Obama Puts Taxes on Table  —  President Barack Obama will lay out his plan for reducing the nation's deficit Wednesday, belatedly entering a fight over the nation's long-term financial future.  But in addition to suggesting cuts—the current focus of debate—the White House looks set to aim …

A Debt Ceiling Hostage Rescue Strategy  —  As Jon Chait and Josh Marshall write this morning, the way the tax cut deal and the appropriations deal went down makes it clear that the White House needs a better hostage rescue strategy heading into the debt ceiling fight.  Fortunately, I think one is available.

The Ayers campaign  —  There's an oft-broken rule of self-effacement among political staffers, one Nick Ayers and the Pawlenty campaign smashed it resolutely this morning with an email that was rather more about Ayers than his candidate, and an item suggesting his move was a death knell for Haley Barbour, his former boss.

The President Is Missing  —  What have they done with President Obama?  What happened to the inspirational figure his supporters thought they elected?  Who is this bland, timid guy who doesn't seem to stand for anything in particular?  —  I realize that with hostile Republicans controlling the House …

Republican lawmakers sour on 2012 field  —  A presidential primary favorite is emerging among the ranks of congressional Republicans: none of the above.  —  The dissatisfaction with the likely GOP field — long whispered among party activists, operatives and elected officials — is growing more audible in the House and Senate.

What's Really Going On With Gabby Giffords?  —  The untold story of the congresswoman's struggle, her husband's faith, and their long, hard road to recovery.  —  PHOTOS: According to doctors, Sen. Gabrielle Giffords has made significant advances.  But they caution that injuries to the brain …

Private Manning's Humiliation  —  Bruce Ackerman and Yochai Benkler  —  Bradley Manning is the soldier charged with leaking US government documents to Wikileaks.  He is currently detained under degrading and inhumane conditions that are illegal and immoral.

Peter Thiel: We're in a Bubble and It's Not the Internet.  It's Higher Education.  —  Fair warning: This article will piss off a lot of you.  —  I can say that with confidence because it's about Peter Thiel.  And Thiel - the PayPal co-founder, hedge fund manager and venture capitalist …

Ex-senator Hiram Monserrate, accused of slashing girlfriend, now working at pizza joint  —  Hiram Monserrate is serving the public again — one slice at a time.  —  The shamed former state senator is getting rid of his aggression these days by pounding the dough at a pizza shop in Queens.

Hearst exclusive: Obama talks about his golf habit, his favorite magazines and personal frustrations  —  President Obama makes a surprise visit to the Lincoln Memorial this weekend.  —  President Obama wants you to know that he is not a golf addict.  —  He simply spends so much time unwinding …

Revolver  —  Why do some of the most capable public servants in America, people like economist Peter Orszag, keep circling back from Washington to Wall Street?  One guess.  —  When Peter Orszag left his post as White House budget director last summer, it made perfect sense, on several levels …

How Donor Disclosure Hurts Democracy  —  As a candidate, I learned how much potential campaign contributors fear incumbent retribution.  —  In the debates about campaign-finance regulation and the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision of last year, there seems to be widespread agreement on one thing …

Couric's Rocky Path to a Likely Parting With CBS  —  For Katie Couric, the offer in 2006 to become the anchor of “CBS Evening News” came with another incentive, one she prized almost as highly, according to two of her friends: the chance to report for “60 Minutes,” the newsmagazine …

Milwaukee County DA, state board schedule news conference on ‘significant investigation’  —  The state Government Accountability Board and Milwaukee County district attorney's office has scheduled a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss the results of a “significant investigation.”

Chicago school bans some lunches brought from home  —  To encourage healthful eating, Chicago school doesn't allow kids to bring lunches or certain snacks from home — and some parents, and many students, aren't fans of the policy  —  A Little Village Academy student cringes at an enchilada dish served at his school.

Roth IRAs: A real ‘fiscal Frankenstein’  —  In establishing Roth IRAs, Congress waived untold billions in future Treasury receipts.  It's time to retire them.  —  The day after Congress passed the new healthcare law, an opponent called it “a fiscal Frankenstein.”

REPORT: U.S. Military Spending Has Almost Doubled Since 2001  —  A new report released today by SIPRI, a Swedish-based think tank, reveals that U.S. military spending has almost doubled since 2001.  The U.S. spent an astounding $698 billion on the military last year, an 81% increase over the last decade.

GOP's ‘politically correct’ budget  —  “Look at us, then look at them,” an administration official told New York Magazine.  —  The White House strategy worked.  When the two sides got very close on spending, what happened?  Republicans brought up the most intractable controversy in U.S. politics: — abortion.

Ikea's U.S. factory churns out unhappy workers  —  A union-organizing battle hangs over the Ikea plant in Virginia.  Workers complain of eliminated raises, a frenzied pace, mandatory overtime and racial discrimination.  —  Workers prepare pieces of Ikea furniture for packing at the then-new factory in Danville, Va., in 2008.

Study: Gas from ‘fracking’ worse than coal on climate  —  Cornell University professors will soon publish research that concludes natural gas produced with a drilling method called “hydraulic fracturing” contributes to global warming as much as coal, or even more.