Top Barack Obama donors net government jobs  —  Telecom executive Donald H. Gips raised a big bundle of cash to help finance his friend Barack Obama's run for the presidency.  —  Gips, a vice president of Colorado-based Level 3 Communications, delivered more than $500,000 in contributions …

Judgement day: Weiner's wife returns home to confront errant husband as new images emerge showing congressman cross dressing and ‘oiled up’  —  Beleaguered congressman Anthony Weiner is set to face his humiliated wife Huma Abedin after she arrived at the family home in Washington home earlier today.

Exclusive Interviews: Jon Huntsman Is Tired of Waiting  —  On Tuesday, Jon Huntsman — the former governor of Utah and, more recently, the U.S. ambassador to China — will officially enter the race for the Republican presidential nomination.  But he has already begun to distinguish himself …

Earth may be headed into a mini Ice Age within a decade  —  Physicists say sunspot cycle is ‘going into hibernation’  —  What may be the science story of the century is breaking this evening, as heavyweight US solar physicists announce that the Sun appears to be headed into a lengthy spell of low activity …

John Edwards' mug shot released  —  (CNN)-Former U.S. Senator John Edwards, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and campaign law violations in early June.  His mug shot was obtained by CNN following a Freedom of Information Act request.  —  The plea came after a federal grand jury indicted him on six counts …

Topless Newt Gingrich — On a Rock, In a Hard Place  —  TMZ has obtained a photo of a glistening Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich laying topless on a beach in Greece ... days before his campaign staff quit over the timing of his two-week vacation.  —  The photo was taken on June 2 …

Glenn Beck's Jerusalem rally program unveiled  —  TV star's solidarity event is expected to draw thousands of Israelis, Americans with music, pyrotechnics.  Sarah Palin, republican presidential candidates set to drop by  —  Tzvika Brot  —  Tens of thousands of excited Israelis and Americans …

Pakistan Arrests C.I.A. Informants in Bin Laden Raid  —  WASHINGTON — Pakistan's top military spy agency has arrested some of the Pakistani informants who fed information to the Central Intelligence Agency in the months leading up to the raid that led to the death of Osama bin Laden, according to American officials.

In CA-36, Democrat Calls For Blanket Condemnation Of Stunning New Web Ad (VIDEO)  —  The special election to replace the retired Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) just took a turn for the spectacular.  A new web video aimed at boosting the Republican chances for an upset win is

Pelosi's wealth grows by 62 percent  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) saw her net worth rise 62 percent last year, cementing her status as one of the wealthiest members of Congress.  —  Pelosi was worth at least $35.2 million in the 2010 calendar year, according to a financial disclosure report released Wednesday.

Top radio talkers sell endorsements  —  If you're a regular listener of Glenn Beck's radio show and you wanted to contribute to a political group that would advance the populist conservative ideals he touts on his show, you'd have plenty of reason to think that FreedomWorks was your best investment.

Students Stumble Again on the Basics of History  —  National Test Shows Little Progress in Grasping Democracy, U.S. Role in World  —  WSJ's Stephanie Banchero has details of a National Assessment of Educational Progress study showing students at the fourth, eighth and twelfth grade levels struggle with basic history questions.

“your comments about spiking footballs seem distinctly un-professorial”  —  In my post yesterday about the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturning Judge Sumi, I opined: … In response, I received this email (emphasis mine): … Reaction?  —  Here's mine:  —  Ya see, this is what blogging does to the mind.

Life expectancy in most US counties falls behind world's healthiest nations  —  The most current county-level analysis finds large disparities nationwide.  Women fare worse than men, and people in Appalachia, the Deep South, and Northern Texas live the shortest lives.