Economy Sheds 598,000 Jobs in January  —  WASHINGTON — The United States lost almost 600,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent, its highest level in more than 16 years, the Labor Department said Friday.  —  It was the biggest monthly job loss since the economy tipped …

On the Edge  —  A not-so-funny thing happened on the way to economic recovery.  Over the last two weeks, what should have been a deadly serious debate about how to save an economy in desperate straits turned, instead, into hackneyed political theater, with Republicans spouting …

Bush Jacketless In Oval Office: Photo Uncovered After Bush Chief Of Staff Slams Obama's Informal Appearance (SLIDESHOW)  —  One day after President Bush's former Chief of Staff Andrew Card blasted President Obama for breaking the Bush dress code, which reportedly required that a jacket be worn …

At Dem retreat, a partisan love fest  —  WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — A fired-up Barack Obama ditched his TelePrompter to rally House Democrats and rip Republican opponents of his recovery package Thursday night - at one point openly mocking the GOP for failing to follow through on promises of bipartisanship.

The Fierce Urgency of Pork  —  “A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe.”  —  Catastrophe, mind you.  So much for the president who in his inaugural address two weeks earlier declared “we have chosen hope over fear.”  Until, that is, you need fear to pass a bill.

Japan's Big-Works Stimulus Is Lesson  —  HAMADA, Japan — The Hamada Marine Bridge soars majestically over this small fishing harbor, so much larger than the squid boats anchored below that it seems out of place.  —  And it is not just the bridge.  Two decades of generous public works spending …

Mitt Romney: The GOP's Top MBA  —  It's been a year since Mitt Romney dropped out of the Republican presidential race, but he remains an influential conservative voice— particularly on economic issues.  The former Massachusetts governor and star business consultant earned ovations …

Pakistan frees ‘father’ of the bomb  —  Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist accused of selling nuclear secrets, was today freed from five years of house arrest by a court and immediately declared that he can now “lead a normal life”.  —  Khan, lionised as the “father” …

Dramatic tapes of Hilda Solis-White House emergency radio chatter  —  In an amazing news coincidence, on the very same day as the US Air Flight 1549 emergency radio tapes were released, The Ticket has exclusively obtained the tapes of recent emergency radio conversations between ground traffic controllers …

Obama to Discuss Guantanamo With Victims of Terror Attacks, Their Relatives  —  President Obama will meet today with victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the USS Cole bombing and their families as his administration reviews how to handle detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

As Layoffs Surge, Women May Pass Men in Job Force  —  With the recession on the brink of becoming the longest in the postwar era, a milestone may be at hand: Women are poised to surpass men on the nation's payrolls, taking the majority for the first time in American history.

The Gang System  —  Barack Obama is a potentially transformational figure.  In political style and intellectual outlook, he is unlike anything that has come before.  On matters of policy substance, however, he's been pretty conventional.  The policies he offered during the campaign matched those of just about every other Democrat.

Let's Start Brand New Banks  —  A clean slate would keep TARP money away from bad banks.  —  Everyone agrees that the United States urgently needs a few good banks.  Turning bad banks into good banks is a difficult and risky way to get them.  It's simpler and safer to start entirely new banks.

My Preferred Fiscal Stimulus  —  Regular readers of this blog have a pretty good sense of my policy preferences.  But for those occasional readers who might be stopping by, let me reiterate what I would do right now if I were the fiscal king.  —  I would institute an immediate …

Election 2009: Virginia Governor Election  —  GOP's McDonnell Has Edge Over All Democrats In Virginia Governor's Race  —  Republican Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell has a three-to-nine point lead against three hopefuls for the Democratic nomination in this year's closely-watched Virginia gubernatorial contest.

Val Kilmer ponders running for governor  —  Democrat actor known for roles as ‘Batman’ and ‘Iceman’ eyes 2010 race  —  SANTA FE, N.M. - Holy hornet's nest, Batman!  The New Mexico governor's mansion?  —  Fresh from the inauguration, actor Val Kilmer is pondering running for governor in 2010 …

Wanted: Personal Economic Trainers.  Apply at Capitol.  —  As long as we're about to spend gazillions to stimulate the economy, I'd like to suggest we throw in another $53.5 million for a cause dear to all business journalists: economic literacy.  And what better place to start than right here in Washington.

Campbell Brown: Congress clueless about retreats  —  Editor's note: Campbell Brown anchors CNN's “Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull” at 8 p.m. ET Mondays through Fridays.  She delivered this commentary during the “Cutting through the Bull” segment of Thursday night's broadcast.

RNC shakeup as Steele asks for resignations  —  Top staffers at the Republican National Committee were told to submit their resignations today, with some being told they will not get their jobs back in what insiders call a top-to-bottom review of the entire organization.

Maryland General Assembly Bans Facebook  —  The New Line has learned that the Maryland General Assembly, citing security concerns, has blocked Facebook and MySpace from the computers of state legislators and their staffs.  —  Here is the full text of the memo from Office …

Finding His Inner Eastwood  —  The Marine Corps' 1st Division has a macho motto: “No Better Friend.  No Worse Enemy.”  President Barack Obama could use a little of that Clint Eastwood-style bravura now as he bargains with Republicans over the stimulus package and tries to establish momentum and credibility for his new administration.

Granholm mentioned as possibility to fill ailing Ginsburg's seat on Supreme Court  —  WASHINGTON — Some presidents are handed the chance to remake the Supreme Court for a generation, if enough justices leave.  Others wait in vain to make even one appointment.

For Obama, a Trusted Voice Who Knows the Terrain  —  Counsel Craig Takes On an Array of Duties  —  After decades moving through the revolving door between the private sector and government service, Gregory B. Craig has landed again at the White House, serving as counsel to a young administration in need of a steadying hand.

The Taxing of Broadway  —  Anybody who has paid for theater tickets recently in New York City knows what a big hole they can leave in the family budget.  Gov. David Paterson of New York wants to make that hole even deeper with a new theater ticket tax.  —  The proposal could increase ticket prices …