Ashley Portero

Ashley covers U.S. politics for the International Business Times, with a focus on civil liberties, women's issues and campaign finance. Her work has also appeared in The Boston Globe and the Boston Business Journal.

Supreme Court Unanimously Sides With Inmate In Prison Guard Abuse Lawsuit

The high court unanimously ruled the U.S. government can be sued for federal prison guard actions. Does that include sexual assault?

US Income Inequality: How Much Debt Could Be Paid With Earnings Of Top 1%? [INFOGRAPHICS]

For starters, it could pay off student loan debts (at $26,000 each) for at least 631 people.

Supreme Court DOMA activists 27March2013

Gay Marriage: Supreme Court Seems Poised To Strike Down DOMA

Initial reports suggest the high court is leaning toward striking down the DOMA. Transcript available here.

Gay Marriage In The United States - As Told By Infographics

Why do most people say they oppose gay and lesbian marriages? Religion.

Supreme Court gay marriage 26March2013 police

Supreme Court Gay Marriage Hearings: Oral Arguments Begin

It appears the Supreme Court will not have a majority to either uphold or strike down the California ban. Listen to the arguments here.

Student Debt Crisis: joinStampede Wants To Use Collective Action To Negotiate Better Student Loan Terms

Congress is not acting to fix the trillion-dollar student loan debt problem. A private startup has an idea, which hasn't convinced everybody.

Supreme Court Gay Marriage 26March2013 banner

Supreme Court Takes Up Gay Marriage: 5 Things To Watch

The nation's high court will take on the constitutionality of both California's Proposition 8, and the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Michele Bachmann Runs Away From Reporter Who Asks Her to Back Up Obama Allegations With Facts

The former GOP presidential hopeful clearly wasn't ready to back up her allegations about the president's "lavish living" with facts.

Marijuana Arrests: NYPD Devoted 1 Million Hours To Low-Level Cannabis Arrests Between 2002 to 2012

Most of those arrested for low-level possession are either minorities or young adults.

Rand Paul Makes Libertarian Case For Abortion Rights Less Than A Week After Sponsoring Personhood Bill

The Kentucky senator implied banning abortion could undermine not only women's health, but doctor-patient confidentiality.

Sante Fe Officials Say Gay Marriage Is Already Legal in New Mexico, Tells Clerks To Issue Licenses

Sante Fe officials argue the gender-neutral language in the state's marriage statute never outlawed gay marriage.

How Sequestration Is Hitting Student Loan Borrowers

While not huge, new fees will be hard to swallow for people who already devote about a quarter of their income to student loan repayments.

Rand Paul Tells Republicans To Evolve And Endorse Pathway To Citizenship

However, Paul emphasized that Congress must take steps to strengthen security at the nation’s borders before opening citizenship.

Twitter Doesn't Have Positive Words About A Potential Anthony Weiner Comeback

It appears that the former congressman's Twitter sex scandal, and not his legislative accomplishments, have lived on in the public memory.

Electronic voting machines have come under scrutiny for inaccuracy and lack of security.

Cyberattack In South Florida Is First Known Hack On Election Data: Report

The more than 2,500 "phantom requests" for absentee ballots may have been intended to sway the 2012 primary election.

RNC Voter Outreach Plan: Current Republican Policies Already Undermine Strategy

The RNC report on why Republicans lost the election proposes a number of remedies, but Republicans on the ground are doing the opposite.

Nancy Pelosi, Questioning Value Of Keystone XL, Says Canadians Don't Want Pipeline

House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi said the controversial project would not reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil or create a substantial number of jobs.