Terror group's leader: ‘Have to build it’  —  By S.A. MILLER in Washington and TOM TOPOUSIS in New York  —  A leader of the Hamas terror group yesterday jumped into the emotional debate on the plan to construct a mosque near Ground Zero — insisting Muslims “have to build” it there.

President goes for a swim in the Gulf - or does he?  —  President Barack Obama wanted to convince America that the Gulf of Mexico remains open for business.  But perhaps he didn't want the world to catch another glimpse of his hairless chest.  —  So when he and his daughter, Sasha …

Feds clear DeLay after six years  —  The Justice Department has informed former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) that the government has ended a six-year investigation of his ties to the disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to DeLay's lead counsel in the matter, Richard Cullen, chairman of McGuireWoods.

Harvard University fund sells all Israel holdings  —  No reason for the sale was mentioned in the report to the SEC.  —  In another blow to Israeli shares, the Harvard Management Company notified the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday that it had sold all its holdings …

The Transformer  —  Bob Gates never thought he'd be Barack Obama's defense secretary.  Now, in an exclusive interview, the most revolutionary Pentagon leader since Robert McNamara tells FP why he said yes, when he'll get out of Washington, and what legacy he hopes to leave behind.

Attacking Social Security  —  Social Security turned 75 last week.  It should have been a joyous occasion, a time to celebrate a program that has brought dignity and decency to the lives of older Americans.  —  But the program is under attack, with some Democrats as well as nearly all Republicans joining the assault.

Obama's Bad Bets  —  “Recovery Summer” goes bust  —  Declaring a “Recovery Summer” victory tour at the start of June must have looked like a pretty safe wager for the Obama administration.  The economy seemed to have shifted firmly into gear during the spring.

Boomers Threaten Economy  —  America's baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—face a problem that could weigh on the economy for years to come: The longer it takes for the economy to recover, the less money they'll have to spend in retirement.  —  Policy makers have long worried …

Dept. of propaganda  —  Darrell Issa is out with a report this morning claiming that the Obama Administration has engaged in an unprecedented amount of illegal propaganda.  —  The charge is almost undoubtedly true: As the report drily catalogues, virtually every 20th Century administration …

Steroids Still Stalking Linda McMahon  —  Linda McMahon, the Republican wrestling impresario, has crept to within striking distance of Richard Blumenthal in the Connecticut Senate race.  But news that a 29-year-old former WWE wrestler died over the weekend of heart failure is bound to be a setback …