Netanyahu to Obama: Stop Iran—Or I Will  —  In an interview conducted shortly before he was sworn in today as prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu laid down a challenge for Barack Obama.  The American president, he said, must stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—and quickly …

BREAKING: NY-20: Tedisco Preps for Loss, Files Motion to Overturn Election Results Before Polls Even Close  —  Republican Jim Tedisco may be running for the House in a district where Republicans outnumber Democratic voters by some 70,000, but with the polls closing in a matter of hours, Tedisco's campaign is prepping for a loss.

Republican may vote for Obama budget plan  —  Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.) may buck his party when the House votes on President Obama's budget proposal later this week.  —  The freshman lawmaker told The Hill that his constituents are split, adding that he wants more information before deciding whether …

Beyond AIG: A Bill to let Big Government Set Your Salary  —  It was nearly two weeks ago that the House of Representatives, acting in a near-frenzy after the disclosure of bonuses paid to executives of AIG, passed a bill that would impose a 90 percent retroactive tax on those bonuses.

Obama's new GM CEO: You know, bankruptcy looks really good now  —  The man now running General Motors after Barack Obama demanded the resignation of former CEO Rick Wagoner wants to thank America for all the cash.  Really, he does.  Fritz Henderson just doesn't think it will help …

Most Americans Don't Blame Obama for Economy, Poll Finds  —  The number of Americans who believe that the nation is headed in the right direction has roughly tripled since Barack Obama's election, and the public overwhelmingly blames the excesses of the financial industry, rather than the new president …

Exclusive: Biden Daughter Cocaine Video Was a Setup  —  It was a setup.  —  The video purporting to show Vice President Joe Biden's daughter Ashley snorting cocaine was preplanned by a man trying to get rich selling the tape, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.

Partying like it's 1931  —  I'm detecting a trend in commentary that I find slightly ominous.  Some of the economic news lately has been slightly better than expected, which was bound to happen at some point (on average, after all, half the news should be better than expected).

Nicolas Sarkozy's threat to walk out of global summit  —  Anglo-Saxon gibe strains relations with Obama  —  Charles Bremner in Paris and Philip Webster  —  President Sarkozy yesterday threatened to wreck the London summit if France's demands for tougher financial regulation are not met.

YOUR WORLD IN GRAPHS: THE SENATE IS BROKEN EDITION.  —  Congressional expert Norm Ornstein's has a nice article arguing that the Senate is an increasingly broken and incapable institution.  It's anchored by this graph tracking the rise in filibusters over time.

Beware the cult of Obama  —  You've met them.  They may be friends of yours, or family members.  You may even be one of them (in which case you'll hate this column).  I'm referring to those who've heard the Call of Obama.  —  Tucker Carlson compares it to a dog whistle: Inaudible to most, but irresistible to those who can hear it.

VIDEO: Watch O'Reilly's Harassment Machine in action.  —  Crooks and Liars' John Amato has compiled a wonderful 87 second video that documents the methods and tactics of Bill O'Reilly's Harassment Machine.  The video shows O'Reilly producer Jesse Watters — the guy who accosted Amanda …

“Slightly smaller than Oregon”: a White House briefing on Britain  —  So here's what the White House is telling American reporters - and by extension the American people - about Britain.  It's laid out in an inch-thick “press kit”, with the Seal of the President of the United States emblazoned on the cover …

Prof. Krugman, Meet Prof. Krueger  —  When Princeton Professors collide!  In one corner we have Nobel Laureate, Princeton economics professor and Bush-basher supreme Paul Krugman:  —  So in 2007 the Pension Benefit Guarantee [sic] Corporation — which stands behind corporate pensions …

Rangel dropped $777 a month from office account for lease on Cadillac … Best Of NYDN.com

Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Fell by a Record 19%  —  Home prices in 20 U.S. cities fell 19 percent in January from a year earlier, the fastest drop on record, as demand plummeted and foreclosures rose.  —  The S&P/Case-Shiller index's decrease was more than forecast and compares with an 18.6 percent decrease in December.

Life in Mendota, Calif., where the jobless rate is 41 percent  —  MENDOTA, Calif. — The customer seemed interested in a black blouse offered for $1 at the thrift store.  But instead of buying it, she set it on the front counter.  —  Maybe tomorrow, she told the cashier, she would have the money.

El Rushbo to New York: Drop Dead  —  BEGIN TRANSCRIPT  —  RUSH: Now, let's see.  In New York, they've been going back and forth at the state level on budgets.  They are over-budget.  They have a deficit in the double-digit billions, and they've been going back and forth in the State Assembly in New York over whether to raise taxes.

Credit-Card Bill Moves in Senate  —  WASHINGTON—In a blow to financial firms, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday signed off on legislation that seeks to ban abusive credit-card practices.  —  While consumer groups and key Democrats lauded the committee's move …

The GOP's House Hottie  —  Meghan McCain: Can the Best Abs in D.C. Save the GOP?  —  The Daily Beast  —  Web  —  Blogs and Stories  —  Meghan McCain sizes up the youngest congressman, Aaron Schock, and his appeal to minorities, wise use of paparazzi, and what the best abs in D.C. can do for the future of the Republican Party.

Hersh: Cheney ‘Left A Stay Behind’ In Obama's Government, Can ‘Still Control Policy Up To A Point’  —  In an interview on NPR's Fresh Air yesterday, host Terry Gross asked investigative journalist Seymour Hersh if, as he continues to investigate the Bush administration, “more people” were …

U.S. to Join U.N. Human Rights Council, Reversing Bush Policy  —  The Obama administration decided Tuesday to seek a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council, reversing a decision by the Bush administration to shun the United Nations' premier rights body to protest the influence of repressive states.

Exclusive: Former NFL Coach Tony Dungy Invited to Join White House Faith Council  —  The White House has invited recently retired NFL Coach Tony Dungy, whose outspoken Christian faith fueled his 2007 support for a gay marriage ban and has won accolades from evangelical leaders …

Projection: Breitbart's new conspiracy theory is something Conservatives (like John McCain) have been doing to us for years  —  Andrew Breitbart tries to whip up the right wing bloggers into a frenzy over his new conspiracy theory about “comments” put by liberals on right-wing blogs which appears in the Moonie Times.

Afghan leader accused of bid to ‘legalise rape’  —  UN and women MPs say Karzai bowed to Islamic fundamentalists before poll  —  Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, has signed a law which “legalises” rape, women's groups and the United Nations warn.  Critics claim the president helped rush …

Chairmen Waxman, Markey Release Discussion Draft of New Clean Energy Legislation  —  Chairman Henry A. Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Edward J. Markey of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee today released a draft of clean energy legislation that will create jobs …

Financial Rescue Approaches GDP as U.S. Pledges $12.8 Trillion  —  The U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have spent, lent or guaranteed $12.8 trillion, an amount that approaches the value of everything produced in the country last year, to stem the longest recession since the 1930s.

Public anger leads to Ayers cancellation  —  Naperville North High School won't let 1960s radical speak to students after outcry  —  On second thought, Dr. William Ayers won't be coming to Naperville after all.  —  After a weekend of hostile e-mails from area residents …

POLLING A POLICY THAT DOESN'T EXIST.... Last week, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Looneyville) convinced herself that U.S. currency is under attack (it isn't) and the threat of a “global currency” is real (it isn't).  What sparked the paranoia was a Chinese proposal to replace the dollar …