The Treasury Capital Assistance Program and the Supervisory Capital Assessment Program  —  During this period of extraordinary economic uncertainty, the U.S. federal banking supervisors believe it to be important for the largest U.S. bank holding companies (BHCs) to have a capital buffer sufficient …

UPDATED: Steele Condemns Maine Decision, Revealing Split With Snowe and Collins  —  After the RNC said he wouldn't be issuing a statement on Maine's decision to legalize gay marriage today, RNC Chairman Michael Steele is in fact condemning the decision, a position that puts him at odds …

TRANSPARENT BIGOTRY.... Following up on an earlier item, at least one high-profile Republican senator announced he doesn't want to see President Obama nominate a gay American for the Supreme Court. … I don't expect much from Thune, but I have to wonder if he realizes how incredibly ridiculous this is.

JOHN EDWARDS' MISTRESS DEMANDS DNA TEST FOR BABY!  —  John Edwards' furious mistress is demanding he submit to a DNA test, The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively!  —  Rielle Hunter - the longtime secret lover of the disgraced 2-time presidential candidate - wants definitive proof that Edwards …

House bypasses governor's veto to claim Oklahoma's sovereignty  —  Although Gov. Brad Henry vetoed similar legislation 10 days earlier, House members Monday again approved a resolution claiming Oklahoma's sovereignty.  —  Unlike House Joint Resolution 1003, House Concurrent Resolution 1028 does not need the governor's approval.

US public at risk from complacency over flu -CDC  —  Source: Reuters  —  * As fear of flu subsides, CDC concerned about complacency  —  * CDC officials worried H1N1 could return in the fall  —  The U.S. public could become more vulnerable to a flu pandemic if complacency about the need …

Obama to be prayer day no-show  —  President to sign proclamation, observe privately  —  President Obama is distancing himself from the National Day of Prayer by nixing a formal early morning service and not attending a large Catholic prayer breakfast the next morning.

A Granite State Home Base For Romney?  —  Former MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R), who is writing a book on the direction of the country and has signed on to be one of the national spokesmen for the upstart National Council for a New America, which aims to revive the GOP, appears to be taking a third step …

With Gay Issues in View, Obama Is Pressed to Engage  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama was noticeably silent last month when the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage.  —  But now Mr. Obama — who has said he opposes same-sex marriage as a Christian but describes himself as a …

Free web news era over, says Rupert Murdoch  —  Current days of free internet will soon be over, says media mogul  —  Rupert ­Murdoch expects to start charging for access to News Corporation's newspaper websites within a year as he strives to fix a ­"malfunctioning" business model.

IS CONGRESS TURNING TOWARDS SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM?  —  Steny Hoyer, it seems, is making some noises about Social Security reform.  Good luck with that, I guess.  The interesting nugget in the article, however, is that “House and Senate leaders have resisted the idea of naming a special commission …

Obama Offers D.C. Voucher Program Extension for Existing Students  —  President Obama will seek to extend the controversial D.C. school voucher program until all 1,716 participants have graduated from high school, although no new students will be accepted, according to an administration official …

Ed Gillespie: There wasn't a single woman of comparable ‘temperament and intellect’ to Alito.  —  On “The Situation Room” this afternoon, former Bush counselor Ed Gillespie said that “it would be wrong” if President Obama looks at only women for potential Supreme Court nominees …

The Torture Follies — Just When You Thought It Couldn't Get Worse ...  As K-Lo notes, I have an article (posted on the homepage this afternoon) which recounts how the Obama administration is urging the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to adopt the same interpretation of federal torture law …

Justice Dept. Finds Flaws in F.B.I. Terror List  —  WASHINGTON — The Federal Bureau of Investigation has incorrectly kept nearly 24,000 people on a terrorist watch list on the basis of outdated or sometimes irrelevant information, while missing people with genuine ties to terrorism …

EXCLUSIVE: Records violations ensnare housing nominee  —  Office handed largest fine in U.S. history  —  President Obama's choice for the government's No. 2 housing job is embroiled in the largest fine in U.S. history for “blatant violations” of open records laws after the Washington State …

Radical preacher Abu Izzadeen freed from jail early  —  Abu Izzadeen, a radical Muslim preacher who was jailed after footage was uncovered of him calling for the beheading of any Muslim in the British army, has been freed early from jail.  —  Izzadeen, 34, whose real name is Trevor Brooks …

Krauthammer's Take  —  From last night's “All-Stars.”  On the Obama administration's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Well, I think this argument over a two-state solution is a complete red herring.  There is no Israeli government, including Netanyahu's government …

Did Elizabeth Edwards Know When She Said This?  —  Elizabeth Edwards' admission that she knew about her husband's affair “days after” his presidential announcement back in 2006 puts this interview I had with the two of them in a new light.  —  It came just two days after Edwards announced his presidential bid.