White House's Hard Line on Shutdown, Debt Ceiling Has Risks Attached … President Barack Obama is sticking to his stance that he won't negotiate with Republicans over the government shutdown or the higher-stakes fight over the federal debt ceiling.  —  The question, for Republicans …

The Emerging Offer  —  It hasn't been announced, and you won't hear about it today, but the final volley of the fiscal impasse, at least for House Republicans, is already being brokered.  And according to my top sources — both members and senior aides — it won't end with a clean CR, or with a sprawling, 2011-style budget agreement.

Dems move to force Republicans to reopen the government  —  House Democratic leaders believe they have hit on a new way to potentially force House Republican leaders into allowing a vote on a “clean CR” funding the government without any defunding of Obamacare attached.

Obamacare Poster Boy Chad Henderson and His Dad Haven't Signed Up for Obamacare, Says His Father  —  An exclusive Reason.com interview with Bill Henderson.  —  Chad Henderson is the media's poster boy for Obamacare.  Reporters struggled this week to find individuals who said they had been able …

Shutdown Impacts Chapel Services  —  If the government shutdown continues through the weekend, there will be no Catholic priest to celebrate Mass this Sunday in the chapels at some U.S. military installations where non-active-duty priests serve as government contractors.

Woman in DC chase may have thought Obama was stalking her, sources say  —  Investigators have found indications that the woman who led authorities on a chase from the White House to the Capitol before she was shot to death by police thought that President Barack Obama was stalking her, law enforcement sources told NBC News.

Economic Confidence Plummets as Gov't Shutdown Begins  —  Current -34 three-day average is worst since December 2011  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans' confidence in the U.S. economy has dropped sharply as the partial government shutdown caused by Congress' inability to pass a spending bill has become reality.

Arizona Gov. Brewer, local businesses fight to reopen Grand Canyon  —  Oct. 1, 2013: Sebastian Ramirez, 27, of Austin, Texas, hikes out of the Bright Angel Trail in Grand Canyon National Park.AP  —  With the partial suspension of U.S. government services showing no signs of ending …

Gov. compares same-sex marriage to incest  —  (CNN) - Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's stance on same-sex marriage is no secret, after bringing a legal challenge against a county clerk who tried to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples.  Friday, Corbett went a step further, comparing gay marriage to a union between siblings.

Fossil Fuel Divestment Statement  —  Climate change represents one of the world's most consequential challenges.  I very much respect the concern and commitment shown by the many members of our community who are working to confront this problem.  I, as well as members of our Corporation Committee …

Obama And Biden Go Out For Lunch  —  President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden walked out of the White House to grab lunch at a nearby restaurant.  —  The two headed for Taylor Gourmet, a sandwich shop a few blocks away.  —  Via taylorgourmet.com  —  Cable news had absolutely no idea what was going on.

Newt Gingrich Wants The Government Out Of The Panda Cam Business  —  Former Speaker of the House and Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has has a lifelong love affair with zoos.  Because of this, TPM wondered how he was handling the closure of the Smithsonian's National Zoo …

Hillary Clinton to begin considering presidential run ‘sometime next year’  —  Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a group of Long Island business and political leaders Friday that she would begin seriously considering a White House run sometime next year.