Voters in Colorado approved a statewide affordable housing initiative in November; while voters in nine cities across the country OK’d measures to finance the construction of affordable housing, preserve existing rental properties and support renters. But as housing costs soar, analysts and advocates say more needs to be done and argue that federal action is needed.

WASHINGTON — Congress is trying to wrap up its remaining must-pass bills before leaving for the holidays — but a split between Senate Republican and House GOP leaders could hamstring the all-important task of funding government operations and averting a partial shutdown.

Americans are more critical than people in any other country surveyed by Pew Research Center this year of the impact that social media has on democracy. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults say social media has been more of a bad thing than a good thing for democracy in the United States. Though this negativity generally persists in both parties, there are significant partisan and ideological differences in the strength of this view and others related to social media and politics.