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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Angry Voters Push Rubio To Top In Florida Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Say Republican Most Shares Their Values  —  Republican Marco Rubio holds a solid 46 - 33 percent likely voter lead over Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent in the race for Florida's U.S. Senate seat …

Hugo Lindgren Named New York Times Magazine Editor  —  In a stunning move, The New York Times is expected to announce that Hugo Lindgren will be the next editor of The New York Times Magazine, according to three people familiar with the deal.  —  Mr. Lindgren spent the last seven months …