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 …

Who Will Investigate the Investigators?  —  Another voter fraud scandal involving the Justice Department.  —  J. Christian Adams,, a former career Justice Department lawyer who resigned recently to protest political interference in cases he worked on, made some news yesterday in testimony before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Sarah Palin touts “mom awakening”  —  Sarah Palin's political action committee has released its first campaign-style video, in which the former Alaska governor warns of a coming “stampede” by pink elephants and “Mama Grizzlies,” conservative women who want to change Washington.

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 …

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.

The Constitution Trumps Arizona  —  The Obama administration has not always been completely clear about its immigration agenda, but it was forthright Tuesday when it challenged the pernicious Arizona law that allows the police to question the immigration status of people they detain for local violations.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.) …

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 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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Another round of Prohibition, anyone?  —  The evening of Jan. 16, 1920, hours before Prohibition descended on America, while the young assistant secretary of the Navy, Franklin Roosevelt, drank champagne in Washington with other members of Harvard's Class of 1904, evangelist Billy Sunday preached …

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.

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.”

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.