Reid: Cantor acted ‘childish’ and shouldn't be at the negotiation table  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) acted “childish” in the debt talks.  —  He is the the latest Democratic leader to accuse Cantor of impeding progress …

“Republican Candidate” Extends Lead vs. Obama to 47% to 39%  —  Margin marks first statistically significant lead among registered voters  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Registered voters by a significant margin now say they are more likely to vote for the “Republican Party's candidate for president” …

Documents Show Obama White House Attacked, Excluded Fox News Channel  —  White House Emails Detail anti Fox Bias inside Obama White House: “I'm putting some dead fish in the fox cubby — just cause” “[FNC Anchor] Bret Baier...is a lunatic”  —  Judicial Watch, the public interest group …

'We're running out of time'  —  It's safe to say the Secretary of the Treasury is feeling some anxiety. … Putting aside, at least for now, whether Tim Geithner is my favorite Treasury Secretary of all time or not, I've been thinking a bit lately about what it must be like to be in his shoes right now.

The Bain of Mitt Romney's campaign  —  A company that laid off hundreds of employees.  A federal “bailout” to rescue a failing bank.  Mitt Romney, at the center of it all.  —  It's a story line from a tough Democratic ad that was teed up for use against Romney in his 1994 Senate campaign in Massachusetts.

Conspiracy of Two  —  For one of the world's most watched buildings, the White House is remarkably easy to sneak into.  On the afternoon of Sunday, July 3, while reporters scribbled down the details of President Obama's early return from a family vacation at Camp David — short sleeves …

End to Minnesota Shutdown in GOP Hands  —  Special session could be called within three days  —  ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton sent a letter Thursday to House Speaker Kurt Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, saying he “reluctantly” agrees to accept …

Book Challenges Obama on Mother's Deathbed Fight  —  The White House on Wednesday declined to challenge an account in a new book that suggests that President Obama, in his campaign to overhaul American health care, mischaracterized a central anecdote about his mother's deathbed dispute with her insurance company.

Palin raises over $1.6 million  —  (CNN) - Sarah Palin's political action committee raised over $1.6 million in the first half of 2011, according to a report set to be released Thursday.  —  She now has approximately $1.4 million cash on hand despite having spent almost $1.6 million over the same period, according to Sarah PAC.

U.S. credit rating not worth saving, Ron Paul says  —  The United States's top credit rating is “probably not” worth saving, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) said Thursday, less than a day after a major rating agency indicated it was considering a downgrade as the country hurtles toward …

The Accused Killer in His Own Words  —  Read a partial transcript of the confession that police say Levi Aron gave during questioning … My name is Levi Aron... On Monday evening around 5:30 I went to my dentist, Dr. Sorcher, to make a payment for visit for exam routine.

Reinhart and Rogoff: The Economy Can't Grow  —  As public debt in advanced countries reaches levels not seen since the end of World War II, there is considerable debate about the urgency of taming deficits with the aim of stabilizing and ultimately reducing debt as a percentage of gross domestic product.

Judge Declares Mistrial In Roger Clemens Perjury Case  —  NEW YORK (CBSNewYork / AP) — The judge presiding over Roger Clemens' perjury trial has declared a mistrial over over inadmissible evidence shown to jurors that could have prejudiced them against the former Yankees star.

Obama, Moderate Republican  —  OK, not exactly.  But Nate Silver's analysis of the budget proposals is a must-read.  Nate looks at polling, and extracts the following implied preferences for the mix between tax increases and spending cuts in a debt deal:  —  What Obama has offered …

55% Oppose Tax Hike In Debt Ceiling Deal  —  As the Beltway politicians try to figure out how they will raise the debt ceiling and for how long, most voters oppose including tax hikes in the deal.  —  Just 34% think a tax hike should be included in any legislation to raise the debt ceiling.

Which Is Worse?  Default or Voting to Raise the Debt Ceiling Again in 2012?:  Today's Qs for O's WH - 7/14/2011  —  CARNEY: That is a bad scenario.  I'm not sure — I mean —  TAPPER: Is it worse —  CARNEY: You know, there are things you could anticipate.  But I — yes.

Another provision of healthcare reform law comes under bipartisan assault  —  Lawmakers in the House and Senate introduced bipartisan legislation Thursday to remove restrictions on tax-exempt health spending accounts, the latest provision of the healthcare reform law to come under attack by Democrats.

The damage already done by the debt ceiling debate  —  Listen to anybody on Capitol Hill, and they'll tell you that the debt ceiling debate is turning into a complete disaster, with the Republican rank and file such an inchoate mess that it increasingly seems as though no deal will get done at all.

A Gun Activist Takes Aim at U.S. Regulatory Power  —  MISSOULA, Mont.—With a homemade .22-caliber rifle he calls the Montana Buckaroo, Gary Marbut dreams of taking down the federal regulatory state.  —  He's not planning to fire his gun.  Instead, he wants to sell it …

Elizabeth Warren vs. House GOP, round 3  —  WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) — Elizabeth Warren is expected to face another round of tough questioning about the consumer financial protection bureau at a House hearing on Thursday, her third trip to Capitol Hill this year.

F.B.I. Opens Inquiry Into Hacking of 9/11 Victims  —  In response to requests from members of Congress and to at least one news report, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York opened a preliminary inquiry on Thursday into allegations that News Corporation journalists sought to gain access …