Brutality of Syrian Rebels Posing Dilemma in West  —  The Syrian rebels posed casually, standing over their prisoners with firearms pointed down at the shirtless and terrified men.  —  The prisoners, seven in all, were captured Syrian soldiers.  Five were trussed, their backs marked with red welts.

US and UK spy agencies defeat privacy and security on the internet  —  • NSA and GCHQ unlock encryption used to protect emails, banking and medical records  —  • $250m-a-year US program works covertly with tech companies to insert weaknesses into products

Obama cancels LA trip as ‘no’ votes on Syria resolution pile up (Video)  —  President Obama has scrapped a planned two-day trip to Los Angeles early next week ahead of a congressional vote on a military strike against Syria.  —  The cancellation of the trip suggests the urgency …

It's Official: Alec Baldwin to Host Talk Show on MSNBC  —  The actor and will anchor a 10 p.m. program on Fridays beginning in October.  —  Alec Baldwin  —  Alec Baldwin has finalized a deal to host a weekly night-time talk show on MSNBC.  The program - Up Late with Alec Baldwin will bow …

Kerry Blows Up At GOP Rep For Harping On Benghazi At Syria Hearing (VIDEO)  —  Secretary of State John Kerry erupted at Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) after the congressman charged that the Obama administration cannot be trusted to carry out an attack on Syria due to mistakes made in Benghazi …

Obama, Putin chat — for 15 seconds  —  President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared a brief, 15-second greeting Thursday at the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg.  It was the first face-to-face interaction between the leaders after a summer of high-profile spats over Syria, Edward Snowden, and gay rights.

Major New Study On Obamacare Premiums Should End The ‘Rate Shock’ Hysteria Once And For All  —  The most comprehensive study on Obamacare to date finds that Americans' insurance premiums under the health law will be “lower than expected.”  Many Americans will pay even less than the top-line rates …

Can We Pay a Minimum Wage That Makes Everyone Rich?  —  Last week, fast-food workers staged a one-day strike in 60 U.S. cities to demand a minimum wage of $15 an hour, more than double the current federal minimum of $7.25.  The nationwide effort, “Fight for 15,” was organized by the Service Employees International Union.

Was Mitt Romney Right About Everything?  —  From Russia to Mali to Detroit, Romney's biggest fans say they've been vindicated.  “Obviously, it would have been nice if any of these incidents would have occurred during the campaign.”  —  Romney pauses as he addresses supporters during his election night rally.

The Right Questions on Syria  —  Critics of American military action in Syria are right to point out all the risks and uncertainties of missile strikes, and they have American public opinion on their side.  —  But for those of you who oppose cruise missile strikes, what alternative do you favor?

SUSPENDED: Michigan State removes prof who went on anti-Republican tirade  —  Michigan State administrators have suspended Prof. William Penn for the remainder of the semester, after he was caught on video going on an anti-Republican tirade on the very first day of his literature class.

The Era of Disbelief  —  This is a particularly bad time to sell the American people a war, and make no mistake: we are being sold, and this “military action,” in another time and place — and in some quarters, here and now — would be called an act of war.  —  Americans are not only weary of war …

GOP lawmaker brings fried chicken to poverty hearing in ‘silent protest’  —  DENVER — Two weeks ago, the last meeting of a Colorado task force on economic opportunity and poverty exploded into allegations of racism when Sen. Vicki Marble, a Republican, attempted to explain high poverty rates …

On Syria, Words Have Consequences  —  Striking at Assad won't end the conflict.  But it may drag the U.S. into a complex civil war.  —  From the start of the Syrian ­conflict, President Obama has wanted to take two very different approaches to it.  On the one hand, he has been disciplined …

Keep your shoes, jackets on: TSA to expand pre-screening program  —  Washington (CNN) — More airports around the United States will soon allow passengers to go through security without removing their shoes, light jackets, and belts.  —  The Transportation Security Administration is expanding …

Saving Obama From Himself  —  The next couple of weeks will be full of surprises, twists and turns, as this country debates in its Congress and media and living rooms whether to launch another war in the Middle East.  But I think it's fair to offer a preliminary assessment of where the wind is blowing.

Top House Republican Rewrites History, Claims Reagan Stood Up To Chemical Weapons Use  —  A top Republican lawmaker on Thursday invoked Ronald Reagan to say that Obama was weak for not acting more directly in response to Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons, ignoring the fact …

Groundhog Deja Clusterf@#k  —  As the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considers America's response to the war in Syria, John McCain ponders his response to the river card.  (05:44)

Rand Paul's Syria Bible Thumping  —  Why does he only seem to care about the country's Christians?  —  “I have nothing good to say about Assad,” Kentucky Senator Rand Paul made sure to stipulate on a hurried conference call after the marathon Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Syria yesterday.

ObamaCare Employer Mandate: A List Of Cuts To Work Hours, Jobs  —  One of 2013's most-contentious topics among both economists and politicians has been ObamaCare's jobs impact.  Critics say the Affordable Care Act, with its employer mandate to provide health insurance, gives business an incentive to cut workers' hours.

How Electricity Became a Luxury Good  —  Germany's agressive and reckless expansion of wind and solar power has come with a hefty pricetag for consumers, and the costs often fall disproportionately on the poor.  Government advisors are calling for a completely new start.