Charlie Rangel's War: Deal Axed At 11th Hour  —  However, A Compromise Is Possible Between Now And When Expected Trial Would Take Place In September  —  Rep. Rangel: I'm Just Glad Nobody Is Calling Me ‘Corrupt’ Or ‘Dishonest’  —  NEW YORK (CBS) ― Deal, no deal ... deal, no deal.

McMahon Campaign Hits Grimm For Taking “Jewish Money”  —  Mike Grimm, a G.O.P challenger for Mike McMahon's Congressional seat, took in over $200,000 in his last filing.  —  But in an effort to show that Grimm lacks support among voters in the district, which covers Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn …

Nobody is Helping Aisha  —  It's certainly true as Time's emotionally manipulative new cover image indicates that the Taliban are terrible for women and that the more of Afghanistan they rule the worse things will be for women.  That said, it's extremely disingenuous to act …

President Obama calls African-Americans a ‘mongrel people’  —  NEW YORK — President Obama waded into the national race debate in an unlikely setting and with an unusual choice of words: telling daytime talk show hosts that African-Americans are “sort of a mongrel people.”

Dems Call On GOPers To Renounce Phyllis Schlafly Over Remarks About ‘Unmarried Women’ (AUDIO)  —  Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly took aim at “unmarried women” at a recent fundraiser and in an interview with TPM, saying that they overwhelmingly support President Obama and are all on welfare.

Fired USDA employee Sherrod to sue conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart  —  Ousted USDA employee Shirley Sherrod says she will sue conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, the Associated Press reports.  —  Sherrod made the announcement Thursday in San Diego at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention.

What would Republicans do for the economy?  An interview with Rep. Paul Ryan.  —  Paul Ryan is the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, and one of the party's most influential voices on the economy.  And with Republicans likely to pick up a lot of seats — and maybe even the House …

Orszag leaves his mark  —  Peter Orszag may have had the shortest tenure of any member of the Obama Cabinet, but in an administration dominated by a powerful White House staff, he left as deep a mark as almost anyone in it.  —  The 41-year-old economist, whose last day is Friday …

Tea Party Jitters  —  Spencer Wilking Finds That New York's Tea Partiers Aren't The Bigoted White Guys You Fear.  —  “Liberty is on the march,” Dan Halloran yells as he clutches a microphone in front of a gathered crowd inside Webster Hall.  “Not only is it on the march …

Fred Barnes not on a team?  Why did GOP pay him?  —  The Weekly Standard editor claimed political purity in bashing Journolist, but he's on the Republican payroll  —  In the pages of the Wall Street Journal, Fred Barnes has lately lamented the betrayal of “traditional journalism” …

Fed Member's Deflation Warning Hints at Policy Shift  —  WASHINGTON — A subtle but significant shift appears to be occurring within the Federal Reserve over the course of monetary policy amid increasing signs that the economic recovery is weakening.  —  On Thursday, James Bullard …

As Tennesseans Desperately Search For Work, Wamp Suggests Unemployed Are ‘Just Sitting Back Waiting’  —  This past Tuesday, Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN), who is also a leading candidate for the GOP nomination for governor, joined a conference call with the right-wing National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

Americans Look to Wealthy to Help Save Social Security  —  Favor expanding Social Security taxes, limiting benefits for high-income Americans  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Of six possible ways to address concerns with the Social Security system in a recent USA Today/Gallup poll, a majority of Americans favor two …

Obama Housing Bailout Under Attack  —  Criticism of the Obama Administration's mortgage bailout, the Home Affordable Modification Program, is reaching a fever pitch, and I know this because, among other things, the Administration itself appears to be mounting a defense.

Fox News Poll: Republicans Garner 11-Point Lead in Midterms  —  With less than 100 days until the midterm elections, American voters would give the edge to Republicans by an 11 percentage-point margin if the Congressional election were today.  Yet a majority doesn't think a Republican takeover of Congress would lead to positive change.

OMB nominee got $900,000 after Citigroup bailout  —  Bonus issued after 2008 report  —  President Obama's choice to be the government's chief budget officer received a bonus of more than $900,000 from Citigroup Inc. last year — after the Wall Street firm for which he worked received a massive taxpayer bailout.

Ariz. Illegal Immigration Law Judge Threatened  —  Federal Judge Received Messages from People Against Ruling Who “Expressed Their Displeasure in a Perverted Way”  —  (AP) Authorities say a federal judge in Phoenix has been getting some threats since her ruling on Arizona's controversial immigration law.

Curbing Your Enthusiasm  —  Why does the Obama administration keep looking for love in all the wrong places?  Why does it go out of its way to alienate its friends, while wooing people who will never waver in their hatred?  —  These questions were inspired by the ongoing suspense …

Support for Mexican border fence up to 68%  —  Support for the building of a fence along the Mexican border has reached a new high, and voters are more confident than ever that illegal immigration can be stopped.  —  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of U.S. voters …

Assault on America: A Decade of Petroleum Company Disaster, Pollution, and Profit  —  New report shows how today's oil and gas industry threatens Americans in countless ways.  —  Introduction  —  The BP catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, with its tragic loss of life and devastating impact …

Body of Jarod Newlove, second missing U.S. sailor, found in Afghanistan  —  KABUL — A second U.S. sailor who disappeared in eastern Afghanistan last week has been found dead.  —  The discovery Wednesday ended the urgent search that had begun Friday evening when two U.S. Navy service members drove away …

Army suicides linked to risky behavior, lax discipline  —  WASHINGTON — After nine years of war, the Army attracts recruits ready for combat but inclined toward risky personal behavior — a volatile mix that led to more deaths from suicide, drug overdoses and drinking and driving than from warfare, an Army review concludes.