House rejects measure that would extend key Patriot Act provisions through December  —  A measure to extend key provisions of the Patriot Act counterterrorism surveillance law through December failed the House Tuesday night, with more than two-dozen Republicans bucking their party to oppose the measure.

Arianna Huffington's ideological transformation  —  Did Arianna Huffington just sell out her fellow progressives?  —  In the literal sense, she undoubtedly has: The sale of Huffington Post to AOL for $315 million (including a large pile of cash going to Huffington herself) …

Obama's Approval Rating on Deficit Sinks to New Low  —  Egypt ranks among issues on which Obama is best rated  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama's approval rating for handling the federal budget deficit has gone from bad to worse in recent months, even as his ratings …

Planned Parenthood Video Fuels Abortion Debate  —  Undercover Video Shows Fake Pimp Seeking Abortions for Underage Sex Workers, Getting Advice from Planned Parenthood Employees  —  (CBS) In Washington Tuesday the House began hearings on the controversial subject of abortion.

Saudi oil reserves ‘overstated by 40%’  —  US diplomat convinced by Saudi expert that reserves of world's biggest oil exporter have been overstated by nearly 40%  —  The US fears that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, may not have enough reserves to prevent oil prices escalating …

Plans Near for Freddie and Fannie  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration and House Republicans are settling into a game of chicken over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, with each side daring the other to advance a plan for replacing the two housing finance companies.

Muslim Brotherhood: ‘We are not seeking power’  —  Cairo, Egypt (CNN) — Keeping with the low-profile it has adopted in Egypt's uprising, the Muslim Brotherhood said Wednesday it wants to promote democracy but does not intend to field a candidate for president.

Chris Matthews Calls Palin ‘A Cuckoo Clock’ and Gingrich ‘A Mortal Enemy to Our Civilization’  —  Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey said Monday that MSNBC's Chris Matthews “seems to be slipping out of touch with reality.”  —  On Tuesday, the “Hardball” host proved Armey's point by calling Sarah Palin …

Unbiasing Academia  —  I'm not surprised that John Tierney's new article on Jonathan Haidt has gotten a lot of attention from conservatives; it involves a liberal academic telling them something they already know: that academia discriminates against them. … In blog years, this is an age-old argument.

Rahm Emanuel captures enormous polling lead  —  Rahm Emanuel is headed toward victory in the race for Chicago mayor, a new poll of the city's likely voters suggests.  —  With less than two weeks to go until Election Day, 54 percent of voters surveyed by Chicago's ABC affiliate WLS-TV …

Obama Seeks $53 Billion Over Six Years to Build High-Speed Rail Networks  —  President Barack Obama will ask Congress next week to approve a six-year, $53 billion program for construction of a national high-speed and intercity rail network, Vice President Joe Biden said.

Rick Santorum: Sarah Palin skips CPAC for C-notes  —  Rick Santorum knocked Sarah Palin's decision to skip CPAC, saying on Tuesday that she must have “business opportunities” that are keeping her from the annual conservative conference that is a showcase for potential presidential contenders.

Former Judge Is on Trial in ‘Cash for Kids’ Scheme  —  SCRANTON, Pa. — A former Pennsylvania judge went on trial in federal court on Tuesday, charged with racketeering, bribery and extortion in what prosecutors say was a $2.8 million scheme to send juvenile delinquents to privately run prisons.

Protest in Egypt Takes a Turn as Workers Go on Strike  —  CAIRO — Protesters demanding the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak appeared on Wednesday to have recaptured the initiative in their battle with his government, demonstrating a new ability to mobilize thousands to take over Cairo's streets beyond …