Mark Trumbull of the Christian Science Monitor believes that the speed of government spending cuts are likely to be major point of departure between Obama, who gives the State of the Union address on Tuesday, and congressional Republicans.

The New York Time's Michael Shear reports a number of policy suggestions from a variety of interest groups for President Obama's upcoming State of the Union Address.

Experts examine the effects of the current Congressional stalemate, minimal economic growth, and the increasing debt burden on U.S. foreign policy in the Obama administration.

On the occasion of its 90th anniversary, CFR will examine through a series of meetings and other projects how policies at home will directly influence the economic and military strength of the United States and its ability to act in the world.

Experts examine the effects of the current Congressional stalemate, minimal economic growth, and the increasing debt burden on U.S. foreign policy in the Obama administration.

On the occasion of its 90th anniversary, CFR will examine through a series of meetings and other projects how policies at home will directly influence the economic and military strength of the United States and its ability to act in the world.

The new Congress, featuring a GOP-controlled House and a Democratic-led Senate, is likely to be dominated by partisan squabbles over debts and deficits, sidelining foreign policy, says CFR's James Lindsay.

The Obama administration's compromise tax deal with Senate Republicans highlights ongoing debate about potential tradeoffs between tackling U.S. debt and bolstering the U.S. economic recovery.

In the Washington Post, Fareed Zakaria criticises the latest tax compromise for lacking a balanced, long-term solution to skyrocketing deficits, deriding the current trend towards 'mañana economics', and compares it to China's investment in sustainable growth.

Michael A. Levi discusses the New START treaty.

The bipartisan deficit reduction plan stresses the need to tighten U.S. foreign policy priorities, even if U.S. allies fail to pick up the slack, says expert Michael Mandelbaum.

John B. Bellinger III argues that the 112th Congress must update and clarify the legal authority for U.S. military and intelligence agencies to kill and detain terrorists who threaten the United States.

Kay King says, "The inability of the U.S. Congress to address tough problems, both domestic and international, has serious national security consequences."

Richard N. Haass says that while foreign policy did not materially affect the mid-term elections, the results will influence U.S. foreign policy in inconsistent and even surprising ways.

Dana H. Allin and Steven Simon argue that while the "tea party" agenda in the midterm election focused largely on domestic issues, Republican gains in Congress fueled by the movement will have profound foreign policy consequences.

Leslie H. Gelb says Republican opposition to the New START Treaty endangers national security.

Congress has been steadily failing in its responsibilities on national security issues, says CFR's Kay King, and its new leadership should reform over-politicized rules and procedures as a first step.

Wilson Quarterly's Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call describe the critical situation of national deficits in the wake of the financial crisis and provide a "menu" of options to Congress for addressing the projected U.S. debt of $123 trillion in 2050.

Kay King offers recommendations to reset congressional rules, practices, and procedures to address today's dysfunctional Congress and restore it as a full partner to the executive branch in advancing U.S. national security interests.

This series of Backgrounders examines foreign policy issues in light of the 2010 midterm elections.

Peter Orszag writes that if the new Congress is truly concerned about rising health care costs, they should work to deploy the health care act's cost-containment measures fully rather than try to repeal them.