President Obama weighs in on information-gathering  —  EVER SINCE Edward Snowden leaked a series of documents on the National Security Agency (NSA) information-gathering programs, President Obama has praised the notion of more debate on what information — and when — the government can collect about Americans.

TRANSCRIPT: President Obama's August 9, 2013, news conference at the White House  —  By Washington Post Staff,  —  President Obama took questions from reporters at the White House on Aug. 9, 2013.  —  PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Good afternoon, everybody.  Please have a seat.

Reid says Obamacare just a step toward eventual single-payer system  —  In just about seven weeks, people will be able to start buying Obamacare-approved insurance plans through the new health care exchanges.  —  But already, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is predicting those plans …

Jay Leno's Last ‘Tonight Show’ to Air Feb. 6  —  NBC to pull latenight host on the eve of Olympics coverage  —  Jay Leno's last “Tonight Show” on NBC will air Feb. 6, sources confirm to Variety.  —  “Tonight Show” exec producer Debbie Vickers made the announcement today to employees of the show …

In Leaked Audio, Cuccinelli Affirms Support For E.W. Jackson  —  Ken Cuccinelli, the attorney general and Republican nominee for governor in Virginia, told supporters recently they should have no question about his support for E.W. Jackson, the GOP's polarizing nominee for lieutenant governor in that state.

Fox May Produce Clinton Biopic Reviled by G.O.P.  —  The script for the proposed mini-series on the life of the possible presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton hasn't even been written but we may already have a plot twist.  —  While NBC has come under heavy fire, especially from Republican critics …

LePage says he'd like to blow up Press Herald  —  Maine's governor makes the comment during an event Friday at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick, and later says it was a joke.  —  Gov. Paul LePage made his dislike of the Portland Press Herald abundantly clear Friday while sitting in a fighter jet simulator …

Chief of Staff Lee Burdick says Mayor Bob Filner entered therapy a week early, completed program  —  SAN DIEGO - San Diego Mayor Bob Filner's chief of staff confirmed to 10News that the mayor began his therapy a week early and has already completed the program.

Social Security Payments Limited To Same-Sex Married Couples Living In States That Recognize Marriage Equality  —  For a same-sex couple legally married in Massachusetts, who live in Texas and “meet all other factors of entitlement,” the Social Security Administration told employees Friday, “Hold the claim.”

Cleta Mitchell: The IRS scandals, part 3  —  Cleta Mitchell is the prominent Washington attorney whose practice has given her a front row seat on the IRS scandals.  On the just completed NR cruise Cleta gave one of the most compelling presentations involving topical matters of current interest.

Detroit's misplaced $1M check bares inefficiency  —  In late February, cash-strapped Detroit received a $1 million check from the local school system that wasn't deposited.  The routine payment wound up in a city hall desk drawer, where it was found a month later.

Lavabit's Ladar Levison: ‘If You Knew What I Know About Email, You Might Not Use It’  —  Ladar Levison, 32, has spent ten years building encrypted email service Lavabit, attracting over 410,000 users.  When NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden was revealed to be one of those users in July …

Cantor: ‘No One Is Advocating a Government Shutdown’  —  As the fall's fiscal drama nears, a group of conservative lawmakers are urging Republican leaders to use Obamacare as a bargaining chip.  Behind the scenes, they're warning Speaker John Boehner and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell …

Sarah Palin Was Right—More Dems Ditch Death Panels  —  ObamaCare: Some Democrats are signing on to bills repealing the powers of the Independent Payment Advisory Board to effectively ration health care for seniors.  So Sarah Palin was right about those death panels after all?

Scott uses GOP address to exploit Dem energy divisions  —  Republicans are seeking to regain the political offensive by exploiting divisions in the Democratic Party over President Obama's energy policies.  —  Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) slammed Obama in the weekly GOP radio address Saturday …

Labour must shout louder or risk election defeat, warns Andy Burnham  —  Shadow health secretary says time is running out for coherent Labour challenge to the coalition  —  Labour's leadership must put its cards on the table before next spring and produce a set of policies which define …