Navy Yard shooting: AR-15, back in the news — briefly  —  Mass shooting at D.C. Navy Yard  —  (CNN) — It has been called the most popular rifle in America, and it briefly returned to the spotlight after Monday's shooting at the Navy Yard: the AR-15.  —  A U.S. law enforcement official …

If House Republicans can't hold together, they have no leverage at all.  —  Perhaps the only war strategizing more inept than President Obama's on Syria are GOP plans for the budget hostilities this autumn.  Republicans are fracturing over tactics, and even over the nature of political reality …

The 2013 Long-Term Budget Outlook  —  Between 2009 and 2012, the federal government recorded the largest budget deficits relative to the size of the economy since 1946, causing federal debt to soar.  Federal debt held by the public is now about 73 percent of the economy's annual output, or gross domestic product (GDP).

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012  —  The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that in 2012, real median household income and the poverty rate were not statistically different from the previous year, while the percentage of people without health insurance coverage decreased.

They Have Made A Desert, And Called It Reform  —  It was, I suppose, predictable that Europe's austerians would claim vindication at the first hint of an upturn.  Still, Wolfgang Schäuble's piece in the FT, in which he claims complete vindication because Europe has had one, count it …

Exclusive: Bill Daley drops bid for Illinois governor  —  In this raw Sept. 16, 2013 interview, Bill Daley explains to Chicago Tribune reporter Rick Pearson why he is dropping out of the Illniois governor's race.  (WGN-TV)  —  Bill Daley abruptly ended his bid for the Democratic nomination …

Costa Concordia pulled completely upright off Italy  —  Uprighted Costa Concordia is seen in waters just off Italy on Sept. 17, 2013 / CBS  —  The crippled Costa Concordia cruise ship was pulled completely upright early Tuesday after a complicated, 19-hour operation to wrench it from its side …

Obama waives ban on arming terrorists to allow aid to Syrian opposition  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL BARACK OBAMA SYRIA TERRORISM ISLAMIC JIHAD AL QAEDA BOB CORKER BASHAR ASSAD  —  President Obama waived a provision of federal law designed to prevent the supply of arms to terrorist groups …

Biden will do fundraiser for Iowa Democrat Jim Mowrer  —  A fundraiser for the Iowa Democrat who is trying to oust Republican Congressman Steve King will have a top-name guest: Vice President Joe Biden.  —  Biden will raise money for Jim Mowrer at an event on Sept. 24 at the Washington …

Benghazi, as seen from the grassy knoll  —  Why do people claim that the Benghazi scandal is “phony”?  —  To answer that, let's check in with the people fanning the controversy.  They assembled Monday morning at the Heritage Foundation, convened by a conservative group to listen to Rep. Frank Wolf …

First on CNN: Perry to tour gun facility near Washington  —  Washington (CNN) - With guns back in the national spotlight after a mass shooting at Washington's Navy Yard, Texas Gov. Rick Perry will tour Maryland's largest gun manufacturer on Wednesday as part of his ongoing effort to lure businesses to his home state.

Exclusive: Embattled Syria ‘Expert’ Elizabeth O'Bagy Says She Made ‘Many Mistakes’  —  Her research on Syria influenced key lawmakers—but ‘Dr.’ Elizabeth O'Bagy wasn't who she said she was.  For the first time, she tells Josh Rogin that she was never even in a Ph.D. program.

Push for Yellen to Lead at Fed Gathers Steam  —  WASHINGTON — Janet L. Yellen told friends in recent weeks that she did not expect to be nominated as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve.  Although she had been the Fed's vice chairman since 2010 and would make history as the first woman to hold the job …