Sanford Story Takes More Serious Turn  —  Late Monday evening, Gov. Mark Sanford's office revealed that he is hiking on the Appalachian Trail.  —  On the face of it, that solves the mystery.  But this article from The State, South Carolina's main newspaper, suggests some more troubling possibilities to the story.

Why Obama's sudden news conference today?  And what he'll say  —  You don't need to be a basketball-loving president of the United States to know that if you're trying to block opponents' shots in your end, you sure aren't increasing your own totals.  You can't score points on D.

Iran Unrest Reveals Split In U.S. on Its Role Abroad  —  Iran's post-election tumult has exposed the sharply divergent ways in which the Obama administration and its Republican opponents view the nature of American power and the president's role in speaking to political dissent outside the borders of the United States.

Poll: Americans Less Upbeat About Stimulus Bill's Impact  —  Expectations for President Obama's stimulus package have diminished, with barely half of Americans now confident the $787 billion measure will boost the economy, and the rapid rise in optimism that followed the 2008 election has abated …

At Least Nine Killed in Red Line Crash  —  The number of people killed in last night's deadly Red Line crash has risen to at least nine, Metro officials said this morning, shortly after five bodies were removed from the mangled wreckage.  —  The train that slammed into the back of another during …

Son's Death Has Iranian Family Asking Why  —  TEHRAN—The family, clad in black, stood at the curb of the road sobbing.  A middle-aged mother slapped her cheeks, letting out piercing wails.  The father, a frail man who worked as a doorman at a clinic in central Tehran, wept quietly with his head bowed.

US says hot dog diplomacy still on with Iran  —  WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States said Monday its invitations were still standing for Iranian diplomats to attend July 4 celebrations at US embassies despite the crackdown on opposition supporters.  —  President Barack Obama's administration …

Iranian authorities scramble to negate Neda Soltan ‘martyrdom’  —  The Iranian authorities have ordered the family of a student shot dead in Tehran to take down mourning posters as they struggle to stop her becoming the rallying point for protests against the presidential election.

Rubio's curious Tweet  —  Twitter hasn't always been a politician's best friend — see Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra's comparison of House Republican floor rebellions to the uprising in Iran or Newt Gingrich calling Sonia Sotomayor a “racist.”  —  Florida Senate candidate Marco Rubio …

Iranian leaders will always believe Anglo-Saxons are plotting against them. … - There is nothing at all that any Western country can do to avoid the charge of intervening in Iran's foreign affairs.  The deep belief that everything—especially anything in English—is already and by definition …

Top Clerical Council in Iran Rejects Plea to Annul Vote  —  CAIRO — Iran's Guardian Council, the senior clerical body charged with certifying the disputed presidential election, has rejected the opposition's demand for the vote to be annulled on grounds of fraud, state television reported on its Web site Tuesday.

Iranian clerics seek supreme leader alternative  —  Clashes between protesters and police Saturday left at least 13 people dead (File)  —  Religious leaders are considering an alternative to the supreme leader structure after at least 13 people were killed in the latest unrest to shake Tehran …

Death video woman ‘targeted by militia’  —  Amateur video apparently showing a young Iranian woman dying in Tehran after she was allegedly shot by pro-government militia on Saturday has caused outrage in Iran and abroad.  —  The woman, Neda Agha-Soltan, was buried on Sunday.

Obama's Political Operation To Launch Big Database Of Health Care Stories  —  In a major new effort to throw Obama's campaign apparatus into the push for health care reform, the White House's political operation is set to launch a massive new online data bank of thousands of health care stories …

Alaska waiting on Sarah Palin's plans  —  Many of those who spoke to POLITICO speculated that Palin is likely to announce her intentions next spring, around the time she begins traveling the country as part of her expected book tour.  —  State Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich …

Ensign to Face the Music  —  Embattled Republican Will Address Colleagues Today  —  Sen. John Ensign (Nev.) is expected to address his GOP colleagues at their weekly luncheon today to try to turn the page on the high-profile sex scandal that has derailed his rising political career.

Three Banks Suspend Their TARP Dividends  —  At least three small, cash-strapped banks have stopped paying the U.S. government dividends that they owe because they got $315.4 million in capital infusions under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.  —  Pacific Capital Bancorp, a Santa Barbara …