House Votes to Allow Repeal of Ban on Gays in Military  —  WASHINGTON — The House voted on Thursday to let the Defense Department repeal the ban on gay and bisexual people from serving openly in the military, a major step toward dismantling the 1993 law widely known as “don't ask, don't tell.”

‘Top Kill’ Effort Seems to Be Working, U.S. Says Cautiously  —  HOUSTON — The latest effort to plug a gushing underwater oil well in the Gulf of Mexico appeared to be working, officials and engineers said on Thursday morning, though definitive word on its success was still hours away.

BREAKING: We Know Who Did It  —  Who paid Will Folks?  He was allegedly offered money.  A LOT of money.  In fact, RedState now confirms through a whole heap of sources that he's been trying to sell this story for a year.  —  We know who bit.  —  We know who didn't bite.

DEFINE ‘SUFFICIENTLY ENRAGED’.... The New York Times's Jeff Zeleny live-blogged President Obama's press conference this afternoon, and wrapped things up asking whether the president demonstrated to the country that he's “in control of the crisis on the Gulf.” … At least he resisted the urge to compare Obama to Spock.

Here comes impeachment  —  What's at stake in the elections this fall?  Energy/climate?  Tax cuts?  Management of the economy?  —  Well, sure, all those things.  It's worth pointing out, however, that what's also at stake is the impeachment of Barack Obama.

Kenneth Starr Charged With Running $30 Million Ponzi Scheme  —  [Somewhere, Bill Clinton is smiling.  One-time special prosecutor who uncovered the dirty details of the former President's affair with intern Monica Lewinsky has been engaged in some bad behavior of his own …

Clinton: ‘The rich are not paying their fair share’  —  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a rare foray into domestic politics today, offering her view that — given America's high unemployment — wealthy Americans don't pay enough taxes.  —  “The rich are not paying their fair share …

Pediatricians now reject all female genital cutting  —  On Thursday the AAP withdrew a policy statement on female genital cutting released in April.  The statement suggested genital “pricking.”  —  (CNN) — The American Academy of Pediatrics has rescinded a controversial policy statement raising …

Rand Paul's Strange Ties To Big Oil  —  Fresh off the heels of our story about Rand Paul's new campaign manager and the Campaign for Liberty, come questions raised after additional research.  —  Just a few days ago Rand Paul criticized President Barack Obama for suggesting BP be held accountable …

Mass. Senate passes crackdown on illegal immigrants  —  With one lawmaker citing President Lincoln's respect for the rule of law, the Massachusetts Senate passed a far-reaching crackdown this afternoon on illegal immigrants and those who would hire them, going further, senators said …

DNC Pushes Sex Scandal Story  —  The DNC, the political wing of a president who launched his campaign decrying slash-and-burn campaign tactics, is highlighting new stories about a sex scandal rocking a GOP primary.  —  Earlier today, the DNC sent around a report from WSPA, the Spartanburg …

'Obama's Katrina' — By: Yuval Levin  —  I think it's actually right to say that the BP oil spill is something like Obama's Katrina, but not in the sense in which most critics seem to mean it.  —  It's like Katrina in that many people's attitudes regarding the response to it reveal completely unreasonable expectations of government.

GOP moves to repeal healthcare law  —  House Republican leaders introduced a bill Thursday to repeal and replace the sweeping healthcare law adopted in late March.  —  According to Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the measure would repeal the current law and replace it with the alternative …

Oil Spill Alters Views on Environmental Protection  —  Majority now favors protecting environment over developing energy supplies  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Between March and today, with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill intervening, Americans' preferences for prioritizing between environmental protection …