McDonald's May Drop Health Plan  —  McDonald's Corp. has warned federal regulators that it could drop its health insurance plan for nearly 30,000 hourly restaurant workers unless regulators waive a new requirement of the U.S. health overhaul.  —  The move is one of the clearest indications …

Emanuel's Departure Set; Rouse to Replace Him  —  Updated President Obama will give his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, a send-off Friday as Mr. Emanuel officially announces his departure from the West Wing to run for mayor of Chicago, officials familiar with the decision said.

Obama 52%, Clinton 37% for 2012 Democratic Nomination  —  Clinton's support highest among conservative, less well-educated Democrats  —  PRINCETON, NJ — If Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were to challenge President Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2012 …

New Yorkers outraged as bureaucrats order city to change lettering on every single street sign  —  The city will change the lettering on every single street sign - at an estimated cost of about $27.5 million - because the feds don't like the font.  —  Street names will change from all capital letters …

Meg Whitman Didn't Think It Was ‘Right Thing’ to Turn in Her Illegal Housekeeper  —  Meg Whitman Accuses Jerry Brown of Orchestrating ‘Smear’  —  Meg Whitman said today that she did not report her long-time housekeeper to immigration officials after finding out she was in the country illegally because …

Sen. Murkowski targets Tea Party Express in new ad  —  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on Wednesday released two new TV ads her campaign says will counter the Tea Party Express.  —  Earlier this week, the group unveiled its own TV ad targeting Murkowski, which spokesman Levi Russell said he hopes …

Private Moment Made Public, Then a Fatal Jump  —  It started with a Twitter message on Sept. 19: “Roommate asked for the room till midnight.  I went into molly's room and turned on my webcam.  I saw him making out with a dude.  Yay.”  —  That night, the authorities say …

Exclusive: Ben Wetmore Explains CNN Boat Sex Prank  —  On Wednesday CNN reported that right-wing provocateur James O'Keefe — the fake pimp whose YouTube video cost ACORN its federal funding, and who pled guilty to entering Senator Mary Landrieu's office under false pretenses — planned to …

Sources: top Democrats want an aggressive Obama on the trail  —  (CNN) - Democratic congressional leaders used a White House strategy session Thursday to push President Barack Obama to be more aggressive in helping them campaign in the final weeks before November's elections …

O'Donnell's Oxford Education Claim On Second Website Was Authored By Her, Says Site Spokesman  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Delaware Republican Senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell has responded to accusations that she overstated her education in her resume by insisting …

Senate blocks recess appointments with deal between Dems, GOP  —  Senate Democrats struck a deal Wednesday night with Republicans to keep President Obama from making recess appointments while Congress is out of town campaigning for the midterm elections.  —  Democratic leaders have agreed …

Many Big Donors to Democrats Cut Support  —  Many wealthy Democratic patrons, who in the past have played major roles financing outside groups to help elect the party's candidates, are largely sitting out these crucial midterm elections.  —  Democratic donors like George Soros …

Luce on the Pledge  —  The FT's Ed Luce has a smart take on the Pledge to America: … Indeed, as our CAP chart indicates the Pledge plan would make deficits appreciably higher than the Obama budget.  —  The only question at this point is why this comes as a surprise to anyone.

In a Computer Worm, a Possible Biblical Clue  —  Deep inside the computer worm that some specialists suspect is aimed at slowing Iran's race for a nuclear weapon lies what could be a fleeting reference to the Book of Esther, the Old Testament tale in which the Jews pre-empt a Persian plot to destroy them.

Paladino and Post reporter square off  —  Tweet  —  Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and Post State Editor Fredric U. Dicker last night got into an angry confrontation — during which Paladino threatened, “I'll take you out.”  —  It started when Dicker asked Paladino …

Locked and Loaded: The Secret World of Extreme Militias  —  Camouflaged and silent, the assault team inched toward a walled stone compound for more than five hours, belly-crawling the last 200 yards.  The target was an old state prison in eastern Ohio, and every handpicked member of Red Team 2 knew …

'Obama's Wars': The gang that couldn't shoot straight — or shut up  —  Senior Washington officials, in this administration or its predecessors, talk to Bob Woodward for all kinds of reasons — to fluff up their vanity, to avenge slights, to neutralize rivals, to gratify egos or, most laughably, to shape the historical record.

Leadership Challenge?  GOP Rep.: ‘Premature’ to Commit to Supporting Boehner  —  ABC News' Rick Klein reports:  —  As Democrats ramp up their attacks on House Minority Leader John Boehner - who's presumed to be in line to become House speaker if Republicans take over the majority …

Judge who struck down Prop. 8 to retire  —  (09-30) 11:19 PDT SAN FRANCISCO — Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who struck down California's ban on same-sex marriage last month, will retire in February, his court said Wednesday.  —  The unexpected announcement gave no reason …

New poll indicates Sestak within reach of Toomey  —  (CNN) - Pennsylvania may be in for a nail-biter in November, according to the results of a new poll released Thursday.  —  Republican nominee Pat Toomey is leading Rep. Joe Sestak, the Democrat's nominee, 45 percent to 42 percent among likely voters …