Tea Party Support Dwindles to Near-Record Low  —  Republicans ambivalent about movement, while most Democrats oppose it  —  PRINCETON, NJ — As Washington braces for another budget showdown, this time with the threat of defunding the new healthcare law in the mix, the key political force pushing …

Americans Reject by 61% Obama Demand for Clean Debt Vote  —  Americans by a 2-to-1 ratio disagree with President Barack Obama's contention that Congress should raise the U.S. debt limit without conditions.  —  Instead, 61 percent say that it's “right to require spending cuts when the debt ceiling …

Now Revealed by Stripper: Booker's Twitter Messages  —  Mayor Cory A. Booker has a high schooler's affinity for Twitter, reveling in its ceaseless flow of affirmation and infinite space for self-promotion.  —  But the occasional perils of his reliance on the social media service became evident …

How Obamacare may be holding down costs  —  The historic slowdown in health-care costs is continuing.  Earlier this month, the government's actuaries found that total national health spending continues to grow at the lowest rate we've ever seen.  And our annual employer health benefits survey released …

House GOP Debt Ceiling Offer To Include Pro-Wall Street Provisions, Health Care Cuts  —  WASHINGTON — House Republicans plan to demand major perks for coal companies and Wall Street banks, alongside healthcare and social service cuts and a one-year delay in the implementation of Obamacare …

DC delays key pieces of ObamaCare exchange  —  The ObamaCare exchange serving Washington, D.C. is delaying important parts of its operations less than a week before it is scheduled to open for enrollment.  —  Washington's exchange said Wednesday that it will not be ready on Oct. 1 to calculate …

Iran's Leader, Denouncing Holocaust, Stirs Dispute  —  WASHINGTON — As he conducts a high-profile good-will visit to New York this week, Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, says he is bringing a simple message of peace and friendship.  But on Wednesday, Mr. Rouhani set off a political storm …

Let ObamaCare Collapse  —  Congress can't kill the entitlement state.  Only the American people can.  —  What the GOP's Defund-ObamaCare Caucus is failing to see is that ObamaCare is no longer just ObamaCare.  It is about something that is beyond the reach of a congressional vote.

Worldwide Caution  —  The Department of State has issued this Worldwide Caution to update information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world.  U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance …

David Gilmour on Building Strong Stomachs  —  Shelf Esteem is a weekly measure of the books on the shelves of writers, editors, and other word lovers, as told to Emily M. Keeler.  This week's shelf belongs to David Gilmour, whose most recent novel, Extraordinary, appears on the Giller longlist.

The Most Ridiculous Moments In Ted Cruz's Phony Filibuster (VIDEO)  —  Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) put forth a challenge Wednesday to members of the media covering his 21-hour non-filibuster to protest funding for Obamacare.  —  “So I'm gonna make a request directly to those reporters who are covering …

Who's Not Online and Why  —  Summary of Findings  —  15% of American adults do not use the internet at all, and another 9% of adults use the internet but not at home.  —  As of May 2013, 15% of American adults ages 18 and older do not use the internet or email.  Asked why they do not use the internet: