FACT CHECK: Are rich taxed less than secretaries?  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama makes it sound as if there are millionaires all over America paying taxes at lower rates than their secretaries.  —  “Middle-class families shouldn't pay higher taxes than millionaires and billionaires,” Obama said Monday.

Rep. Ryan: Rick Perry is right on Social Security  —  The Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee on Tuesday drew fire from Democrats for backing Texas Gov. Rick Perry's description of Social Security as a “Ponzi scheme.”  —  Social Security fits the technical definition of a Ponzi scheme …

Centrist Dems Already Trying To Put The Brakes On Obama's Tax Increases  —  President Obama's deficit-reduction plan—complete with tax increases on the wealthiest Americans—won high marks from his liberal base encouraged to see Obama back in fighting mode, but the plan is set to hit …

Alter vs. Suskind: Not longing for Clinton  —  On MSNBC, Jonathan Alter — the author of a more sympathetic book on Obama's first year than Ron Suskind's — offers a different theory of the White House:  —  ANCHOR: What about the claim he makes about Peter Orzag and Larry Summers saying they were “home alone” in the White House.

Rick Santorum contacted Google, says company spreads ‘filth’  —  A Google search for Santorum has generated some inappropriate results since gay columnist Dan Savage organized an online campaign to link graphic sexual terms to the socially conservative senator's name.

Reid warns shutdown is possible  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday there is a chance that the government could shutter at the end of this month.  —  Criticizing House Republicans for the disaster relief provisions in their budget bill, Reid told reporters, “We're not going to cave on this.”

Gary Johnson's Big Breakthrough  —  The former New Mexico governor has just landed a spot in the next presidential debate Thursday night.  Howard Kurtz on why that could take the heat off Perry and Romney.

$16 Muffins Found at U.S. Meetings  —  U.S. Justice Department agencies spent too much for food at conferences, in one case serving $16 muffins and in another dishing out beef Wellington appetizers that cost $7.32 per serving, an audit found.  —  “Some conferences featured costly meals …

Perry's Theocratic Foreign Policy: ‘As A Christian I Have A Clear Directive To Support Israel’  —  Today, Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) held a news conference in New York City where he attacked President Obama's Middle East policies and called upon the United States to be more stridently supportive of the actions of the Israeli government.

Bill Clinton scorches GOP field on climate change  —  Bill Clinton turned up the heat on the leading Republican presidential contenders Tuesday, saying their opposition to acknowledging climate change makes the country “look like a joke.”  —  “If you're an American, the best thing …

9/20: 39% Approval Rating for Obama, Lowest of Presidency  —  President Barack Obama faces a litany of bad news.  The president's job approval rating, his favorability, and his rating on the economy have hit all-time lows.  To compound matters, three in four Americans still believe the nation …

Warren takes lead on Brown  —  Elizabeth Warren has had an incredibly successful launch to her Senate campaign and actually leads Scott Brown now by a 46-44 margin, erasing what was a 15 point deficit the last time we polled the state in early June.  —  Warren's gone from 38% name recognition …

U.S. Alleges Full Tilt Poker Was Ponzi Scheme  —  The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday accused poker celebrities Howard Lederer and Christopher Ferguson among other executives of a major poker website of defrauding poker players out of more than $300 million.

Texas GOP Rep On Cuts To Family Planning: ‘Of Course This Is A War On Birth Control’  —  The GOP's concerted campaign against women's health has resulted in about 1,000 anti-abortion bills in state legislatures across the country and numerous federal attempts to eradicate a woman's right to choose.

HHS spending bill stuck in impasse  —  Two conservative Republicans are holding up the Health and Human Services spending bill.  —  Two conservative Republicans are holding up the Health and Human Services spending bill.  —  The two lawmakers, Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Cynthia Lummis …

Americans Favor Jobs Plan Proposals, Including Taxing Rich  —  Majority say Obama's jobs plan will help economy at least “a little”  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans generally favor raising taxes on higher-income Americans and eliminating tax deductions for some corporations as ways of paying for President Obama's proposed jobs plan.

Cleve Foster Case: U.S. Supreme Court Halts Texas Execution … HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A former Army recruiter who for the third time this year was hours away from his scheduled execution for the rape-slaying of a woman in Fort Worth nearly 10 years ago was granted yet another reprieve by the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

‘Palestinians need just two more Security Council votes in bid for statehood’  —  Palestinian Foreign Minister says attempts underway to win over Gabon, Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in quest for UNSC majority; U.S. has vowed to veto the proposal if it cannot garner a blocking majority.

Dean: Employers will drop coverage under Obamacare  —  Former Democratic National Committee Chairman, and doctor, Howard Dean backed a McKinsey & Co. survey today that found that almost a third of private-sector employers will drop their employee health insurance coverage …

The Appraisal: A Glimpse at Bloomberg's Lavish Tastes at Home  —  He has been known to serve tuna on crackers during cocktail hour.  He prefers diners to power-breakfast spots like the Regency.  His sartorial style remains buttoned down, with a salmon-color crew neck and matching socks about as gaudy as it gets.

Solyndra execs will decline to testify at hearing  —  Solyndra LLC's chief executive and chief financial officer will invoke their Fifth Amendment rights and decline to answer any questions put to them at a Congressional hearing on Friday, according to letters from their attorneys obtained by Reuters.

Schweddy Balls Make AFA Squirm  —  The American Family Association affiliate OneMillionMoms is calling on activists to boycott Ben & Jerry's because of the company's new Schweddy Balls ice cream.  In an email, the group describes the legendary Saturday Night Live skit featuring People …

Chalk up Tennessee Republican Rep. Phil Roe's Tuesday morning actions to heroism: Roe saved a man's life with CPR after he flatlined in the Charlotte, North Carolina airport.  —  Roe, an obstetrician before he first ran for public office, was walking through the Charlotte terminal …