The Washington Post fires its best columnist.  Why?  —  (updated below - Update II - Update III)  —  One of the rarest commodities in the establishment media is someone who was a vehement critic of George Bush and who now, applying their principles consistently, has become a regular critic …

Khamenei tells Mousavi to toe the line over election or be cast out  —  The moderate Iranian leader who says that he was robbed of victory in last week's presidential election faces a fateful choice today: support the regime or be cast out.  —  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader …

EXCLUSIVE: The Finance Committee's Health Reform Outline  —  A Senate source just passed me the latest outline of the Senate Finance Committee's health reform proposal.  This is the post-CBO revision.  Apparently, after the committee staff received the scores, they dug deep and quickly developed …

Boxer scolds Army General for not calling her “Senator”  —  Ever wonder what Eric Cartman might sound like if he was in Congress?  Wonder no more...  California Senator Barbara Boxer is a Senator.  And if you don't acknowledge it, she'll demand you acknowledge it.  Even if you're a General in the United States Army.

Mousavi Spokesman Smacks Obama  —  In an interview with the Washington Post's Foreign Policy blog, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, described as Mir Hussein Mousavi's “external spokesman,” had some sharp words for President Barack Obama's recent comments about the demonstrations in Tehran.

Google translates Persian  —  Today, we added Persian (Farsi) to Google Translate.  This means you can now translate any text from Persian into English and from English into Persian — whether it's a news story, a website, a blog, an email, a tweet or a Facebook message.

Japan warns that North Korea may fire missile at U.S. on Independence Day  —  North Korea may launch a long-range ballistic missile towards Hawaii on American Independence Day, according to Japanese intelligence officials.  —  The missile, believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles …

Obama Misses the Point With Iran Response  —  Millions of Iranians take to the streets to defy a theocratic dictatorship that, among its other finer qualities, is a self-declared enemy of America and the tolerance and liberties it represents.  The demonstrators are fighting on their own …

The lessons of 1937  —  In a guest article, Christina Romer says policymakers must learn from the errors that prolonged the Depression  —  AT A recent congressional hearing I cautiously noted some “glimmers of hope” that the economy could stabilise and perhaps start to rebound later in the year.

‘6% see US administration as pro-Israel’  —  Only 6 percent of Jewish Israelis consider the views of American President Barack Obama's administration pro-Israel, according to a new Jerusalem Post-sponsored Smith Research poll.  —  The poll, which has a margin of error of 4.5% …

Senator Beefcake?  —  Some revealing footage of Ohio Senate candidate Lee Fisher has emerged on YouTube, which features the bare-chested lieutenant governor sitting in his office writing a campaign memo.  —  “I just don't like being filmed at 12 in the morning when I'm exhausted and trying to do something …

Kenneth Starr Endorses Sotomayor  —  Kenneth Starr, the lawyer who chased after President Bill Clinton and his wife, said on Thursday that he supports President Barack Obama's first Supreme Court nominee, federal appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor.  —  Starr voiced his backing of Sotomayor …

Timing of Treasury Department challenge, AIG probe raises concerns  —  The challenge to TARP watchdog Neil Barofsky's authority came as he began an investigation of the department's role in approving bonuses to executives of insurance giant AIG, sources say.

Fired Inspector General: I Want Congressional Hearings, Dammit!  —  Uh oh — looks like Gerald Walpin, who's been a hero on the right since he was abruptly fired as Inspector General by President Obama, is really turning up the heat on Obama now.  —  In an interview with us moments ago …

‘Special Report’ Panel on White House's Latest Response to Iran  —  This is a rush transcript of “Special Report With Bret Baier” from June 17, 2009.  This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.  —  ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think the president has been clear …

Obama Needs to Change Stance on Iran  —  President Obama's first response to the protests in Iran was silence, followed by a cautious, almost neutral stance designed to avoid “meddling” in Iranian affairs.  I am reminded of Ronald Reagan's initially neutral response to the crisis following …