Police: Zimmerman says Trayvon decked him with one blow then began hammering his head  —  With a single punch, Trayvon Martin decked the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who eventually shot and killed the unarmed 17-year-old, then Trayvon climbed on top of George Zimmerman and slammed his head …

Argument recap: Moving on to the mandate (FINAL UPDATE)  —  When Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., commented at the end of Monday's first day of hearings on the health care law, “We'll continue argument on this case tomorrow,” it seemed to have a secondary meaning even if he did not intend it.

President Obama Asks Medvedev for ‘Space’ on Missile Defense — ‘After My Election I Have More Flexibility’  —  SEOUL, South Korea — At the tail end of his 90 minute meeting with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev Monday, President Obama said that he would have “more flexibility” …

Most Oppose at Least Part of Overhaul, Poll Finds  —  Two-thirds of Americans want the Supreme Court to overturn some or all of the health care law, even though large majorities support a few of its major aspects, according to a poll by The New York Times and CBS News.

Gingrich Begins Charging $50 for Photos at Events  —  Candidate previously posed for free with people attending his appearances.  —  HOCKESSIN, Del. - In a sign that his campaign is in need of fresh funds, Newt Gingrich on Monday began charging $50 to have a photograph taken with him following …

Catholic Bishops Lose a Big Battle Over Contraception  —  For the past several months, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has been waging war on the Obama administration over reproductive health care, declaring it no less than a battle over religious freedom.

Racist Hunger Games Fans Are Very Disappointed [Hunger Games]  —  The good news?  The Hunger Games made $155 million at the box office its opening weekend, making it the third-best debut in North American box office history.  The bad news, however, reflects a level of idiocy that we weren't really expecting.

Newt Gingrich loses his print reporters  —  Newt Gingrich has lost his last embedded print reporters, reporters on the trail confirm.  —  The last two print reporters covering Gingrich full-time on the trail — from POLITICO and the Atlanta Journal Constitution — pulled out on Friday.

France's Strauss-Kahn under investigation in pimping case  —  (Reuters) - Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was placed under formal investigation on Monday by authorities looking into a suspected prostitution ring in the French city of Lille, his lawyer said, following a day of questioning by judges in a closed courtroom.

Pennsylvania representative asks if female co-sponsors of state ultrasound bill are ‘men with breasts’  —  Pennsylvania State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, picked up the political hand grenade that is the state's ultrasound bill today when she wondered aloud at a Capitol rally …

It's Not Just a “War on Women.”  It's Worse.  —  I bumped into a friend I'll call Kim four or five days ago on my way to the chairlift for some afternoon skiing.  She was on her snowboard and riding single for a few hours before her evening shift at a local restaurant.

Models Based on ‘Fundamentals’ Have Failed at Predicting Presidential Elections  —  The 1988 presidential election was a victory for political science.  Michael Dukakis had led George Bush in the polls for much of the spring and summer.  But Mr. Bush had some fundamental advantages …

Gohmert: Liberals should fear ‘redneck president’ if court upholds mandate  —  Liberals should be concerned about what a future “redneck president” could impose on them if the Supreme Court upholds the healthcare reform law's mandate that everyone have insurance, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said Monday.

The silly 2016 speculation game  —  It may be impossible to make any serious predictions about a far-off race, but that has never stopped a pundit  —  Being that it's still March 2012 and we have no way of knowing who will actually be president by the end of January 2013 (besides “not Ron Paul …

Jane Fonda to play Nancy Reagan in ‘Butler’  —  Actress will portray former First Lady in Lee Daniels pic  —  In the midst of recruiting an all-star ensemble for his long-gestating passion project “The Butler,” director Lee Daniels has tapped Jane Fonda to play Nancy Reagan.

Mitt: I Won't Detail Plans, Because Then I'd Lose  —  You'll have to wait until I'm elected.  —  Mitt Romney has embraced a budget plan that would entail cutting federal programs other than defense and Social Security by more than half.  It does raise the question of how he plans to carry out such a sweeping goal.

EXCLUSIVE: The Story Behind Cheney's Heart Transplant Surgery  —  It was a call from the cardiology department at Inova Fairfax Hospital; he was told to come to the hospital quickly - a donor heart was likely to become available within hours.  —  “His response was to say, 'Sure.  What time?

BREAKING: Obama Administration To Establish Strong Carbon Pollution Limits For New Power Plants  —  In one of the most significant reversals of Bush-era policy, the Obama administration plans tomorrow to issue greenhouse pollution limits for new power plants, a major step in the fight against global warming.

House Republicans delay Monday's vote on short-term highway bill  —  House leaders on Monday decided to delay a planned evening vote to extend authorization of federal highway programs, citing a new bipartisan effort to agree on how to extend the programs in the short term.