Democrats Set Drop-Dead Date For Debt Ceiling Backup Plan  —  President Obama's quest to reach a historic budget agreement with House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) fell into deep doubt Thursday, after a noisy rebellion by Senate Democrats over reports that Obama might hand Republicans the farm …

Oslo Explosion: One of Two Blasts Result of Massive Vehicle Bomb, Sources Say  —  At least one of two explosions that rocked a Norwegian government building in Oslo today was result of a massive vehicle bomb, according to U.S. government sources on the scene.

The Lesser Depression  —  These are interesting times — and I mean that in the worst way.  Right now we're looking at not one but two looming crises, either of which could produce a global disaster.  In the United States, right-wing fanatics in Congress may block a necessary rise in the debt ceiling …

Justice Department Prepares Subpoenas in News Corp. Inquiry  —  The U.S. Justice Department is preparing subpoenas as part of preliminary investigations into News Corp. relating to alleged foreign bribery and alleged hacking of voicemail of Sept. 11 victims, according to a government official.

CNN Poll: Perry near the top in GOP nomination race  —  Washington (CNN) - As Texas Gov. Rick Perry comes closer and closer to jumping into the race for the White House, he's also close to the top of a new national survey in the battle for the GOP presidential nomination.

Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary  —  Technical information:  —  Employment: (202) 691-6559 * sminfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/sae  —  Unemployment: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau  —  Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov

Weiner in therapy; says hard part will be convincing Hillary Clinton he's recovered  —  Forget his wife — Anthony Weiner has an even bigger problem on his hands: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.  —  The horndog ex-House member from Queens is telling friends that while he's finally started therapy …

Read My Lips: No New Taxes  —  THE Taxpayer Protection Pledge has received increased attention as the Aug. 2 deadline for raising the debt ceiling approaches.  My organization, Americans for Tax Reform, created the pledge in 1986 as a simple, written commitment by a candidate or elected official …

GOP Makes Big Gains among White Voters  —  Especially among the Young and Poor  —  OVERVIEW  —  As the country enters into the 2012 presidential election cycle, the electorate's partisan affiliations have shifted significantly since Barack Obama won office nearly three years ago.

Donald Trump Will Re-enter the Presidential Race If ...  GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST So I did research on you.  I follow you all the time because I know you were toying with the idea of running for president, then you said no, then maybe run as an independent.

Brewer could move up presidential primary  —  PHOENIX — Gov. Jan Brewer is leaning to moving Arizona's presidential primary to the last Tuesday in January in hopes of getting a jump on most other states.  —  The governor said she believes pushing the primary up from its current Feb. 28 schedule …

Return of Mass Layoffs a Grim Sign for U.S. Workers  —  Putting pressure on an already lousy job market, the mass layoff is making a comeback.  In the past week, Cisco, Lockheed Martin and Borders announced a combined 23,000 in job cuts.  (See: Another Retailer Bites the Dust: Borders Doomed by Amazon Deal, Davidowitz Says)

Panetta Jokes About His Salty Language and Biden's Bluntness  —  ABC News' Kirit Radia (@KiritRadia_ABC) reports:  —  Two of the Obama administration's most colorful speakers shared the stage today when Vice President Joe Biden came to the Pentagon to administer new Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's ceremonial swearing in.

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Battle over coffee cups, light bulbs to hit House floor  —  Friday's Big Story: House lawmakers are slated to vote on separate amendments to spending legislation Friday that would block funding for the use of polystyrene cups and compact fluorescent light bulbs in the Capitol complex.