The Mother of All No-Brainers  —  The Republicans have changed American politics since they took control of the House of Representatives.  They have put spending restraint and debt reduction at the top of the national agenda.  They have sparked a discussion on entitlement reform.

No Deal Yet: President Rejects Short-Term Debt Fix  —  President Obama made an unscheduled appearance today before reporters to say that some progress has been made in the deeply divided negotiations over the nation's debt ceiling, and “greater progress is in sight.”

White Supremacist Stampede  —  A startling number of white-power candidates are seeking public office.  Eve Conant reports on their under-the-radar strategy and David Duke's White House flirtation.  —  Add to the growing list of candidates considering a bid for the GOP presidential nomination …

Casey Anthony Found Not Guilty of Killing 2-Year-Old Daughter  —  BREAKING: A Florida jury has acquitted Casey Anthony of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.  —  Anthony, 25, wept after the clerk read the verdict, which jurors reached after less than 11 hours of deliberation over two days.

Why Gallup's Analysis of Jewish Voters is Dishonest  —  There it was in bold Gallup-type headlines. … The problem with the headline is that it is Dishonest.  —  Assuming the overall Jewish American approval numbers are correct, they gave President Barack Obama a 60% job approval rating in June …

The riddle of the missing US ambassador as London toasts Ronald Reagan centenary  —  It was one of the most glittering events of the year, attracting some of the greatest names in American and British politics.  —  But as the British roasted lamb and the sunny Californian chardonnay were cleared away …

Harry Reid yanks Libya resolution  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid cancelled a vote on a Libya resolution Tuesday, following a torrent of criticism from Senate Republicans who say they are in town to talk about debt, not foreign policy.  —  Reid said he decided against holding …

Paul Ryan is in total denial  —  If Paul Ryan really believes what he said about his Medicare plan in this interview with a local Wisconsin TV station, then he is in total denial about how unpopular his proposal really is — and how much of a jam it created for his fellow Republicans:

Madison 360: Baldwin likely to forgo safety for her dream of Senate seat  —  She really wants to do it.  —  That's the precise phrase I've heard for weeks from elected officials, political professionals and supporters who know her.  —  While the words are consistent …

Strauss-Kahn faces hurdle at home as U.S. woes ease  —  (Reuters) - Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was hit with a complaint of attempted rape in France on Tuesday in a new hurdle to any political comeback even as the U.S. sex assault case against him appeared to be falling apart.

Global warming lull down to China's coal growth  —  Solar power is coming to China - but coal-burning grew amazingly quickly a few years back  —  The lull in global warming from 1998 to 2008 was mainly caused by a sharp rise in China's coal use, a study suggests.

Behind the Scenes, Christian Right Leaders Rally Behind Rick Perry  —  In early June, TIME has learned, a group of prominent figures on the Christian Right held a conference call to discuss their dissatisfaction with the current GOP presidential field, and agreed that Rick Perry would be their preferred candidate if he entered the race.

Newt Gingrich offers bleak view of campaign finances  —  Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich talks with residents of Clear Lake, Iowa during the town's Independence Day parade Monday.  (Charlie Neibergall/AP)  —  Newt Gingrich, whose presidential bid has been beset by problems including …

Perry Breaks With a Fellow Texan: Bush  —  AUSTIN, Tex. — Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican contemplating a presidential run, shares many attributes with the last man who ran for president from here, his predecessor and onetime patron, George W. Bush.  He has the same straight-legged Texas swagger …

BMW layoffs exemplify the evisceration of the middle class  —  Every working American should be dismayed by — and afraid of — what BMW is doing.  —  By all accounts, BMW's parts distribution warehouse in Ontario was one of the jewels of the company's system.

Boat People  —  Some questions for the “activists” aboard the Gaza flotilla.  —  The tale of the Gaza “flotilla” seems set to become a regular summer feature, bobbing along happily on the inside pages with an occasional update.  A nice sidebar for reporters covering the Greek debt crisis …

Ohio GOP Weakens Election Law By Allowing Poll Workers To Refuse To Inform Voters Where They Can Vote  —  Last week, the GOP-led House passed an election law overhaul without the highly restrictive voter ID provision.  However, the House tweaked the bill to weaken a law mandating poll workers …

Rick Santorum's Math Fail: Blasts Obama For Creating ‘Only 240 Million Jobs’  —  2012 GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum continued his long-shot campaign this morning with an appearance on CNN.  During the interview, Santorum attempted to criticize the Obama administration's record on jobs …

Drunk Puppy Buying Banned by West Village Pet Stores  —  Drunk puppy buying customers are a challenge for Greenwich Village pet stores surrounded by bars and clubs.  —  DNAinfo Reporter/Producer  —  WEST VILLAGE — You've heard of drunk dialing and drunk Facebooking, but drunk puppy buying?

Obama tries to stop execution in Texas of Mexican killer  —  US president warns Texan authorities that execution would put America in breach of international legal obligations  —  President Barack Obama is attempting to block the execution in Texas on Thursday of a Mexican man because it would breach …

BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL  —  Hacked: Obama's campaign website  —  The Obama campaign website was hacked on Tuesday and invited supporters to two fake anti-government events hosted by an unnamed “Commy Obama.”  —  The campaign's application for mobile devices, such as iPhones and iPads …

Freshman Republicans Lobby Federal Agencies For Millions Amid Spending Critiques … WASHINGTON — For years, Tennessee lawmakers have advocated for the construction of a major port on the northwest corner of the state on the Mississippi River.  Known as the Port of Cates Landing …