Topic: John Boehner

John Boehner resigned as Speaker of the House and left Congress mid-term, a move attributed to the difficulty of managing a fractured Republican Party. The transition highlights a divide between members focused on governing and a more reckless faction willing to risk government shutdowns over issues like Planned Parenthood. Boehner's departure is viewed as a transition toward a lucrative career in the private sector as a lobbyist.

The 60 Minutes report on congressional insider trading led to the passage of the Stock Act, which was intended to make financial holdings of officials publicly searchable. However, leadership from both parties, including Harry Reid and Eric Cantor, used unanimous consent to gut the transparency requirements in an empty room. President Obama signed the changes into law on April 15, 2013, just hours before the Boston Marathon bombings dominated the news cycle.