A series of pictures that depicts a story line or single theme devoted to U.S. politics or a U.S. politician. 12 photos maximum.
First Place
Andrew Harnik, The Associated Press
Joe Biden’s second year: President Joe Biden’s second year in office. There were crises and decisions to deal with including visiting mass shooting sites, diplomacy, bill signings and the occasional light gaffes.
Second Place
Rod Lamkey Jr., Consolidated News Photos
Winds of insurrection: The January 6 Hearings: Winds of insurrection: The January 6 Hearings. After months of investigations into the role former President Donald Trump played in the insurrection of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol brought before the public, hearings with witnesses who testified bravely, about that fateful day when American democracy came within a matter of minutes from collapsing, or at least changing into something unrecognizable.
Third Place
Jabin Botsford, The Washington Post
McCarthy: Prior to the 2022 mid-term elections, Republicans last won a majority in the US House of Representatives in 2015. Then, the House was shaken when Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy - a shoe-in for Speaker of the House - stepped aside amid personal scandal for Paul Ryan to take the helm instead. After years of fighting to rebuild the trust of House Republicans, McCarthy once again must make his case. While Republicans predicted a "red-wave" in 2022 elections, the result was a razor-thin majority in the House - and an uphill battle on the horizon for McCarthy to claim his Speakership.
Award of Excellence
Brendan Smialowski, AFP
Proxy: Ukraine, the borderland for NATO as for Russia, fights for its freedom dince Russias Febrary invation. President Biden has been ballancing supporting Ukraine with containing the conflict within its borders. While support for Ukraine has been significant the Biden administration's large scale balancing act has seen increasingly powerful tools of war make their way from the west into the conflict though not always at a pace President Zelensky would like.
Award of Excellence
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
KBJ Makes History: Following through with a campaign promise, President Joe Biden nominated the first Black woman to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. A stark philosophical contrast to the justices appointed to the court by former President Donald Trump, Judge Jackson was confirmed by the Senate 53-47 and joined the most conservative court in a generation.
Award of Excellence
Jabin Botsford, The Washington Post
Jan 6th Select Committee: In 2022 the US House select committee charged to investigate the January 6th (2021) attack on the Capitol began holding public hearings. In addition to pinning responsibility for the shocking and horrific events of that day, the hearings drew the eyes of the country back to the Capitol and the events of the year prior. The committee placed significant responsibility on former President, Donald Trump, who continues to deny loss in the 2020 elections. Amid extreme security and constant political criticism, committee members, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and others, sacrificed their own re-elections in order to shine light on the truth of what happened that day.