Boston bombing suspect cites U.S. wars as motivation, officials say  —  The 19-year-old suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings has told interrogators that the American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan motivated him and his brother to carry out the attack, according to U.S. officials familiar with the interviews.

Boston Bombing Suspect Shootout Pictures  —  On Thursday night [Friday morning] at 12:45am EST. I was in my living room working on my computer when I heard multiple “pops” coming from outside.  At that point, I had no idea that I was about to become an eye witness to the biggest news story in the country.

Baucus to retire rather than seek reelection in 2014, strategists say  —  View Photo Gallery —The 2014 midterm elections are just around the corner.  These are the races to watch.  —  Baucus, 71, first elected in 1978,has been the top Democrat on the powerful committee since 2001.

Bush is back  —  It took less than 4 1/2 years of the Obama presidency for President George W. Bush to mount his comeback.  While doing absolutely nothing on his own behalf (he's been the most silent ex-president in my lifetime), his approval is up to 47 percent according to The Post/ABC poll.

Former GOP Candidate Reacts After Man He Allegedly Framed For Ricin Poisoning Is Released  —  A former Republican candidate for Mississippi's House of Representatives named J. Everett Dutschke expressed disbelief and dismay Tuesday shortly after a man he was accused of framing for mailing letters …

Rand Paul comes out against fellow Republicans in Tsarnaev case  —  In an interview with Fox Business on Monday evening, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) came out against Republicans who had called for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to be held as an “enemy combatant.”  —  “I think we can still preserve the Bill of Rights,” Paul told Neil Cavuto.

Nevada Senate Votes To Repeal Ban On Same-Sex Couples' Marriages  —  During the course of the debate, Nevada Sen. Kelvin Atkinson told his colleagues — and the world — that he is gay.  Monday's vote was the first step in a long process.  —  WASHINGTON — Late Monday …

Mitt Romney's all-star retreat in June will include David Axelrod, Chris Christie, Paul Ryan  —  WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney this morning announced a series of high-profile speakers who will address a retreat that the former Republican presidential nominee is putting together in June.

Judge tosses three murder counts against Kermit Gosnell  —  After hearing impassioned arguments from attorneys on both sides of the Kermit Gosnell capital-murder trial Tuesday, a Philadelphia judge threw out three of the seven first-degree murder charges Gosnell faced for allegedly killing fetuses born alive at his abortion clinic.

Also admits he and brother Tamerlin were behind killing of MIT officer  —  Dzhokhar Tsarnaev admitted to authorities Sunday that he and his brother were behind the Marathon bombings, according to a senior law enforcement official.  —  Tsarnaev made his admissions to FBI agents who interviewed …

Most Expect ‘Occasional Acts of Terrorism’ in the Future  —  Six-in-Ten Say Post-9/11 Steps Have Made Country Safer  —  OVERVIEW  —  Last week's bombings at the Boston Marathon attracted broad public interest: 63% of Americans say they followed the story very closely, among the highest interest in any news story in the past decade.

CNN in talks with Newt Gingrich, Stephanie Cutter for new ‘Crossfire’ show  —  Earlier this month, news broke that CNN was looking to relaunch Crossfire, the famous debate show that pitted two pundits — one liberal, one conservative — against one another on the political issues of the day.

Stella Tremblay, New Hampshire Legislator, Says U.S. Government Planned Boston Bombing  —  A Republican state legislator in New Hampshire is claiming that the United States government is responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing.  —  State Rep. Stella Tremblay (R-Auburn) …

Hillary Clinton Is Still Popular, More So Than Obama, Biden  —  Clinton starts with advantage over Biden if both run in 2016  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Though currently she is — at least temporarily — out of political life, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues to enjoy a strong favorability rating, now 64%.

Who Says New York Is Not Affordable?  —  One of the first things you learn when living in New York is that what qualifies as wealthy somewhere else seems barely middle-class here.  On the Upper West Side, where I live, it's hard not to feel as if Manhattan is impossibly expensive for young professionals.

A Commentary on the Marathon Murders  —  The dominant reactions to the horrific bombings on April 15th, the day of the running of the Boston Marathon, as well as the celebration of Patriots Day, have been so far: compassion for the victims, a maximal resolve to track down the perpetrators …

In Gun Bill Defeat, a President's Distaste for Twisting Arms  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Mark Begich, Democrat of Alaska, asked President Obama's administration for a little favor last month.  Send your new interior secretary this spring to discuss a long-simmering dispute over construction …