Latest debt deal under fire  —  White House debt talks were described at the “fish-or-cut-bait” stage Thursday night, as President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner sought to keep alive an estimated $3 trillion deficit-reduction package already taking fire from the left and right.

Debt-limit talks: As Obama, Boehner rush to strike deal, Democrats are left fuming  —  President Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner rushed Thursday to strike agreement on a far-reaching plan to reduce the national debt but faced a revolt from Democrats furious that the accord appeared …

Reid: 'I'm the Senate majority leader.  Why don't I know about this deal?'  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) confronted White House budget director Jack Lew during a Thursday afternoon meeting about secret talks on a deficit-reduction deal between the president and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

Playing the pledge game  —  WHEN THEY first ran for governor, both Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney were asked to sign no-new-tax pledges.  —  Although opposed to higher taxes, Huntsman refused to put his name on an ironclad vow limiting his options.  —  Since then, Huntsman told me, he's “maintained the same philosophical approach.”

Blast rocks central Oslo, Norway PM's office  —  (Reuters) - A huge explosion wrecked government buildings in central Oslo Friday including Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's office, injuring several people, a Reuters journalist said from the scene.