Data Show Bin Laden Plots; C.I.A. Hid Near Raided House  —  WASHINGTON — After reviewing computer files and documents seized at the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed, American intelligence analysts have concluded that the chief of Al Qaeda played a direct role for years …

Why is Pawlenty On Stage With These Crazy People?  —  Closing Thoughts:  —  Credit goes to the Fox News anchors who moderated the debate.  They did their research and managed to ask tough questions that trapped some of the candidates.  They managed to get Rick Santorum to come very close …

Job Creation Much Better Than Expected; Rate Hits 9%  —  Employment increased more than expected in April as private companies created jobs at the fastest pace in five years, pointing to underlying strength in the economy, even though the jobless rate rose to 9.0 percent.

44 U.S. Sens. to Obama: No Accountability, No Confirmation  —  44 Republican U.S. Senators today sent a letter to President Obama stating that they will not confirm any nominee, regardless of party affiliation, to be the Director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) …

Strong Job Report Shows U.S. Economy Gaining Steam  —  The United States economy added far more jobs than expected in April as the recovery continued to pick up steam.  —  The Department of Labor said Friday that 244,000 jobs were added last month after a gain of a revised 221,000 in March.

G.O.P. Medicare Plan Shakes Up Race for House Seat  —  Only weeks ago, top Democrats appeared to have all but written off a special election for a Congressional seat in the suburbs of Buffalo.  After all, Republican voters vastly outnumber Democrats in the district, and the Republican candidate …

Morning Jay: If Our ‘Food Stamp Recovery’ Persists, Obama Will Lose Big  —  I have noticed something unsettling in my own life lately: I know a lot of people who are on food stamps or some kind of extraordinary government assistance.  The count right now stands around 10 people, which is a lot for a small town denizen such as myself.

Fears and Failure  —  From G.D.P. to private-sector payrolls, from business surveys to new claims for unemployment insurance, key economic indicators suggest that the recovery may be sputtering.  —  And it wasn't much of a recovery to start with.  Employment has risen from its low point …

The Waterboarding Trail to bin Laden  —  Former CIA Director Michael Hayden said that as late as 2006 fully half of the government's knowledge about the structure and activities of al Qaeda came from harsh interrogations. … Khalid Sheikh Mohammed  —  Osama bin Laden was killed by Americans …

Probe Eyes Trades by Fund Titan  —  Prosecutors are examining trades made in an account overseen by hedge-fund titan Steven Cohen that were suggested by two of his former fund managers who have pleaded guilty to insider trading.  —  The development surfaced in court filings submitted …

Sorcery claim in Iran power struggle  —  Iranian power struggle between president and supreme leader sees arrests and claims of undue influence of chief of staff  —  Close allies of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have been accused of using supernatural powers to further his policies amid …

On entitlements, outlines of a Pawlenty plan  —  Governor Tim Pawlenty broadly outlined a plan for reducing planned spending on Social Security and Medicare, which he said he'll release in greater detail soon.  —  Pawlenty told a group of reporters at breakfast in Greenville Friday …

National fiscal dialogue needed  —  Through the fog of partisan warfare in Washington, one thing remains clear: We need big changes in government spending programs and tax policies to put our nation on a sustainable fiscal path.  —  As bipartisan negotiations headed by Vice President Joe Biden start Thursday …

Sources: Bin Laden Acted ‘Cowardly,’ Confused in Final Moments  —  Sources involved in the operation that took down Usama bin Laden told Fox News the terrorist leader acted “scared” and “completely confused” in his final moments, “shoving his wife” at the Navy SEAL who ultimately shot him.