Mubarak: ‘If I Resign Today There Will Be Chaos’  —  I've just left the presidential palace in Cairo where I sat down for an exclusive 30-minute interview with President Hosni Mubarak.  — He told me that he is troubled by the violence we have seen in Tahrir Square over the last few days …

Sarah Palin Turns Down Coveted Keynote Speaking Slot At CPAC Conference  —  ABC News' Michael Falcone:  —  UPDATED: After skipping the popular Conservative Political Action Conference for the past three years, Sarah Palin has once again turned down the invitation of CPAC officials to address the conference this year.

White Political Ralliers Call for Lynching of Black Justice (Sorry MSM, No Tea in this Blend)  —  I recently took a two-day trip down to Palm Springs to attend an event called “Uncloaking the Kochs” hosted by Common Cause.  Accompanied by my dear friend, former assembly candidate Alvaro Day …

Sandmonkey's Last Post  —  The blogger known as Egyptian Sandmonkey is a friend of mine.  Many Americans read him.  I actually know him.  I met him years ago in Cairo, and he's one of the good guys.  —  I don't know if what's happening in Egypt is a good thing or a bad thing because I don't know how it will end.

Charlotte charred by FLOTUS roast reference  —  Charlotte residents were ecstatic to hear this week that their city was selected to host the Democratic convention.  But there was one line in the e-mail announcement from First Lady Michelle Obama that made locals say, “Huh?”

TRENDING: Obama delivers major speech on personal faith  —  President Barack Obama gave an unusually personal speech about his religious faith on Thursday, saying that “it is the biblical injunction to serve the least of these that keeps me going and keeps me from being overwhelmed,” in address to a prayer breakfast in Washington.

GOP offers $32B budget cut  —  House Republican leaders on Thursday said they would seek $32 billion in spending cuts from the resolution currently funding the government.  —  Republicans framed their proposal as cutting $74 billion from President Obama's 2011 budget request.

GOP loses ‘forcible rape’ language  —  House Republicans plan to sidestep a charged debate over the distinction between “forcible rape” and “rape” by altering the language of a bill banning taxpayer subsidies for abortions.  —  The provision in question, written as an exemption from the ban …

U.S. in Contempt Over Gulf Drill Ban, Judge Rules  —  The Obama Administration acted in contempt by continuing its deepwater-drilling moratorium after the policy was struck down, a New Orleans judge ruled.  —  Interior Department regulators acted with “determined disregard” …

John McCain: ‘Thank God’ Donald Rumsfeld stepped down  —  Sen. John McCain said he “thank[s] God” that former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stepped down from the post in 2006 and didn't lead the Pentagon's strategy in Iraq during the last two years of George W. Bush's presidency.

Obama Administration Covering Up Abortion Data *Updated* … “The Obama Administration has apparently ordered that the only Federal government report on abortion statistics ... be deep-sixed. ”  —  RedState has uncovered evidence - confirmed by the CDC's own press office …

President Carter named in $5 million lawsuit over his “Palestine” book  —  More than four years after its publication, five disgruntled readers have filed a class-action lawsuit against President Jimmy Carter and his publisher, Simon & Schuster, alleging that his 2006 book “Palestine Peace Not Apartheid” …

Kucinich: Suspected WikiLeaks leaker could be facing ‘cruel and unusual’ treatment  —  The Army private accused of leaking classified U.S. documents to WikiLeaks has suffered “cruel and unusual” treatment while detained by the government, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said.

John Thune Should Run For President  —  I can't think of any reason whatsoever why John Thune is considered a viable presidential candidate.  There are literally dozens of other incumbent senate Republicans who, as best I can tell, are identical to Thune.  Therefore, I take the fact that Thune …

Sen. Bill Nelson: ‘Possibility but not Probability’ Health Care Law is Unconstitutional  —  ABC News' Rick Klein reports:  —  UPDATE: Despite what Sen. Nelson told us about the inclusion of a “severability clause” in the health care law, the law actually does not contain such language.

Cops Charge 7-Year-Old for Bringing Toy Gun to Class  —  Kid charged with possession of a fake firearm after shooting Nerf-style gun  —  A 7-year-old child allegedly shot a Nerf-style toy gun in his Hammonton, N.J., school Jan. 18.  No one was hurt, but the pint-size softshooter now faces misdemeanor criminal charges.

(UPDATE: Sandmonkey OK, tweets!)  Sandmonkey arrest rumors spreading  —  Sandmonkey tweets!: … Roger L. Simon tries to contact Sandmonkey's confiscated cell phone — perhaps a Mubarak thug will answer?  —  A tweet from CynthFarah, whose brother Amir Farahat was apparently arrested and released along with Sandmonkey:

The Economic Outlook and Macroeconomic Policy  —  Good afternoon.  I am pleased to be here at the National Press Club, and I'm especially glad for the opportunity to have a conversation with journalists who write about economic policy from our nation's capital.  Your job is not easy, but it is essential.