Reid Blocks First G.O.P. Offer on Filibuster Reform, Leaves Nuclear Option on Table  —  Sen. John McCain's proposal doesn't go far enough for Majority Leader Harry Reid  —  For at least the third time this year, Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid is threatening the “nuclear option” …

G.O.P. Maps Out Waves of Attacks Over Health Law  —  WASHINGTON — The memo distributed to House Republicans this week was concise and blunt, listing talking points and marching orders: “Because of Obamacare, I Lost My Insurance.”  “Obamacare Increases Health Care Costs.”

Obama's Race for the Cure  —  The President's second term may hinge on how fast his health care reform can recover  —  A good President needs a big comfort zone.  He should be able to treat enemies as opportunities, appear authentic in joy and grief, stay cool under the hot lights.

Blame Rich, Overeducated Elites as Our Society Frays  —  Complex human societies, including our own, are fragile.  They are held together by an invisible web of mutual trust and social cooperation.  This web can fray easily, resulting in a wave of political instability, internal conflict and, sometimes, outright social collapse.

The race that broke the Cheney family  —  What happened when a gay sister came between Liz Cheney and a Senate seat.  —  Liz Cheney just wanted to enjoy her milkshake.  It was a Friday afternoon in early November, and the shadows were growing longer over the flat expanse of eastern Wyoming as a hard week dragged on.

Insurers restricting choice of doctors and hospitals to keep costs down  —  As Americans have begun shopping for health plans on the insurance exchanges, they are discovering that insurers are restricting their choice of doctors and hospitals in order to keep costs low, and that many of the plans exclude top-rated hospitals.

Palo Alto man, 85, removed from plane, detained in North Korea  —  An 85-year-old Korean War veteran and experienced globetrotter from Palo Alto is being detained in North Korea, where he was removed from a plane three weeks ago while leaving the reclusive country at the end of a visit …

Alec Baldwin: ‘I want you to be my lover, Matt’  —  The actor, under fire for video that captured him possibly using a gay slur, tried humor to ease the backlash.  —  CONNECT  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Alec Baldwin jokingly professed his love for a man in front of a large crowd Wednesday …

GOP on ObamaCare: Let it self-destruct  —  Republican lawmakers who pushed the government shutdown to stop ObamaCare say their new plan is to sit back and watch the law self-destruct.  —  Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and other Tea Party allies of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) say the threat of a shutdown …

Bill Gates condom challenge ‘to be met’ by graphene scientists  —  Safer condoms will be one of the first products developed at the new National Graphene Institute in Manchester.  —  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded scientists $100,000 (£60,000) to create stronger, thinner condoms from the new “wonder material”.

Statement: Police warned accuser about pursuing Jameis Winston matter  —  A Tallahassee detective told an accuser's attorney that Tallahassee is a “big football town” and her client's life could “be made miserable” if she pursued a sexual assault case against Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston …

Arne Duncan tries to turn the page  —  In his first live television interview since making controversial comments about “white suburban moms,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan apologized on Thursday for the “clumsy” remarks as he tried to turn the page.  —  Facing repeated questioning …

Perry on Presidential Debate Overhaul: 'Hell, Yeah"  —  Photograph by Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images  —  Texas Governor Rick Perry during a press conference on the sidelines of the Republicans' State Party Convention in Anaheim, California, on Oct. 4, 2013.