House Conservatives Revolt  —  Later this morning, House Republicans will meet in the Capitol's basement.  The chief topic of conversation: the emerging Senate deal.  But before the meeting even begins, House conservatives are bashing it behind the scenes, and they're pushing the leadership to reject the compromise.

I, Rielle Hunter, Apologize  —  I behaved badly.  That may seem obvious to you but it's taken me a long time to admit that, even to myself.  For years I was so viciously attacked by the media and the world that I felt like a victim.  I now realize that the attacks are actually beside the point.

The default has already begun  —  The big question in Washington this week is whether, in the words of the NYT, we're going to see “a legislative failure and an economic catastrophe that could ripple through financial markets, foreign capitals, corporate boardrooms, state budget offices and the bank accounts of everyday investors”.

13 THINGS THAT DEFINE THE NEW AMERICAN CENTER  —  It is bigger than you think...  An exclusive Esquire-NBC News survey shows us that everything we are told about politics in America today—that there is no middle ground between left and right, blue and red, us and them—is wrong.

Hillary who?  Bloody-minded London traffic warden defies five furious secret service agents to give Hillary Clinton a ticket  —  This is the extraordinary moment that Hillary Clinton's security staff got into an argument with a traffic warden after he issued her car with a parking ticket.

What This Cruel War Was Over  —  It is not so much the behavior of the lone idiot that matters, but the tenor of the crowd around him.  —  On Sunday, a group of conservative radicals held a protest in Washington.  Eventually they walked to the White House.

'The Kelly File's' surge is legit, Nielsen says  —  MSNBC had questioned Fox News show's 100% ratings increase  —  Megyn Kelly hosts the Fox News Channel's new show “The Kelly File.”  —  Nielsen has conducted an investigation into the ratings for Megyn Kelly's new Fox News Channel show …

Filner pleads guilty to 3 charges  —  Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner pleaded guilty this morning to three criminal counts related to the sexual harassment allegations that drove him from office after a summer of scandal.  —  Specifically, Filner pleaded guilty before Superior Court …

Four new Senate polls - Citizens United PAC endorses Simpson challenger - Low interest in MA-05 primary - Debates in New York, New Jersey - Booker, Lonegan in home stretch  —  By Elizabeth Titus (etitus@politico.com; Twitter: @emtitus)  —  EXCLUSIVE: GOP POLLS FOR ALASKA, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA …

Seriously, Reopen the Government or a Pandemic Could Kill Us All  —  Like the military, the CDC protects us from outside threats.  So why is it so severely furloughed?  —  What would happen if a H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic occured during the shutdown?  (AFP / Getty Images)

The affirmative-action case liberals deserve to lose.  —  Lucky Elena Kagan.  She gets to sit out this year's affirmative action case at the Supreme Court, probably because she worked on a related matter when she was solicitor general.  Part of me wishes I could skip it, too.

Panetta rebukes Obama's handling of shutdown  —  Leon Panetta served in Washington with nine presidents, starting with Lyndon Johnson.  He has been a member of Congress, Office of Management and Budget director, White House chief of staff, director of the Central Intelligence Agency and secretary …

As Debt Limit Deadline Nears, Concern Ticks Up But Skepticism Persists  —  Despite Image Problems, GOP Holds Ground on Key Issues  —  With just two days to go before an Oct. 17 deadline to raise the nation's debt limit, 51% of the public views a rise in the nation's debt limit as …