Republican Committee Makes Big Turnaround on Fund-Raising  —  Once teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and irrelevance, the Republican National Committee has raised more than $110 million over the past 15 months and retired more than half its debt, accumulating large cash reserves …

March jobs report: Hiring slows, Unemployment falls  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Hiring slowed dramatically in March, clouding optimism about the strength of the recovery.  —  Employers added 120,000 jobs in the month, the Labor Department reported Friday, falling far short of economists' expectations.

Is Obama ‘Dangerously Close To Totalitarianism’?  —  Power: Given the president's end-runs around Congress, his shredding of the Constitution and his assault on the authority of the courts, a second term free of electoral restraints may be a frightening prospect.

Blacks, Nonblacks Hold Sharply Different Views of Martin Case  —  Blacks more likely to believe race is a major factor  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Black Americans' views differ dramatically from those of nonblacks regarding the circumstances involved in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., on Feb. 26.

Effort would change Texas primary to winner take all, benefit Santorum  —  Updated at 5:20 p.m. to include comments from the RNC throwing cold water on the winner-take-all effort:  —  A spokesman for the Republican National Committee said Texas would need — but not receive — a waiver from the national party to change its primary.

Republicans woo Silicon Valley  —  In Silicon Valley, the Wild West of American industry, Republican “Young Guns” now dot the horizon.  —  House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) took a ride in Google's driverless car this week, and he's planning a trip to Microsoft later this spring.

Romney using ethics exception to limit disclosure of Bain holdings  —  Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney, whose wealth has become a central issue in the 2012 campaign, has taken advantage of an obscure exception in federal ethics laws to avoid disclosing the nature and extent of his holdings.

DWS?s ?  Jewbag? hire questioned  —  The staffer for DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz who posted the controversial ‘Jewbag’ photo on her Facebook page in 2006 is no anonymous aide — but the daughter of Mark and Nancy Gilbert, two major Florida donors who have raised more than $500,000 for the Obama campaign.

The Strange (and Formerly Sexist) Economics of Engagement Rings  —  Diamonds are forever, but the meaning of the diamond engagement ring has changed dramatically in the last century.  Today's symbol of love was once something more like virginity insurance.  —  Norman Chan/Shutterstock

Tunisians jailed for Facebook cartoons of Prophet  —  (Reuters) - Two young Tunisians have been sentenced to seven years in prison for posting cartoons of the prophet Mohammad on Facebook, in a case that has fuelled allegations the country's new Islamist leaders are gagging free speech.

PG-13 Rating Granted for BULLY by MPAA Without Cutting Crucial Scene  —  NEXT STEP: FIGHT TO PASS SAFE SCHOOLS IMPROVEMENT ACT  —  The Weinstein Company (TWC), aided by the guidance and consultation from attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson, announced today that the MPAA has lowered the R rating …

Schlafly says contraception issue contrived  —  Photo by Leroy Burnell/staffCitadel cadet Spencer Mellon (left) holds the door for Colleen Holmes, executive director the Eagle Forum (center), and Phyllis Schlafly.  The famous political activist delivered a lecture in a new course being offered …

Rob Portman tops veepstakes  —  If he wins the GOP presidential nomination, Mitt Romney's vice presidential pick will ultimately come down to two basic choices: whether he wants a running mate who helps him govern or one who helps him politically.  —  Which imperative reigns won't be clear until …

Alternative jobs-report summary  —  TODAY, the Bureau of Labour Statistics released its March employment report.  There is a 90% chance that employment rose by between 20,000 and 220,000 jobs.  The change in the number of unemployed from February to March was probably between (roughly) …

Super PAC Money Stalled Despite Obama Greenlight  —  Former White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton in 2010  —  After Bill Burton failed to win the job of White House press secretary last year, he took a position nobody else wanted—helping lead a super PAC to help re-elect the president.

The Law of the Gun in Florida  —  Florida leads the pack in passing bills written by the gun lobby that block any sensible attempt to control the purchase and use of firearms.  The dangerous folly of these laws was on display in the Trayvon Martin shooting, and will again be on display …

Christie ends Israel trip with visit to Syria, Lebanon borders  —  TEL AVIV - Gov. Chris Christie ended a whirlwind tour of Israel this morning by viewing the nation's borders with Syria and Lebanon and getting a briefing on its security concerns.  —  The governor also said he will visit …

Remarks by the President at JOBS Act Bill Signing  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.  (Applause.)  Hello, everybody.  Please, please have a seat.  Good afternoon.  I want to thank all of you for coming, and in particular, I want to thank the members of Congress who are here today from both parties …