Rand Paul won't answer Civil Rights Act question  —  Moving from the Republican Primary to the general election means, for Rand Paul, addressing a broader set of issues than the anti-tax, anti-spending focus of his campaign.  —  And while he's answered this question before …

A big hit against big government  —  As we approached the Tuesday night with the year's most significant senatorial primaries so far, I turned for guidance to a man who had already been through the fires that define the incendiary politics of 2010.  —  Ten days after he was barred from the ballot …

Sen. Harry Reid Suggests Sen. Scott Brown Lied  —  ABC's Jonathan Karl reports: Did Harry Reid just call Scott Brown a liar?  —  Basically, yes.  —  Here's the story: The Senate just rejected Reid's effort to move to a vote on the Wall Street reform bill, 57-42 (60 votes were needed).

Stunning Drop in Whitman's Support Transforms GOP Race for Governor  —  Fiorina, Campbell in Dead Heat While DeVore's Support Doubles  —  Support for Meg Whitman has plummeted 23 points since March, and she is now in a far closer race with Steve Poizner to become the Republican nominee for governor.

Landis Admits Doping, Accuses Others  —  Floyd Landis, the American cyclist whose 2006 Tour De France victory was nullified after a positive doping test, has sent a series of emails to cycling officials and sponsors admitting to, and detailing, his systematic use of performance enhancing drugs during his career.

Democratic New York senator Chuck Schumer is poised to become majority leader  —  On Mother's Day, Chuck Schumer delivered two commencement speeches upstate, flew back to Brooklyn to eat dinner with his wife, mother and daughters and at 7:38 p.m. toted a briefcase into his midtown office …

GOP gov. primary could top $100M  —  The Republican gubernatorial primary in California could cost more than $100 million as the two wealthy front-runners continue to spend their own fortunes attacking each other.  —  Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner released his latest salvo earlier this week …

The New York Times has some explaining to do  —  This Associated Press report about the controversy surrounding Richard Blumenthal's description of his military service raises some questions about the New York Times' handling of the story: … So why didn't the Times include Blumenthal …

London 2012: Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville unveiled  —  After 18 months, 40 focus groups and a secret operation worthy of MI5, London 2012 on Wednesday finally revealed the mascots that will help define the capital's Olympic experience, and just as importantly help pay for it.

Gulf oil spill leak now pegged at 95,000 barrels a day  —  This is the most recent video released of the larger of the two Deepwater Horizon leaks.  It was shot Monday, May 17, after a 4-inch pipe was inserted in an effort to draw some of the escaping oil to the surface.  View all the new videos.

Scientists Fault U.S. Response in Assessing Gulf Oil Spill  —  Tensions between the Obama administration and the scientific community over the gulf oil spill are escalating, with prominent oceanographers accusing the government of failing to conduct an adequate scientific analysis of the damage …

James Delingpole  —  James Delingpole is a writer, journalist and broadcaster who is right about everything.  He is the author of numerous fantastically entertaining books including Welcome To Obamaland: I've Seen Your Future And It Doesn't Work, How To Be Right, and the Coward series of WWII adventure novels.

Md. second-grader gives first lady pop quiz on immigration  —  As much as they might want to defer the conversation, the politically charged issue of illegal immigration continues to dog members of the Obama administration.  —  On Wednesday, with TV cameras rolling during an event to promote healthy eating …

Trading-Firm Breakdowns Accompanied Market's Chaos  —  As the stock market spiraled out of control two weeks ago, two major firms that handle trades for retail brokerages suffered trading breakdowns.  —  One, the big Chicago hedge-fund firm Citadel Investment Group, stopped taking orders …

Heavy Sludge Oozes into Marshes of Louisiana  —  Governor Bobby Jindal Flew over Site and Reported “Heavy Oil;” CBS Cameras Turned Away by BP, Coast Guard  —  (CBS/AP) It may be the most disturbing site yet: the first heavy sludge now oozing into the marshes of Louisiana as the slick continues to grow in size out in the gulf.