Weiner Confirms He Sent Private Messages to Girl, 17  —  Representative Anthony D. Weiner said on Friday that he exchanged at least five private messages on Twitter this spring with a 17-year-old Delaware girl who became an admirer of his after hearing him speak during a high school trip to Washington.

Actress defends Weiner, says ‘everyone lies about sex’  —  A liberal actress and comedian is strongly defending embattled Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), saying “everyone lies about sex” and expressing hope he becomes the mayor of New York City.  —  During an appearance on HBO's …

LA Times Won't Release Obama-Khalidi Tape But Posts 24,000 Sarah Palin Emails  —  In 2008 The LA Times withheld a video that contained footage of Barack Obama celebrating with a group of Palestinians who were openly hostile towards Israel.  Barack Obama reportedly even gave a toast to a former PLO operative …

Senior Gingrich Campaign Staffers Demanded Gingrich End Films and Books: 'We Didn't Sign Up to Be Hucksters'  —  ABC News' Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) reports:  —  ABC News has learned that one of the major issues between former Speaker Newt Gingrich and his (now former) …

Controversial McKinsey Health Care Study Creates Major Dissent At Firm  —  The political damage to President Obama's health care law may already be done.  But there's a curious backstory to the report this week from a major consulting firm study that found “ObamaCare” would lead to fairly dramatic unintended consequences.

‘On the Beach, I Bring von Mises’  —  The tea party favorite on her start in politics, where she learned her economics, and why she disagrees with Reagan on the War Powers Resolution.  —  “If I'm in, I'll be all in,” says Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, artfully dodging my question of whether she's running for president.

Democrats may join GOP in fielding ‘fake’ candidates in recalls  —  Control of Wisconsin Senate hangs in balance as parties gear up  —  By Tom Tolan and Bill Glauber of the Journal Sentinel  —  Wisconsin's unprecedented recall elections could soon get even more complicated.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's War On Craft Beer  —  Tucked into Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) much-discussed budget was a little-noticed provision to overhaul the state's regulation of the beer industry.  In a state long associated with beer, the provision will make it much more difficult …

With Abstentions, Iowa Questions Political Role  —  WASHINGTON — For decades, Iowa has served as the official kickoff for the presidential campaign, providing the first real test for candidates hoping to win their way to the White House.  —  But there are signs that its influence …

People are talking … From the very beginning, Obama's language has been the polite translation of the insane ravings of the conservatives - rather than a refutation of it.  His job has been to make the insanity behind those right-wing ideas sound sane.  (More on the WaPo story at Americablog.)

Major Banks Likely to Get Reprieve on New Capital Rules  —  The world's major banks may get a break from regulators and be forced to set aside only 2 percent-to-2.5 percent more capital rather than the 3 percent reported earlier, officials familiar with the discussions told CNBC.