Obama mandate on birth control coverage stirs controversy  —  WASHINGTON - Congressional leaders and Republican presidential candidates joined Catholic religious groups on Wednesday in denouncing the Obama administration's mandate requiring health insurers to offer birth control coverage, but the White House stood its ground.

States Negotiate $26 Billion Agreement for Homeowners  —  After months of painstaking talks, government authorities and five of the nation's biggest banks have agreed to a $26 billion settlement that could provide relief to nearly two million current and former American homeowners harmed …

First Thoughts: Romney retools his message  —  Romney retools his message — with his biography and even his policy... GOPers and conservatives tell Romney to step it up... Dems break ranks on the contraception issue... Yet polling (for now) shows the issue isn't as controversial …

Santorum: Obama Has Put America On ‘The Path’ Of Executing Religious People By Decapitation  —  Rick Santorum continued to rail against President Obama's so-called war against religion during a town hall in Plano, Texas Wednesday night.  The former Pennsylvania senator …

Eye doctor warns of dangers of political protest on gay marriage  —  It's been called the “most fabulous form of protest,” but according to one medical expert, the potential dangers of “glitter bombing” are far from marvelous.  —  In an increasingly popular form of protest, activists are throwing glitter on unsuspecting targets.

The political transformation of Barack Obama  —  There are two indisputable facts about politics.  —  The first is that every modern president in the fourth year of his presidency resorts to the cheap political stunts, broken promises and truth-fudging it takes to win reelection in what has been and will be a 50-50 nation.

Bank of England maintains Bank Rate at 0.5% and increases size of Asset Purchase Programme by £50 billion to £325 billion  —  The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5%.

Rick Santorum's Sweater Vest Slammed by Scarlett Johansson  —  Scarlett Johansson isn't ready to talk yet about Nate Naylor, her just-revealed boyfriend of five months.  —  The sartorial choices of Rick Santorum and the Republican National Committee, however, were fair game for Johansson …

A Fistful of Rebates  —  It's halftime.  —  Both teams are in their locker rooms discussing what they can do to win this game in the second half.  Diagramming plays.  Texting their agents and German supermodel wives.  Reviewing Belichick's aerial spy photos.  —  It's halftime in America, too.

Obama, Explained  —  As Barack Obama contends for a second term in office, two conflicting narratives of his presidency have emerged.  Is he a skillful political player and policy visionary—a chess master who always sees several moves ahead of his opponents (and of the punditocracy)?

Michelle Obama Takes Aim at Military Weight  —  First Lady Michelle Obama leaves Thursday for a three-day, four-state tour to mark the second anniversary of her “Let's Move!” initiative to get Americans to eat healthier and be more physically fit. … The trip is a mix of events and announcements …

Mitch McConnell takes aim at ‘liberal thugs’  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to launch a fierce attack on the Obama administration and congressional Democrats, calling out “liberal thugs” for intimidating their opponents in the name of political expediency.