CNN's Octavia Nasr Leaving Network After Controversial Hezbollah Tweet  —  In the latest case of new media (or oversharing) gone wrong, CNN's Senior Editor of Mideast Affairs Octavia Nasr is leaving the company following the controversy caused by her tweet in praise of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah

Why I am blacklisted by MSNBC  —  In case you were wondering why you haven't seen me on MSNBC recently, it seems that Joe Scarborough, he of the lowest rated morning show in cableland, has blackballed me.  And Phil Griffin, the alleged president of MSNBC, is going along with it.

Federal Reserve weighs steps to offset slowdown in economic recovery  —  Federal Reserve officials, increasingly concerned over signs the economic recovery is faltering, are considering new steps to bolster growth.  —  With Congress tied in political knots over whether to take further action …

Republicans And Democrats Lining Up Behind Major Changes To Social Security  —  Is there a new, bipartisan consensus forming on Capitol Hill about whether (and how) to scale back Social Security benefits?  A surprising number of signs point to “yes” — and that has many progressives looking ahead …

Gov. Bobby Jindal signs bills allowing guns in church, changing sex-solicitation penalty  —  Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law one of the more controversial bills from the recent legislative session, one allowing guns to be carried into houses of worship.

Obama's interview with Israel TV  —  President Barack Obama gave his first interview to an Israeli outlet since taking office, to Yonit Levi, of Israel's Channel 2 TV.  Conducted Wednesday at the White House, it airs today at 1pm EST on Israel's Channel 2.  While there's no breaking news …

President Obama Attacks Congress for Delaying His Nominees — Is He Right?  —  In announcing the recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — and two other nominees — today President Obama said in a statement that “It's unfortunate …

The ever-expanding Senate playing field, or not  —  1. Just when you think the 2010 Senate playing field is set, it spawns a few more races.  —  West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D) announced Wednesday that he will push for a 2010 special election to replace Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) …

United States v. Arizona — How 'Bout United States v. Rhode Island?  — By: Andy McCarthy  —  Well whaddya know?  It turns out that Rhode Island has long been carrying out the procedures at issue in the Arizona immigration statute: As a matter of routine, RI state police check immigration status …

Breaking: Chicago Democrat Machine Throws Black Female Candidate Off the Ballot  —  As we feared, the Chicago Democrat Machine reached into neighboring Will County and lined up a couple Democrat officials to throw Cedra Crenshaw, GOP candidate for the 43rd State Senate District, off the ballot.

Boxer's approval ratings sink, Field Poll says  —  California voters are giving U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer some of the lowest approval ratings of her career, as the three-term Democrat is in a statistical dead heat against first-time GOP office-seeker Carly Fiorina, according to a new Field Poll released today.

Obama tries to sell ‘recovery summer’ amid sluggish economy  —  President Barack Obama and his team are trying to sell Americans on an economic recovery this summer, but the economy is stubbornly refusing to cooperate.  —  Obama and his Cabinet officials will fan out across the country …

The Elite Turn Against Obama  —  NEW YORK - Even the Aspen Ideas Festival, an annual gathering of the country's brightest lights, isn't Obama country anymore.  Lloyd Grove on the president's waning support among the intelligentsia.  —  You'd think the well-heeled and enlightened eggheads …

Blago trial could singe W.H.  —  It's the trial the White House hopes you won't watch.  —  The federal corruption saga of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been rattling along during the sweltering Chicago summer, offering a daily dose of low-grade theatrics, low-impact bombshells and low-brow humor.

Heat wave air conditioners of doom  —  From China to New York, the more we cool ourselves, the hotter we're going to get  —  When I lived in Taiwan in the mid-1980s, a version of the same news story would run every summer, right after temperatures spiked to their highest point of the year …

Name One Difference Between World Opinion and Left-Wing Opinion  —  Here's a challenge: Can you name one difference between what the media refer to as “world opinion” and Left-wing opinion?  —  Take all the time you need.  But no matter how much time you take, you probably won't come up with any examples.

Mother of baby saved by Israelis wants him to murder them  —  Ha'aretz reports on a documentary by Channel 10 reporter Shlomi Eldar about a Palestinian Arab baby with a rare disease being treated in Israel. … (h/t Islamonazism blog)

Let Michael Steele have his say on the Afghan war  —  It's easy to understand why Democrats want Michael Steele to stay in the news.  The Republican National Committee chairman is a wonderful distraction, a constant source of gaffes, laughs, clarifications and denials.

Banks Often Extend Sour Property Loans  —  Some banks have a special technique for dealing with business borrowers who can't repay loans coming due: Give them more time, hoping things improve and they can repay later.  —  Banks call it a wise strategy.  Skeptics call it “extend and pretend.”

A New Chapter for the LA River  —  There was a time when the Los Angeles River ran freely along a flooded plain, and the lands surrounding it were lush and fertile.  It was the primary water source for the Los Angeles basin, the reason our city was able to grow and thrive.

The year of ‘no comment’  —  Nevada Republican Sharron Angle was in no mood for conversation last month as she darted to her car at the end of a campaign event.  When a Las Vegas reporter tried to ask the Senate candidate a question anyway, an Angle supporter called him an “idiot.”

Most Americans Not Willing To Pay Higher Taxes For Public Employees, Entitlement Programs  —  Most Americans would not pay higher taxes for specific public services in their states, but they are more supportive of paying for education and staffing law enforcement than supporting state employees and entitlement programs.

Feds seeking return of Hassan Nemazee's crooked campaign contributions  —  The Democratic pols who got campaign cash from crooked financier Hassan Nemazee are being asked to return the dirty money so it can be forfeited to the feds.  —  More than 100 political committees and charities have been sent letters …