CBS reporter's Cairo nightmare  —  “60 Minutes” correspondent Lara Logan was repeatedly sexually assaulted by thugs yelling, “Jew!  Jew!” as she covered the chaotic fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo's main square Friday, CBS and sources said yesterday.

Santorum Talks About Longtime Google Problem  —  Rick Santorum has a Google problem.  —  The former Pennsylvania Senator might be well-known on Capitol Hill, but his name more regularly produces blank stares in places like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, if recent polling is any guide.

From Prison, Madoff Says Banks ‘Had to Know’ of Fraud  —  BUTNER, N.C. — Bernard L. Madoff said he never thought the collapse of his Ponzi scheme would cause the sort of destruction that has befallen his family.  —  In his first interview for publication since his arrest in December 2008 …

Will Democrats Force the Army Out of NASCAR?  —  Mark Martin reclines against car, sponsored by the U.S. Army. credit: Grant Halverson/Getty Images  —  The Pentagon has had a decade-long business partnership with the NASCAR stock-car racing circuit that has been a boon to the sport.

Ryan's claims of trillions in new spending in the 2012 federal budget  —  “What we have is $1.6 trillion in new tax increases, $8.7 trillion in new spending.  He's going to be adding $13 trillion to the debt over the course of his budget.”  —  It's budget season in Washington again …

Alvin Greene soundly defeated in bid for state legislature seat  —  Washington (CNN) - Surprise candidate Alvin Greene was soundly defeated in his second bid for elective office on Tuesday.  He captured only 37 votes or just about .01% of the 3,892 cast in a Democratic primary to fill …

Boehner the budget hawk shifts his course  —  “So be it.”  —  That was House Speaker John Boehner's cold answer when asked Tuesday about job losses that would come from his new Republican majority's plans to cut tens of billions of dollars in government spending this year.

Newt Gingrich's financial empire shows his fundraising prowess  —  Dallas businesswoman Dawn Rizos received the unexpected invitation by fax: Come to a “private dinner” with Newt Gingrich in Washington, where you will be named an “entrepreneur of the year.”  —  The catch: Rizos had to pay …

Egypt Leaders Found ‘Off’ Switch for Internet  —  Epitaphs for the Mubarak government all note that the mobilizing power of the Internet was one of the Egyptian opposition's most potent weapons.  But quickly lost in the swirl of revolution was the government's ferocious counterattack …

Major Hasan, ‘Star Officer’  —  Every branch of the military issued a final report on the Fort Hood massacre.  Not a single one mentioned radical Islam.  —  In a month of momentous change, it was easy to overlook the significance of another revolutionary event.

With GOP rifts on cuts, McConnell faces test to unite colleagues  —  Rifts have already begun to emerge in the Senate Republican Conference over a House GOP proposal to cut $61 billion from the federal budget.  —  Conservative and even some mainstream members are calling for Senate Republicans …

Poll: Most Oppose Cutting Funding for Health Care Reforms  —  CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.  —  A majority of the public disapproves of the Republican idea to cut off funding for health care reform …

Thune in 2012?  —  As he settles into a high-backed chair in his private Senate office, John Thune tells me that if he jumps into the 2012 presidential race, he will be in it to win it — no test-run for 2016, no show-horse spectacle.  “The reason you do it is that you really believe that the future is now,” he says.

Feingold forms PAC to boost liberal candidates, fight corporate influence  —  Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) on Wednesday announced the formation of a new liberal political group meant to boost progressive candidates and combat corporate influence in politics.

Scott sending high-speed rail money back to Washington?  —  TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott just announced he's taking a pass on $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money President Obama's administration had earmarked for a high-speed train connecting Orlando and Tampa.

Christie to outline ‘big things’ in Washington speech  —  Washington (CNN) - No matter many times he denies having his sights on the White House in 2012, presidential buzz seems to follow New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wherever he goes.  —  His latest foray onto the national stage comes Wednesday …

Democrats to hold campaign fundraiser for Gabrielle Giffords  —  As Rep. Gabrielle Giffords recovers from last month's shooting, her closest friends in Congress are moving to raise money for her reelection committee to make sure she has the necessary resources to run a campaign in 2012.

Democracy isn't enough  —  Though one hates to nitpick, it seems that Middle East coverage on cable TV has been only almost perfect.  You see, for some reason, a number of anchors and talking heads have made a careless habit of using the words “democracy” and “freedom” as if they were interchangeable ideas.