Strauss-Kahn Is Released as Case Teeters  —  Dominique Strauss-Kahn was released from house arrest on Friday as the sexual assault case against him moved one step closer to dismissal after prosecutors told a Manhattan judge that they had serious problems with the case.

U.S. opposes Mexican's execution  —  Making the unusual move of trying to stop a state execution, the Obama Administration on Friday afternoon urged the Supreme Court to delay temporarily the scheduled execution in Texas next Thursday of a Mexican national, Humberto Leal Garcia …

Maria Shriver Files for Divorce from Arnold  —  TMZ has learned Maria Shriver has pulled the trigger on her marriage ... she just filed for divorce from Arnold Schwarzenegger ... and we've learned, there is NO PRENUP.  —  In the divorce petition, obtained by TMZ, Shriver cites …

White House releases staffers' salaries  —  The top earners in the Obama White House take home $172,200 a year, according to figures posted on whitehouse.gov Friday afternoon.  —  Twenty-one administration officials earn the top salary, including Chief of Staff Bill Daley …

Pawlenty Raises $4.2 Million, Ron Paul Collects $4.5 Million in Quarter  —  Former Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty raised about $4.2 million during the second quarter in his bid for the White House, his campaign announced Friday afternoon.  That number is respectable …

Laura D'Andrea Tyson Can't Possibly Be Treasury Secretary  —  I've heard some chatter that were Timothy Geithner to step down, Laura Tyson might replace him as Treasury Secretary but it's clear from what she's wrote today that she's far too sensible to be confirmed: … Crazy talk.

Why Mark Halperin Is a D—k  —  The political commentator erred in speaking disrespectfully of the president.  His far greater sin: being so cowed by conservatives that he's offended by Obama's mild poke at the GOP.  —  Here's why Mark Halperin is a disgrace.

Sarah Palin Sneak Preview: The Agony of The Undefeated  —  ​There was an advance screening last night of The Undefeated, the new film by Stephen K. Bannon that traces the rise of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin from her early years as mayor of Wasilla to John McCain's 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate …

Weapons linked to controversial ATF strategy found in Valley crimes  —  PHOENIX - Weapons linked to a questionable government strategy are turning up in crimes in Valley neighborhoods.  —  For months the ABC15 Investigators have been searching through police reports and official government documents.

Official Calls For Riverside, 12 Other Counties To Secede From California  —  RIVERSIDE (CBS) — Is the state of California about to go “South”?  —  Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone apparently thinks so, after proposing that the county lead a campaign for as many as 13 Southern California counties to secede from the state.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE  —  Message to the Department of Defense from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta  —  “Today, I was honored to take the oath of office to become the 23rd Secretary of Defense.  I am mindful of the great responsibility the President has entrusted to me, and I will work with you …

GOP Snub Scuttles Trade-Deal Hearing  —  WASHINGTON—Republicans boycotted a key Senate hearing Thursday on three pending free-trade deals amid a political row over whether to renew a 50-year-old program that helps workers who lose their jobs as a result of trade agreements.

Dems pounce on Romney's latest mega flip-flop  —  Yesterday Mitt Romney backtracked on one of his core campaign messages — that Obama made the economy “worse” — and the Democratic National Committee has rushed out a new video documenting the flip-flop with footage.

Cory Maye To Be Released From Prison … MONTICELLO, Miss. — After 10 years of incarceration, and seven years after a jury sentenced him to die, 30-year-old Cory Maye will soon be going home.  Mississippi Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell signed a plea agreement Friday morning …

Herman Cain's top Iowa staff resigns  —  A few days after two senior aides in New England, the other shoe drops on Herman Cain in Iowa: … Cain spokeswoman Ellen Carmichael told POLITICO a few days ago that the New Hampshire staff would be replaced in short order.

Minnesota government begins historic shutdown  —  Dayton renewed his call to tax the rich; GOP pointed to harm of long-term debt.  The governor and legislative leaders worked into the evening in a last-ditch bid for resolution.  —  Talks imploded Thursday between DFL Gov. Mark Dayton …

Employees had been increasingly troubled by Gingrich's Tiffany purchases  —  Employees of presidential candidate Newt Gingrich grew increasingly concerned in recent years about their boss's purchases from luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co., worried that if he followed through on plans to run …

7/1: Independence Day — Seventeen Seventy When?  —  Just in time for the July 4th weekend, the Marist Poll has asked Americans in which year the United States declared its independence.  And, the result is many Americans need to brush up on their American history.

To the Limit  —  In about a month, if nothing is done, the federal government will hit its legal debt limit.  There will be dire consequences if this limit isn't raised.  At best, we'll suffer an economic slowdown; at worst we'll plunge back into the depths of the 2008-9 financial crisis.

NY Catholic Bishop Bans Legislators Who Supported Marriage Equality From Catholic Parish And School Events  —  New York's successful marriage equality effort was marked by an outpouring of support from religious groups.  About 727 clergy and congregations across faiths and denominations signed on to the push for marriage equality.