Weiner's Wife Is Pregnant  —  Their marriage has become the subject of intense speculation and scrutiny amid an embarrassing online sex scandal.  —  Now, Representative Anthony D. Weiner and Huma Abedin are about to make news of a different kind: they are expecting their first child.

Obama Team Eyes Payroll Tax Break for Employers  —  President Barack Obama's advisers have discussed seeking a temporary cut in the payroll taxes businesses pay on wages as they debate ways to spur hiring amid signs that the recovery is slowing, according to people familiar with the matter.

U.S. Is Intensifying a Secret Campaign of Yemen Airstrikes  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has intensified the American covert war in Yemen, exploiting a growing power vacuum in the country to strike at militant suspects with armed drones and fighter jets, according to American officials.

Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Climb in the U.S.  —  U.S. initial jobless claims unexpectedly rose last week, a sign that the labor market is struggling to gain traction.  —  Jobless claims increased by 1,000 to 427,000 in the week ended June 4, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington.

Romney draws early fire from conservatives over views on climate change  —  It seemed like a straightforward question on a second-tier issue: Would Mitt Romney disavow the science behind global warming?  —  The putative Republican presidential front-runner, eager to prove his conservative bona fides …

Jon Huntsman's no-names strategy  —  Jon Huntsman is trying out a novel strategy: running for president without criticizing the incumbent by name.  —  Since returning from his post as ambassador to China last month, Huntsman has made scant mention of the man who appointed him in May 2009—President Barack Obama.

You Left Out the Part About ...  Last weekend, like seemingly half the country, I took my son to see “X-Men: First Class,” the latest, and best, big-screen incarnation of the popular comic book franchise.  —  My son and I represent two generations of X-fans.

Fitch warns US would endanger AAA rating with even ‘technical’ default  —  The United States would endanger its coveted AAA credit rating if Congress allows even a short-term “technical default” to occur, according to the Fitch credit rating agency.  —  Fitch said Wednesday it would put …

ExxonMobil Announces Three Discoveries in Deepwater Gulf of Mexico  —  IRVING, Texas—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) today announced two major oil discoveries and a gas discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico after drilling the company's first post-moratorium deepwater exploration well.

Ann Coulter's book gets Matt Drudge's touch  —  Coulter is promoting her book ‘Demonic: How the LIberal Mob is Endangering America.’  —  There's a flattering photo of Ann Coulter in a form-fitting white dress and pointy red shoes on the cover of her new book — the back cover, that is.

Rudy's Running  —  I'm told by two reliable sources that Rudy Giuliani intends to run for the GOP nomination for president in 2012.  He may throw his hat in the ring soon.  —  Rudy's theory of the race: In the fall of 2007, he decided he couldn't compete with both Mitt Romney and John McCain …

President Obama's campaign expands its 2012 map  —  CHICAGO — President Barack Obama's campaign team is gaming out complex state-by-state scenarios for 2012 that anticipate uphill battles in recession-ravaged blue states — and new opportunities in Arizona and Georgia.

Confirmed: The Nomination Process Is Broken  —  Even Senate Republicans want to help speed up the presidential appointment process.  —  Dawn Johnsen doesn't want to complain.  It's been one year and two months since she withdrew her nomination to lead the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department.

Leona Helmsley's pampered Maltese ‘Trouble,’ one of the world's richest dogs, dies at age 12  —  Leona Helmsley's pampered pooch “Trouble,” who inherited $12 million from the real estate mogul, has died at the age of 12.  —  That's 84 in dog years.  —  Like many Americans …

Is The Phony War Ending?  —  It's not clear whether the recent bad economic numbers signal an ominous trend or a blip in a generally anemic recovery.  But they have focused opinion-makers attention on a signal fact: the US economy, while improved from the near catastrophic state of the winter of 2008-09 …

Citizens United's Outrageous Offspring  —  Judge James Cacheris gave the impression last week that he was considering putting right what he got wrong when he ruled in May that corporations are free to make direct donations to federal candidates.  That first judgment directly contravened …

Congress has declared war on the environment  —  It is now more than ten years since I left public office.  I am returning to the public stage today because I believe that this Congress, in its assaults on our environment, has embarked on the most radical course in our history.

Joe Wilson endorses Pawlenty in South Carolina  —  Washington (CNN) - Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty secured a major endorsement in the early primary state of South Carolina on Wednesday, picking up the support of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson.  —  Wilson will serve as co-chairman …

Obama approval rating falls below 50 percent  —  CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.  —  Updated 8 p.m. ET  —  President Obama's approval ratings fell to below 50 percent for the first time since …

Drumbeat grows for Weiner to step down  —  The Democratic drumbeat for Rep. Anthony Weiner's resignation is getting louder and louder, with a number of rank-and-file members joining calls for the New York Democrat to go.  —  Democratic Reps. Niki Tsongas (Mass.), Larry Kissell (N.C.) …

Panetta faces challenges on spending, Afghanistan war  —  Leon Panetta will begin what is expected to be a swift confirmation on Thursday with testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee.  —  Panetta, a former Democratic congressman from California who is the director of the CIA …

‘Kill a camel’ to cut pollution concept in Australia  —  Australia is considering awarding carbon credits for killing feral camels as a way to tackle climate change.  —  The suggestion is included in Canberra's “Carbon Farming Initiative”, a consultation paper by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, seen Thursday.

Time to Make Professors Teach  —  My new study suggests a simple way to cut college tuition in half.  —  No sooner do parents proudly watch their children graduate high school than they must begin paying for college.  As they write checks for upwards of $40,000 a year …

Herman Cain Would Require Muslim Appointees To Take A Special Loyalty Oath  —  In March, formers Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain burst onto the presidential scene when he told ThinkProgress that he “will not” appoint Muslims in his administration.  —  Under intense pressure …