Seized Phone Offers Clues to Bin Laden's Pakistani Links  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The cellphone of Osama bin Laden's trusted courier, which was recovered in the raid that killed both men in Pakistan last month, contained contacts to a militant group that is a longtime asset …

Airline to Jewish rumor: ‘Delta does not discriminate.’  —  Earlier today some Jewish and Christian readers in the blogosphere were fired up about stories that Delta Airlines, in its new alliance with Saudi Arabian Airlines, might wind up enforcing a Saudi policy of not admitting Iraelis …

McConnell: GOP Would Not Voice Opposition To Libya Campaign If Obama Was A Republican  —  The NATO-led air campaign in Libya is causing a significant rift within the GOP.  House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), and House Republicans have said the U.S. involvement violates …

Commander In Chief Misspeaks About Soldier Killed in Afghanistan  —  During his remarks to troops at Fort Drum today, the President was reminiscing about the times he has spent with the US Army's 10th Mountain Division, when he got something wrong. … The problem is, Jared Monti was killed in action in Afghanistan, on June 21, 2006.

New Jersey Lawmakers Approve Benefits Rollback for Work Force  —  TRENTON — New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday approved a broad rollback of benefits for 750,000 government workers and retirees, the deepest cut in state and local costs in memory, in a major victory for Gov. Chris Christie …

Thaddeus McCotter Creates Chaos At Straw Poll Auction  —  At today's Iowa Straw Poll land auction, participating campaigns were surprised by a mystery participant who would not state which campaign she was representing.  —  Kellie Paschke, a lobbyist whose clients include Iowans for Tax Relief …

Obama Addresses New York Marriage Equality Bill At LGBT Fundraiser: Issue Best Left To States  —  President Obama spoke at an LGBT fundraiser this evening in New York City, just as the New York Senate prepares to take up marriage equality legislation.  Obama addressed the measure directly …

Politicians Who Fear the Public Light  —  As we wrote this editorial on Thursday evening, we were still waiting for the New York State Senate to do what it should have done long ago — end a basic inequality under the law by allowing same-sex couples the full right to marry.

Explaining ‘Penny Wise, Pound Foolish’ to Rand Paul  —  A Senate subcommittee held a hearing this week on funding the existing Older Americans Act, including a $2 billion investment to prevent senior hunger.  The panel, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), explored how the government can actually save money through these investments.

Fighting Words: DeMint Warns Republicans They May Be ‘Gone’ if They Support Debt Ceiling Increase  —  Jonathan Karl interviews Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. (ABC News)  —  Conservative firebrand Sen. Jim DeMint has a message to fellow Republicans in Congress: If you support increasing …

Obama, as suspected, disregarded the Afghan troop drawdown recommendation of Gen. Petraeus  —  Testifying before a Senate committee today, the commander of allied forces in Afghanistan confirmed under oath what many had suspected:  —  In his speech Wednesday evening, President Obama disregarded …

President Obama backs rights for gay couples in New York fundraiser  —  (CNN) — President Barack Obama took his act to New York on Thursday as the featured attraction at three back-to-back fundraisers, where he touted his progressive credentials, including support for equal rights for gay couples.

Geithner: Taxes on ‘Small Business’ Must Rise So Government Doesn't ‘Shrink’  —  (CNSNews.com) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told the House Small Business Committee on Wednesday that the Obama administration believes taxes on small business must increase so the administration does not have to …

Is Rick Running?  —  A Republican campaign veteran tells us that Texas Governor Rick Perry has decided to run for President, though the official word from Team Perry is still a definite maybe.  —  A Republican campaign veteran tells us that Texas Governor Rick Perry has decided to run for President …

Reps. Barney Frank, Ron Paul want to end federal ban on marijuana, cede enforcement to states  —  WASHINGTON — Two House members introduced a bill Thursday that would remove marijuana from the list of federal controlled substances and cede to the states enforcement of laws governing pot.

Perry gets tepid response at Latino convention  —  Gov. Rick Perry received a tepid response when he addressed the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials on Thursday, joking about the pronunciation of a Hispanic appointee's last name and frequently staring blankly …

Remarks With Jamaican Foreign Minister Kenneth Baugh and St. Kitts and Nevis Deputy Prime Minister Sam Condor  —  Remarks  —  Ritz Carlton Hotel Montego Bay, Jamaica  —  MODERATOR: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to a press conference at the end of the high-level meeting between …