In debt talks, Obama offers Social Security cuts  —  President Obama is pressing congressional leaders to consider a far-reaching debt-reduction plan that would force Democrats to accept major changes to Social Security and Medicare in exchange for Republican support for fresh tax revenue.

News of the World to close amid hacking scandal  —  Police are investigating allegations of phone hacking by the News of the World  —  This Sunday's issue of the News of the World will be the last edition of the paper, News International chairman James Murdoch has said.

Father spoke of having Obama adopted  —  US immigration files from '61 reveal Kenyan student's plan  —  President Obama as a young boy, with his father, who left when his son was 2.  (Obama for America via Associated Press)  —  In the spring of 1961, President Obama's father revealed …

Exclusive: Treasury secretly weighs options to avert default  —  (Reuters) - A small team of Treasury officials is discussing options to stave off default if Congress fails to raise the debt limit by the August 2 deadline, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Elizabeth Smart, Network Pundit?  —  Amid the Casey Anthony frenzy, ABC News is close to unveiling its latest contributor.  Howard Kurtz reports exclusively on the kidnap victim's new career.  —  Elizabeth Smart first came into our consciousness nearly a decade ago as a 14-year-old girl kidnapped from her Salt Lake City bedroom.

‘Fast & Furious’ gets hotter for Holder  —  Don't look now, but the real action in Washington this week isn't the parti san wrangling over the debt ceiling but something — literally — even more incendiary: Operation Fast and Furious, which seems about to explode right in the face …

Why the Republicans Resist Compromise  —  The chart that I'm going to show you is one of the more important ones that we've presented at FiveThirtyEight in some time.  It helps explain a lot of what's going on in American politics today, from the negotiations over the federal debt ceiling to the Republican presidential primaries.

Casey Anthony to Be Released Next Week  —  Casey Anthony, who earlier this week was found not guilty of killing her daughter, was sentenced on Thursday to four years in jail for lying to investigators, but will be released next Wednesday after getting credit for time served.

LulzSec doc drop: Arizona Officials Say Hezbollah Operating in Mexico  —  A document drop by LulzSec has revealed an ominous bulletin from police officials in Tucson, Arizona.  In short, law enforcement is advised to be on the lookout for Hezbollah terrorists operating in the traditional smuggling corridors …

First Study of Its Kind Shows Benefits of Providing Medical Insurance to Poor  —  When poor people are given medical insurance, they not only find regular doctors and see doctors more often but they also feel better, are less depressed and are better able to maintain financial stability …

Twitter Town Hall: The complete transcript of Barack Obama and Jack Dorsey  —  President Barack Obama answered a lot of questions about jobs, the economy, and taxes in his first Twitter Town Hall on Wednesday.  —  One of the most memorable statements the president delivered …

Michele Bachmann on Iowa TV: ‘Waterloo’  —  Michele Bachmann is going up in Iowa with the first television ad of her presidential campaign, a 30-second spot titled “Waterloo” that Bachmann's team says will start running statewide today.  —  The bio spot, produced by Strategy Group Media …

The Only Reform That Will Restrain Spending  —  All 47 Senate Republicans now support changing the Constitution to balance the federal budget.  —  Whatever happens when President Obama meets with congressional leaders of both parties at the White House today, no long-term solution is on the table …

Are there Too Many Homes in America Ctd / There Will Be Inflation / This is the Story of 2012  —  A chart on rental vacancies from Ries via Calculated Risk  —  So what do we see directly: Rental vacancies are falling.  The rental market is tightening up.  We should expect higher rents and thus higher inflation in the near future.

Brody File Exclusive: GOP Presidential Candidates Will be Asked to Sign a Marriage Vow  —  The Brody File has learned that The Family Leader, an influential pro-family group in Iowa will ask each of the 2012 presidential candidates to sign a marriage pledge that professes everything …

Angry House members look to defund Libya mission  —  Republicans and Democrats spoke on Thursday in support of two amendments to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act that would cut off funding for ongoing military action in Libya.  —  Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) offered the first amendment …

The Great Recession, Part II  —  The world could be headed for another economic disaster if we continue to listen to free-market ideologues.  —  Just a few years ago, a powerful ideology—the belief in free and unfettered markets—brought the world to the brink of ruin.

Could Donald Trump reenter the presidential race?  —  During a visit to Panama to inaugurate the first Trump hotel and tower outside the US, real estate mogul Donald Trump called President Ricardo Martinelli an example for Washington.  —  Panama City, Panama

House to vote on repealing light bulb efficiency standards  —  House Republicans introduced legislation that would repeal a light bulb efficiency law.  —  House Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday they hope to bring to the floor next week that would repeal a light bulb efficiency law.