Obama addressed the nation and offered his plan for combating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). During his speech, the president asked Congress to authorize training of Syrian rebels and recommended further air strikes in the region for diffusing the threat of this dangerous enemy.

The Oklahoman - Chris Casteel

WASHINGTON — Members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, including key players on committees that oversee military affairs, reacted Wednesday night to President Barack Obama’s address to the nation about U.S. actions against the Middle Eastern terrorist group Islamic State.

Thirteen years ago this week, our nation was devastated when 2,977 innocent lives were prematurely taken during the September 11th terrorist attacks. Our world was shaken and our sense of security was shattered by those who sought to destroy us. The terrible nightmare united us as a country, but it also forced the nation to face the chilling reality that terrorism exists, can reach our own shores and will remain a very real threat in the foreseeable future.

The Wire - Russell Berman

The House will only vote on a formal resolution authorizing the use of military force against the Islamic State if President Obama makes a direct request for congressional action.

That's the message the new majority leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), has been delivering privately to lawmakers in recent days, according to aides familiar with his thinking.

Buzzfeed - Jeremy Singer-Vine, Dorsey Shaw

Whose star is rising on the political talk shows?

The Sunday morning TV talk shows are one of the main venues political types go to hawk their views. The five main shows — “Meet the Press” (NBC), “State of the Union” (CNN), “Face the Nation” (CBS), “This Week” (ABC), and “Fox News Sunday” — have hosted more than 9,000 guests since January 2009. Some guests have appeared just once. Others, such as Sen. John McCain, are omnipresent, appearing dozens of times over the past half-decade.