Top McCain Aides Quit Struggling Campaign  —  Republican presidential candidate John McCain accepted the resignations of two of his top aides today in a stunning shakeup of a campaign that has been roiled by financial and political problems.  —  Campaign manager Terry Nelson …

Presidential Candidates In First Ever Gay Debate  —  (Los Angeles, California) For the first time the leading candidates for the presidency will hold a televised debate devoted solely to LGBT issues.  —  The one-hour event will be held on August 9 and broadcast on gay network LOGO at 9:00 pm ET …

Libby Commutation: Grossly Unpopular  —  It turns out that people really, really don't think Bush should have commuted Scooter Libby's sentence:  —  There's got to be a campaign issue in this somewhere.  It'd be nice to think the press might offer more follow-up reporting on this story …

Oversight Hearing on the Office of the Surgeon General  —  The Oversight Committee is currently holding a hearing, "The Surgeon General's Vital Mission: Challenges for the Future."  The hearing is focusing on the importance of the Surgeon General's Office, the need to preserve …

'Hustler' Call May Have Prompted Vitter Admission  —  Justin Rood Reports:  —  A call from Hustler magazine may have prompted a Louisiana Republican senator to expose his past with an escort service run by the so-called "D.C. Madam," the Blotter on ABCNews.com has learned.

Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel  —  Brian Ross Reports:  —  Senior U.S. intelligence officials tell ABC News new intelligence suggests a small al Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here.  —  The White House has convened …

Richardson sorry for 'maricón' moment  —  BUZZ  —  Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson apologized this week for using a Spanish-language slur for gay people, even as he suggested it smacked of politics that news of his "maricón" moment is surfacing now, more than a year later.

Women drawn to men with muscles  —  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Muscular young men are likely to have more sex partners than their less-chiseled peers, researchers at the University of California Los Angeles said on Monday.  —  Their study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin …

President Bush Visits Cleveland, Ohio  —  Fact Sheet: A Day in Cleveland: President Bush Calls on Congress to Act to Fund Vital Priorities  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Fred.  Thanks for coming.  Thanks for having me.  It's a smart marketing tool — you know, all the cameras.  (Laughter.)

Homeland Security chief warns of 'Increased risk'  —  Chertoff bases 'gut feeling' on history, al-Qaeda statements.  —  Fearing complacency among the American people over possible terror threats, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in Chicago Tuesday that the nation faces …

This is not our fight  —  Congress must end U.S. role in a civil war nobody voted for  —  On Oct. 11, 2002, the Senate gave President Bush authority to use force against Iraq.  Nearly five years later, it is time for Congress to say enough is enough.  —  The American people have waited long enough for progress in Iraq.

Senate Panel Cuts Off Funds to Cheney  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats moved Tuesday to cut off funding for Vice President Dick Cheney's office in a continuing battle over whether he must comply with national security disclosure rules.  —  A Senate appropriations panel chaired by Sen. Richard Durbin …

Iran Expands Investigation of American Prisoners  —  Iran announced today that it had uncovered new evidence against two imprisoned Americans and had launched an expanded investigation into their alleged activities against the Islamic republic.  —  The statement from the country's judicial …

Black jury deadlocked  —  A Chicago federal jury weighing fraud charges against former Sun-Times publisher Conrad Black said today it was deadlocked.  —  "We have discussed and deliberated on all the evidence and are still unable to reach a unanimous verdict on one or more counts.