Santorum endorses Romney: ‘All hands on deck’  —  A reader forwards this email Rick Santorum is sending to his list of supporters in which he announces he's endorsing Mitt Romney.  —  Santorum makes clear that he felt Romney had answered questions about his commitment to principles …

US: CIA thwarts new al-Qaida underwear bomb plot  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA thwarted an ambitious plot by al-Qaida's affiliate in Yemen to destroy a U.S.-bound airliner using a bomb with a sophisticated new design around the one-year anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden, The Associated Press has learned.

In surprise move, Netanyahu, Mofaz agree to form unity government, cancel early elections  —  PM, opposition leader reach dramatic late-night agreement to form national unity government, in which Kadima head Mofaz expected to be appointed deputy prime minister.  —  Get Haaretz on iPhone

A Note to Readers  —  When we published Naomi Schaefer Riley's blog posting on Brainstorm last week ("The Most Persuasive Case for Eliminating Black Studies?  Just Read the Dissertations"), several thousand of you spoke out in outrage and disappointment that The Chronicle had published …

Romney Silent As Woman Says Obama Should Be Tried For Treason  —  A town hall bubbles over.  —  EUCLID, Ohio — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney didn't comment on a supporter's assertion that President Barack Obama should be tried for treason at a town hall event here.

Half of Americans Support Legal Gay Marriage  —  Democrats and independents in favor; Republicans opposed  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Fifty percent of Americans believe same-sex marriages should be recognized by law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages — down slightly from 53% last year …

Liberals Steer Outside Money to Grass-Roots Organizing  —  After months on the sidelines, major liberal donors including the financier George Soros are preparing to inject up to $100 million into independent groups to aid Democrats' chances this fall.  But instead of going head to head …

Sen. Dick Lugar to learn his fate in Indiana; N.C. votes on marriage amendment  —  Dick Lugar could see his 36-year Senate career come to an end Tuesday in the Indiana Republican primary as voters decide whether to send him back to Congress for another six-year term or bank on challenger Richard Mourdock.

WTF?  Democratic Party of Wisconsin Cancels post-primary Unity Rally  —  Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 8th, Wisconsin voters will vote in a special recall election primary.  On the Democratic ballot for governor are four legitimate contenders.  The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Governor Scott Walker on June 5th.

Paul Ryan Challenged By Town Hall Constituents Over Previous Praise Of Ayn Rand  —  JANESVILLE, Wisconsin — Last month, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) disavowed his one-time political muse, Ayn Rand, because of her “atheist philosophy.”  Some of his constituents, however, aren't buying it.

Beyond Boston  —  Among politicos, Mitt Romney's presidential campaign is frequently referenced as “Boston.”  Romney's headquarters is housed there, and for much of the campaign season, the phrase has been used to describe the former governor's tight-knit group of senior advisers …

TRENDING: Romney: 'I'll take a lot of credit' for auto industry success  —  (CNN) - Democrats and Republicans have slammed Mitt Romney for his 2008 view that Detroit should “go bankrupt,” but the presumptive GOP presidential nominee said Monday his views played a big part in the auto industry's recovery.

Ambassador to Pakistan set to leave post  —  U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter announced to his staff Monday morning that he was stepping down this summer after serving less than two years on the job.  —  We're told his early departure — ambassadors usually serve three-year tours …

No Accountability for Torture  —  Sometimes I think being American means never having to say you're sorry.  On Wednesday, May 2, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, a federal appeals court in San Francisco, unanimously dismissed a lawsuit against former Justice Department lawyer John Yoo …

Bridge bomb suspects plead not guilty; Occupy Cleveland members show up to support suspects  —  CLEVELAND - Dozens of members of Occupy Cleveland showed up at a Cleveland courthouse to support the five people charged in connection with an alleged plot to blow up a northeast Ohio bridge.

Rick Berg, GOP Senate Candidate In North Dakota, Stumped On Minimum Wage (VIDEO) … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Video, North Dakota, North Dakota Democratic Party, Heidi Heitkamp, Minimum Wage, Rick-Berg, Rick-Berg-Campaign-Ad, Politics News  —  WASHINGTON — Rep. Rick Berg (R-N.D.) …

The KSM Trial Spectacle  —  Is it too much for Eric Holder to defend these prosecutions?  —  You don't have to be a mind reader to figure out the propaganda strategy of September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the four other terrorists who were arraigned Saturday in a 13-hour spectacle in Guantanamo Bay.

Paul LePage, Maine Governor, Tells Unemployed Americans To ‘Get Off The Couch’ And Get A Job … REACT:  —  FOLLOW:  —  Paul LePage, Unemployment, Video, Lepage Get Off The Couch, Lepage Maine, Paul Lepage Get Off The Couch, Paul Lepage Jobs, Paul Lepage Maine, Paul Lepage Maine Governor …

AT&T To Pay Muslim Woman $5 Million After Boss Snatched Off Her Scarf  —  Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.  All rights reserved.  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A former Kansas City woman who converted to Islam in 2005 …