Strauss-Kahn Case Faces Test in Hearing  —  The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of collapse as investigators have uncovered major holes in the credibility of the housekeeper who charged that he attacked her in his Manhattan hotel suite in May, according to two well-placed law enforcement officials.

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 …

Senate GOP mock president with video of Obama on golf course  —  Senate Republicans on Friday said President Obama should look in the mirror before questioning their work ethic.  —  The National Republican Senatorial Committe (NRSC), the Senate GOP's campaign arm, released a web video …

Fact checking a claim on tax breaks  —  'I think it's only fair to ask an oil company .... to give up a tax break,' Obama said.  —  AP Photo  —  President Obama used oil barons and corporate jet owners to anchor his opposition to Republicans' demands on taxes in his press conference on Wednesday.

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.

Section 4 Of The 14th Amendment Was Designed To Stop Boehner  —  Kevin Drum is skeptical that the Obama administration would really be within its rights to ignore the debt ceiling: … Jack Balkin delves into the legislative history and shows why the 14th Amendment has a provision guaranteeing …

Glenn Beck to move to Texas; rents $20,000-a-month house  —  New Yorkers better get their heckling in fast, because Glenn Beck is headed for the Lone Star State.  —  The TV host and commentator recently sold his New Canaan, Conn., mansion, to Maura Abeln Smith, recently named general counsel of PepsiCo, for $3.6 million.

Rep. McCotter to launch presidential bid on July 2  —  Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich. will launch his presidential campaign on July 2, making him the third sitting member of the House to run for the White House in 2012.  —  McCotter will make his bid official in his home state of Michigan …

Union curbs rescue a Wisconsin school district  —  “This is a disaster,” said Mark Miller, the Wisconsin Senate Democratic leader, in February after Republican Gov. Scott Walker proposed a budget bill that would curtail the collective bargaining powers of some public employees.

Rummy: Up miltary health premiums  —  Donald Rumsfeld warned incoming Defense Secretary Leon Panetta not to acquiesce to the White House or Congress on deep cuts to defense spending - but also called for controversial increases in military health care premiums and the end of congressional earmarks in order to save money.

Firefighters union throws cold water on 9-11 float  —  These days, almost anything can get caught in the blender of Wisconsin's union politics.  —  It can even happen to a Fourth of July parade float honoring firefighters and cops killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

Ohio governor signs law allowing guns in bars  —  (Reuters) - Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich on Thursday signed into law a bill that allows gun owners in the state to carry concealed weapons into bars and other places where alcohol is served.  —  The measure, which was forwarded …

Does Johann Hari actually meet his interviewees?  —  Hari's use of quotes is beyond a joke and much worse than he has made out  —  If you look at the text below, you'll find an interview with the activist and former Afghan politician Malalai Joya carried out by Johann Hari for the Independent in July 2009.

Group opposed to same sex marriage targets Grisanti  —  A Washington D.C.-based group, the National Organization for Marriage, says it's pledging $2 million to reverse the law and remove the lawmakers who voted in favor of it.  Freshman Republican Senator Mark Grisanti is one of those lawmakers being targeted by the group.

Two Rulings Find Cuts in Public Pensions Permissible  —  Judges in Colorado and Minnesota have dismissed court challenges by retired public workers whose pensions had been cut — developments that may embolden other states and cities to use pension reductions as a tool to help balance their budgets.

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 …

Venezuela army assures calm after Chavez surgery  —  (Reuters) - Venezuela's army chief said on Friday there is no threat to the nation's constitutional order as President Hugo Chavez's revelation of cancer surgery shakes the political system he has dominated since 1999.

Rebels in Libya's west gain ground  —  Aided by NATO airstrikes, they move within 50 miles of the capital.  But they sense a bloodbath coming, with civilians caught in the crossfire.  —  Rebels inspect a captured truck that belonged to troops loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi, west of the town center of Bir Ghanam.