Ted Cruz Punches Back  —  Even among Republicans, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is one of Washington's most divisive figures.  Activists love him, but leadership staffers and many of his colleagues can't stand him — especially his latest effort to connect a government-spending bill with the defunding of Obamacare.

Inside Boehner's Plan To Avoid Shutdown (And Wound Obamacare)  —  Forget Friday's big spending bill vote.  House leaders know the Senate will reject it and are ready to respond.  Here's the GOP playbook.  —  House Republicans have orchestrated a master plan to avoid a government shutdown …

The Republicans Who Fear a Shutdown  —  They aren't in Washington—and they're very worried about driving away independent voters.  —  Thirty-three percent.  That's President Obama's approval rating among white voters, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released this week.

Americans Fault Mental Health System Most for Gun Violence  —  Half say gun laws should be stricter, down from 58% after Newtown  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Forty-eight percent of Americans blame the mental health system “a great deal” for mass shootings in the United States, unchanged from January 2011.