In Obama Budget, Social Programs Face a Cutback  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama next week will take the political risk of formally proposing cuts to Social Security and Medicare in his annual budget in an effort to demonstrate his willingness to compromise with Republicans and revive prospects …

Roger Ebert dies at 70 after battle with cancer  —  Except for those he hated.  —  For a film with a daring director, a talented cast, a captivating plot or, ideally, all three, there could be no better advocate than Roger Ebert, who passionately celebrated and promoted excellence in film …

Bill Nelson reverses opposition to gay marriage  —  Sen. Bill Nelson has reversed his opposition to gay marriage, becoming the latest senator to do so.  Now, only six Democrats in the chamber are opposed to gay marriage.  —  In a statement to the Tampa Bay Times editorial board, he wrote:

Obama Calls Californian Kamala Harris ‘Best Looking’ Attorney General  —  President Obama assessed the beauty of California's attorney general Kamala Harris, calling her “the best looking attorney general,” during remarks at a fundraiser in Atherton, California.

Blair Scorned at Home Builds Business Empire Abroad  —  Blair Builds Business Empire, Embraces Philanthropy  —  On a snowy morning in the middle of February, Tony Blair, looking trim from his four- to five-times- a-week workout regime, is sipping coffee in his office in London's Mayfair district.

Cuccinelli Campaign Won't Say If He's Committed Any Crimes Against Nature  —  The campaign of Virginia state attorney general Ken Cuccinelli won't say if he's committed any crimes against nature.  —  Cuccinelli, who is running to be Virginia's next governor, recently petitioned a federal court …

Judge Orders Morning-After Pill Available for All Ages  —  A federal judge has ruled that the Unites States government must make the most common morning-after pill available over the counter for all ages, instead of requiring a prescription for girls 16 and under.

Scott Brown Won't Rule Out New Hampshire Senate Bid  —  ABC News' Arlette Saenz, Michael Falcone and Elizabeth Hartfield report:  —  Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown told reporters Thursday night that he is not ruling out a run for Senate in the neighboring state of New Hampshire in 2014.

Elizabeth Colbert Busch: Spring training over for rookie  —  For months, rookie South Carolina congressional candidate Elizabeth Colbert Busch has had the luxury of kicking back and watching Republicans fight among themselves.  With a big hand from her famous brother, comedian Stephen Colbert …

North Korea's missile launchers on the move, indicating possible new provocation  —  North Korea has begun moving its mid-range missile launchers, possibly indicating a looming test as tensions are already boiling on the peninsula, U.S. officials told Fox News.

Labour can't win if it's on Mick Philpott's side  —  The voters have decided that we spend too much on welfare.  Miliband must offer them more than silence in reply  —  Labour might easily lose, in 2015, an election it really ought to win and the reason will be that it didn't understand what voters told it in 2010.

To create jobs, the U.S. must spend  —  The government can and should increase the deficit to return us to prosperity.  Without such outlays we can't get enough GDP growth to seriously attack unemployment.  —  Our economic models show that without increased government outlays we'll be unable …

Jim DeMint: ‘69.5 Million Americans’ Are Dependent On Government  —  Former Sen. Jim DeMint, the new president of the Heritage Foundation, began work there Thursday with a letter to the group's staff outlining his vision for the organization.  Mitt Romney would find much to admire in it.

Majority Now Supports Legalizing Marijuana  —  OVERVIEW  —  For the first time in more than four decades of polling on the issue, a majority of Americans favor legalizing the use of marijuana.  A national survey finds that 52% say that the use of marijuana should be made legal while 45% say it should not.

Obama: Newtown Shooter Gunned Down 20 Children With ‘Fully Automatic Weapon’  —  At a fundraiser last night in San Francisco, President Barack Obama said that the Newtown killer gunned down 20 children using a “fully automatic weapon.”  From the official transcript, provided by the White House:

GIGANTIC MISS: JUST 88K NEW JOBS, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS TO 7.6%, DOW FUTURES OFF 150  —  The jobs number is out, and it's bad.  —  Just 88K new jobs were created in March.  —  That's well below the 190K that analysts had expected.  —  It's also well below the “whisper” number of 150K

Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the 15th Annual National Action Network Convention  —  Thank you, Reverend Sharpton - and thank you all for such a warm welcome.  It's a privilege to be included, once again, in this important Annual Convention.  It's a pleasure - as always - to be back home in New York City.