Last Defense at Troubled Reactors: 50 Japanese Workers  —  A small crew of technicians, braving radiation and fire, became the only people remaining at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on Tuesday — and perhaps Japan's last chance of preventing a broader nuclear catastrophe.

Poll: Palin's numbers slide among Republicans  —  Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is losing ground with Republicans as some of her possible opponents for the GOP presidential nomination gain ground.  —  Palin's unfavorable numbers with Republicans are at an all-time high …

President Obama's Trivial Pursuits  —  The Middle East is afire with rebellion, Japan is imploding from an earthquake, and the battle of the budget is on in the United States, but none of this seems to be deterring President Obama from a heavy schedule of childish distractions.

The $4-Per-Gallon President  —  Is it really any surprise that oil and gas prices are surging toward the record highs we saw in 2008 just prior to the economic collapse?  Despite the President's strange assertions in his press conference last week, his Administration is not a passive observer …

Rick Scott, John Kasich, Scott Walker, and a GOP Problem for 2012  —  I was talking the other day to a Democrat who'd been battle-scarred by the 2010 Florida campaign, in which Democrats lost everything.  Everything.  Alan Grayson's career died quickly.  Kendrick Meek became a trivia question.

House GOP Declares Emergency ... Over NPR Funding  —  House Republicans are holding an emergency meeting of the Rules Committee on Wednesday to take up legislation that would block funding to NPR in the wake of James O'Keefe's hidden camera prank on the news organization.

Court frees CIA contractor accused of murder: Rana Sanaullah  —  ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan court on Wednesday freed CIA contractor Raymond Davis, who was accused of murdering two men in Lahore, after blood money was paid in accordance with sharia law, the Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said.

Clinton: No U.S. support for Libya no-fly zone  —  From Cairo, NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports on the ongoing negotiations over a no-fly zone in Libya.  —  Carrie Dann writes:We wrote this morning that lawmakers - and the public - are split about whether the United States should implement …

NPR Boardmembers and Fundraisers Give Overwhelmingly to Democrats  —  Of nearly $2.2 million in political contributions, most goes to the left  —  The ongoing budget crisis and accusations of liberal bias have fueled renewed calls by conservative politicians for an end to NPR's public funding.

Marco Rubio starts building national brand  —  Sen. Marco Rubio is done with the quiet freshman act.  —  With a landmark spending debate engulfing Washington, the Florida Republican has, virtually overnight, launched the national profile the conservative movement has been clamoring for.

Senate Republicans to drop contempt finding against Democrats  —  By Jason Stein and Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel  —  Madison — The top GOP leader in the state Senate backtracked Tuesday, saying Republicans would lift fines and a contempt finding against Democrats …

Obama: No. 1 seeds will rule in NCAA tournaments  —  WASHINGTON - March Madness is back at the White House, and President Barack Obama is picking the top seeds to advance to the Final Four.  —  For the third straight year, Obama has filled out an NCAA tournament bracket for ESPN.

Bahrain protests in Manama's Pearl Square overrun  —  Watch: The BBC's Caroline Hawley said the “city is in complete lockdown”  —  Security forces with tanks have overrun a square in the centre of Bahrain's capital Manama where anti-government protesters have been camped for weeks.

Miami-Dade voters fire Mayor Carlos Alvarez over pay hikes, tax increase  —  Miami-Dade recall election draws strong voter turnout  —  Related Content  —  If voters recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez, would you vote to re-elect him?  —  WHAT'S NEXT?  —  • The Miami-Dade County Canvassing …

Unions vs. the little guy in Wisconsin recall fight  —  Chief Political Correspondent Follow Him @ByronYork  —  If you're a Republican, it's a scenario straight out of “Alice in Wonderland.”  Fourteen Wisconsin state senators, all Democrats, flee the state for three weeks …