Rahm Emanuel expected to quit White House  —  Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, is expected to leave his job later this year after growing tired of the “idealism” of Barack Obama's inner circle.  —  Washington insiders say he will quit within six to eight months in frustration …

Lax Oversight Cited in Failure of Oil Rig's Failsafe Device  —  It was the last line of defense, the final barrier between the rushing volcanic fury of oil and gas and one of the worst environmental disasters in United States history.  —  Its very name — the blind shear ram — suggested its blunt purpose.

Republicans' Midterm Voting Enthusiasm Tops Prior Years  —  Relative enthusiasm advantage for GOP over Democrats largest in Gallup history dating to 1994  —  PRINCETON, NJ — An average of 59% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents have said they are more enthusiastic than usual …

Tried to Boycott Israeli Ship, Blocked Chinese Ship Instead  —  Follow Israel news on and .  —  Some 500 anti-Israel protestors arrived at the Oakland, California port early Sunday morning, hoping to block an Israeli ship from unloading its cargo.  However, the ship did not arrive …

Large majorities on Hill back Israel's flotilla raid  —  Even as Israel shows signs of loosening its blockade of Gaze, large majorities in the House and Senate have signed off on letters supporting the blockade and defending Israel's enforcement of it against a Turkish vessel.

Op-Ed Columnist: Budget Deficits: Spend Now, Save Later  —  Spend now, while the economy remains depressed; save later, once it has recovered.  How hard is that to understand?  —  Very hard, if the current state of political debate is any indication.  All around the world, politicians seem determined to do the reverse.

Mika Admits: I'm ‘Working With White House’ On Oil Spill Talking Points  —  Cut out the middle-woman and install Obama's teleprompter on the Morning Joe set . . .  Give her high marks for candor: on today's show, Mika Brzezinski admitted that she has been “working with the White House” on oil spill talking points.

High court upholds anti-terror law  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has upheld a federal law that bars “material support” to foreign terrorist organizations, rejecting a free speech challenge from humanitarian aid groups.  —  The court ruled 6-3 Monday that the government may prohibit …

PRODIGAL SON  —  Is the wayward Republican Mike Huckabee now his party's best hope?  —  Sun was bouncing off the miles of Jerusalem stone and the black hats of the Hasidim on the afternoon when Mike Huckabee went to visit the Wailing Wall, earlier this year.

Doctors limit new Medicare patients  —  WASHINGTON — The number of doctors refusing new Medicare patients because of low government payment rates is setting a new high, just six months before millions of Baby Boomers begin enrolling in the government health care program.

We can still win the war: Things are grim in Afghanistan, but victory remains in sight  —  Recent reports from Afghanistan paint a dark picture of the counterinsurgency efforts in the Taliban-infected south and east of the country.  This spring's operation in Marja, initially proclaimed a military success …

House Dems prepare alternative to budget that would avoid deficit vote  —  House Democrats are readying an alternative budget measure that would set next year's spending levels without requiring a vote on deficits.  —  House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.) said the alternative would be the …

Andy Stern Joins SIGA's Board of Directors  —  SIGA Technologies, Inc. (SIGA 6.77, -0.03, -0.44%) , a company specializing in the development of pharmaceutical agents to combat bio-warfare pathogens, announced today that Andy Stern, labor leader and prominent advocate for reform, joined SIGA's board of directors.

French prisoner ‘killed cellmate and ate his lung’  —  A French prisoner killed his cellmate then sliced open his chest to remove and eat his heart, a court has heard.  —  However, the man removed the wrong organ, and ate his lung by mistake.  —  Nicolas Cocaign, 39 …

Key Republican: Blow up the well  —  A Republican congressman suggested over the weekend that BP detonate dynamite to seal its leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.  —  Rep. Phil Gingrey (Ga.), who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee that grilled BP CEO Tony Hayward last week …

Rep. Cohen joins rap group onstage at campaign event  —  Videos emerged Sunday of Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) joining a rap group onstage at a campaign event.  —  “Give him the support because the town is under pressure,” the group rapped as Cohen danced alongside.

Obama announces fatherhood initiative  —  President Barack Obama announced a new fatherhood and families fund at an event in Washington, D.C., on Monday to celebrate Fathers Day.  —  The fund is part of a nationwide fatherhood initiative that the president said is designed to raise awareness …