What I learned about Hugo Chávez's mental health when I visited Venezuela with Sean Penn.  —  Less than a day after Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's communication minister appeared on television to announce that the socialist leader was in failing health, Chávez has died.

Now Dems worry: Did Obama cry wolf?  —  President Barack Obama hopes to spark a pitchfork revolt against Republicans over sequester-induced budget cuts — but many Democrats fret that he's undermined that effort with an early strategy marred by hype, poor planning and muddled messaging.

Exclusive Excerpt: Roger Ailes Off Camera  —  Roger Ailes is one of the most powerful—and controversial—characters in television media, pilloried by critics and many in the mainstream media and lionized by conservative viewers who can't get enough of his posse of charismatic hosts.

GOP lawmakers say spending bill should target contraception mandate  —  A group of House Republicans said Tuesday that a bill to fund the federal government should include provisions targeting the contraception mandate in President Obama's healthcare law.  —  GOP lawmakers reintroduced …

Eric Holder: Drone strikes against Americans on U.S. soil are legal … Attorney General Eric Holder can imagine a scenario in which it would be constitutional to carry out a drone strike against an American on American soil, he wrote in a letter to Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

WATCH: Bill O'Reilly Harasses Gay Colorado Speaker Over Child Molester Laws  —  As expected, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly is continuing his smear campaign against Colorado House Speaker Mark Ferrandino (D), who is openly gay, because of his opposition to instituting “Jessica's Law,” …

GOP smackdown: Wonks vs. pols  —  The latest front in the battle for the future of the Republican Party: the wonks versus the pols.  —  Conservative thinkers are increasingly agitated that, four months after a second straight presidential drubbing, GOP officeholders are not taking bold steps …

L.A. mayor's race: Garcetti and Greuel top the field  —  City Councilman Eric Garcetti and Controller Wendy Greuel remained ahead of the pack in the race for mayor of Los Angeles early Wednesday morning with all city precincts reporting.  —  The top-two finishers in Tuesday's election …

Sam Mendes Won't Direct Bond 24  —  Exclusive on ‘a very difficult decision’  —  Bond may be back, but Empire can exclusively reveal that Sam Mendes won't be joining him.  At the BAFTAs recently, basking in the glow of Skyfall's triumph for Outstanding British Film, it seemed that Mendes …

Mayor Bloomberg's new health crusade: too-loud earbuds  —  Now listen up, if you can.  —  Mayor Bloomberg — who has already cracked down on smoking, junk food, trans fats, salt and super-sized drinks — is embarking on a new crusade: preventing New Yorkers from going deaf.

Niall Ferguson: Paul Krugman's Style Of Debate Suggests He May Have Been Traumatized As A Child  —  Paul Krugman has been charging hard of late at people he believes espouse particularly dangerous economic recipes.  —  It's elicited some equal and opposite responses.

Capitol janitors making ‘ends meet’ with overtime?  Nope  —  “You know, those Capitol janitors will not get as much overtime.  I'm sure they think less pay, that they're taking home, does hurt.”  — Gene Sperling, director of the White House economic council, on ABC News' “This Week,” March 3, 2013

Sources: Paul Ryan to reject Medicare age shift  —  Rep. Paul Ryan's budget is now expected to exempt seniors 55 years old and above from his Medicare overhaul — despite his personal preference to raise that age to 56 — according to several GOP sources familiar with his plans.

Notes from the EU … Welcome.  If you have yet to register on FT.com you will be asked to do so before you begin to read FT blogs.  However, our posts remain free.  —  This blog covers everything from the European Union's foreign and economic policies to the fortunes of its political leaders …

McConnell campaign shakes it up with Harlem Shake  —  (CNN) - The dance craze that's been sweeping the nation has made it to the campaign trail.  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's re-election team Wednesday put out a web video of a person wearing a mask of the Republican senator from Kentucky dancing to the Harlem Shake.

Minnesota Poll: A majority doesn't want gay marriage  —  Months after an amendment to ban the unions was rejected, 53 percent opposes legalizing them.  —  A majority of Minnesotans oppose legalizing same-sex marriage, the Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has found.