Republicans, White House in Talks Toward Big Fiscal Deal  —  GOP senators and Obama's chief of staff have been meeting for weeks to set a course that might avoid a crisis when America hits its debt limit in the fall.  —  At least a dozen Republican senators are regularly meeting …

Conversation about race?  Get real  —  Let's take the advice of the attorney general of the United States.  Let's have a national conversation about race in the wake of the Zimmerman case.  Let's make it a painfully honest conversation — except about all the things that are painful for us to admit.

Testy Meeting Among Senate GOP on ‘Nuclear Option’ Deal  —  A meeting of Senate Republicans on Wednesday grew tense as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told his members he could have gotten a better deal on nominations than the one negotiated by rank-and-file Republicans.

IRS lawyer says scandal was overseen by D.C., names names  —  Top IRS officials in Washington, D.C. planned and oversaw the agency's improper targeting of conservative groups, according to the 72-year old retiring IRS lawyer who will testify Thursday before the House Oversight Committee.

DNA test: Rep. Steve Cohen not the father  —  The woman whom Rep. Steve Cohen has been claiming is his out-of-wedlock daughter is not, according to a paternity test revealed on Thursday.  —  CNN had a paternity test done on Victoria Brink with Cohen's participation, although the Tennessee Democrat did not appear on camera.

Voters Approve of City's Progress, Poll Finds, but Seek Empathetic Mayor  —  After 12 years with a peevish and pragmatic billionaire running the city, New Yorkers are eager for a mayor with heart.  —  By a clear majority, the city's voters say empathy is the most important trait in the next mayor …

‘Ridiculous’: Reporters Mock, Sneer At Daily Caller Intern Who Dared Ask Jay Carney A Question  —  The impropriety displayed on Wednesday by a high school-age intern who dared to ask White House Press Secretary Jay Carney a question relating to the security provided to the family of George Zimmerman knows no bounds.

The Cheney in Waiting  —  Dick Cheney's daughter wants to be a senator!  To give Wyoming a conservative voice!  Well, it's about time somebody thought of that.  —  “Over the last several years, citizens across our great state have urged me to consider running for the Senate,” Liz Cheney said, announcing her candidacy via YouTube.

Have You Heard the One About President Joe Biden?  —  That's No Joke.  Consider: He is the most quietly effective politician in D.C. (Don't laugh.)  The “Most Influential Vice President in History.”  (Seriously, stop laughing.)  One of our nation's most senior statesmen.  (Look it up!)

Jim DeMint back at war with Republicans  —  Jim DeMint's at war with Republicans — again.  —  The tea party firebrand who made his mark in GOP primary races across the country is now at the helm of the Heritage Foundation where its political arm is doing the same thing: holding conservatives feet to the fire.

The Drone That Killed My Grandson  —  SANA, Yemen — I LEARNED that my 16-year-old grandson, Abdulrahman — a United States citizen — had been killed by an American drone strike from news reports the morning after he died.  —  The missile killed him, his teenage cousin and at least five …

U.S. Senators Said to Reach Deal to Temporarily Hold Down Student Loan Rates  —  WASHINGTON — U.S. senators reached a deal on Wednesday to temporarily hold interest rates on student loans at lower levels as they raced to get the measure completed before an August deadline, a Senate aide said.

Marco Rubio stumbles  —  Todd Harris, the usually gregarious consultant to Sen. Marco Rubio, uncharacteristically resisted eight days of calls and emails seeking his thoughts for this column.  When he finally did reply, the answer was: “to be honest, another story about Marco and immigration is not high on Christmas list!!”

Town of Deer Trail considering hunting licenses for unmanned aerial vehicles, bounties for drones  —  ‘They fly in town, they get shot down,’ man says  —  Deer Trail Mayor Franks Fields displays proper drone-hunting technique.  (Photo by Amanda Kost/7NEWS)  —  Regular Photo Size

Congressman: Benghazi Survivors Forced to Sign Non-Disclosure Agreements  —  Congressman Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia, said today on the House floor that survivors of the Benghazi terror attack have been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements:  —  “On Tuesday I raised the question …

Pelosi: GOP needs ‘lesson on the birds and the bees’ amid abortion fights  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) slammed Republican lawmakers in Washington and in statehouses across the country for attempting to pass new laws restricting abortion rights, saying they needed a lesson on “the birds and the bees.”