The numbers prove it: The GOP is estranged from America  —  Andrew Kohut is the founding director and former president of the Pew Research Center.  He served as president of the Gallup Organization from 1979 to 1989.  —  In my decades of polling, I recall only one moment when a party …

The Secret Gingrich-Santorum ‘Unity Ticket’ That Nearly Toppled Romney  —  It's one of the great untold stories of the 2012 presidential campaign, a tale of ego and intrigue that nearly upended the Republican primary contest and might even have produced a different nominee …

At Yad Vashem in Israel, Obama Urges Action Against Racism  —  AMMAN, Jordan — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Friday apologized in a personal phone call to Turkey's prime minister for a deadly commando raid on a Turkish ship in 2010, in a sudden reconciliation between …

Dominican official links Daily Caller to alleged lies about Menendez  —  A top Dominican law enforcement official said Friday that a local lawyer has reported being paid by someone claiming to work for the conservative Web site the Daily Caller to find prostitutes who would lie and say they had sex …

Biden's One-Night Paris Hotel Tab: $585,000.50  —  As it turns out, Vice President Joe Biden's London stay in February was not the most expensive part of his trip.  A government document released on February 14, 2013 shows that the contract for the Hotel Intercontinental Paris Le Grand came in at $585,000.50.

Bill Clinton Reaches Out to Ashley Judd and Her Rival  —  Kentucky Wildcats fan and actress Ashley Judd waves during the game against the Louisville Cardinals, Dec. 29, 2012 in Louisville, Ky. Alison Lundergan Grimes speaks at the 131th annual Fancy Farm Picnic, Aug, 6, 2011 in Fancy Farm, Ky. (Getty Images

Phil Donahue on His 2003 Firing from MSNBC, When Liberal Network Couldn't Tolerate Antiwar Voices … In 2003, the legendary television host Phil Donahue was fired from his prime-time MSNBC talk show during the run-up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.  The problem was not Donahue's ratings …

Pope calls Argentine kiosk owner to cancel paper delivery  —  Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mar 21, 2013 / 12:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis surprised the owner of a kiosk in Buenos Aires with a telephone call to send his greetings and explain that he will no longer need a morning paper delivered each day.

Mitt Romney invites donors to $5K trip  —  Mitt Romney isn't running for president, but he's still looking for supporters' contributions.  —  The former presidential candidate sent out an email Thursday evening to bundlers and big donors, asking them to join him for a four-day June summit in Park City, Utah.

Former Gov. Granholm declines run for Senate in Michigan  —  Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) will not seek retiring Sen. Carl Levin's (D-Mich.) seat in 2014, she announced Friday on her Facebook page.  —  “Friends, thanks for all of the encouragement on the Michigan Senate seat, but I'm not going to run.

Senate rejects repeal of healthcare law, again  —  The Senate on Friday rejected another GOP attempt to repeal President Obama's healthcare law.  —  An amendment to the Senate budget resolution from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) failed on a 45-54 vote on Friday.

Good news for people who like bad news about inequality  —  So here's some bad news: The rise in wealth inequality?  It's permanent.  —  This graph, which shows wealth inequality is even more severe than income inequality, isn't related to the study.  It's just more bad news.

Marine kills two at Quantico base, takes own life  —  (Reuters) - An active-duty Marine shot dead two fellow service members at a base at Quantico, Virginia, then barricaded himself in a building and killed himself, prompting a brief lockdown of the base, the Marines said on Friday.

White House withdraws Halligan nomination  —  The White House is withdrawing President Obama's judicial nominee Caitlin Halligan from consideration after multiple failed confirmation attempts.  —  “I am deeply disappointed that even after nearly two and a half years, a minority of Senators continued …

FAA to close 149 regional airport control towers, spare 40 others  —  Frederick, Maryland (CNN) — The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday told 149 regional airports across the country it would begin closing their air traffic control towers in April, but said it would spare another 40 towers that had been on the chopping block.

Health Insurers Warn on Premiums  —  Health insurers are privately warning brokers that premiums for many individuals and small businesses could increase sharply next year because of the health-care overhaul law, with the nation's biggest firm projecting that rates could more than double for some consumers buying their own plans.

Why Republicans still run K Street  —  Democrats control the White House and the Senate, but you wouldn't know it by looking down K Street.  —  Republicans hold more than 30 of the 50 highest-profile, in-house lobbying jobs in town, a POLITICO analysis found.