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 …

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 …

‘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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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

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 …

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.

Pawlenty likes “Bad Romance”  —  Tim Pawlenty, weighing in on his favorite Lady Gaga songs while in Iowa. … T-Paw is often fond of saying he's not as exciting as Lady Gaga, but this is the first time he's gone deeper into Gaga.  —  Comes 2:10 in...  You can watch the Gaga acapella performance here.

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.

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.

Brownback Taps Lawyer for Anti-Abortion Activists for State Medical Board  —  It's certainly no secret that Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) is a staunch opponent of abortion.  It was his signature issue in the US Senate, a major campaign issue for him when he ran for the GOP presidential …

Yemen president makes TV speech  —  Ali Abdullah Saleh makes his first appearance after being severely wounded in a bomb blast at his palace last month.  —  Yemeni state television has aired a recorded speech by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who said he supports dialogue and welcomes power sharing “within the constitution”.