How John Boehner decided to give up on the debt limit fight  —  This week's debt-limit drama ended as it began: with House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), standing alone before his colleagues, asking them for their support, but receiving only silence and stares in return.

First on CNN-Confidant's diary: Clinton wanted to keep records for ‘revenge’  —  Fayetteville, Arkansas (CNN) - Shortly before Hillary Clinton's effort to pass health care reform died in the summer of 1994, the first lady asked a close friend and confidant for advice on “how best to preserve …

‘Morning Joe’ Panelist Outraged That Chuck Todd Didn't Praise Chris Christie (VIDEO)  —  A “Morning Joe” panelist was shocked to learn Wednesday that some people weren't as dazzled by Chris Christie's visit to Chicago.  —  NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd stopped …

De Blasio Called Police Over Pastor's Arrest  —  A Member of the Mayor's Inaugural Committee Who Had Two Outstanding Warrants Was Arrested  —  A member of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's inaugural committee who had two outstanding warrants was arrested Monday night after a traffic stop …

Michael Sam's Troubled Upbringing in Texas  —  COLUMBIA, Mo. — Michael Sam was the loud country boy who wore a tank top and a cowboy hat.  He was the smooth-singing baritone who could irritate his coaches and crack up his teammates with his improvised songs.

From Snowy Atlanta to Sunny Sochi, This Winter Is All About Global Weirding  —  Every time the thermometer drops, another anti-science politician mocks climate change as a fallacy.  Here's why they're wrong.  —  So much for “HotLanta.”  Georgia is starting to look a lot like the opening scene from The Day After Tomorrow.

The Insiders: Obamacare creates new ways to prosecute American business  —  It's been a bad week for Obamacare.  Incredibly, the White House has had to grant yet another delay in the employer mandate.  This time, employers with between 50 to 99 employees who don't already offer health insurance …

Faulconer wins mayor's race  —  Alvarez says works goes on whether as mayor or city councilman  —  SAN DIEGO — Republican City Councilman Kevin Faulconer defeated Democratic Councilman David Alvarez in the San Diego mayor's race Tuesday night.  —  Faulconer had 55.2 percent compared …

Republicans expanding field in Senate contests, but what about the House?  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL BARACK OBAMA OBAMACARE POLLS 2014 ELECTIONS CAMPAIGNS  —  There's no question that Obamacare hurts the prospects of Democratic candidates in 2014.  The question is how much — and where?

In Governors' Races This Year, Lessons for 2016  —  MADISON, Wis. — Three years after stripping public employee unions of the right to collectively bargain, Gov. Scott Walker began this election year by introducing workers who had found jobs since he took office.

Part 2: Affirmative action doesn't work.  It never did.  It's time for a new solution.  —  I.  —  In 2009, I attended the NAACP's 100th annual convention at the Midtown Hilton in New York.  Not just the centenary celebration for the nation's oldest civil rights organization …

SC Gov. Haley says she backs carrying firearms without permits, training  —  COLUMBIA, SC — S.C. Constitutional Carry Act  —  S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley said Tuesday that she backs a proposal that would make it legal for most South Carolinians to carry guns - concealed or in the open …

Treadwell camp says new US Senate poll ‘ignores the space-time continuum’  —  A new Alaska poll predicts the U.S. Senate race will be a runaway, with incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Begich landing 45 percent of the vote.  —  But in the fantasy face-off that looks nine months into the future …

Biggest rises and falls in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index  —  The 2014 World Press Freedom Index spotlights the negative impact of conflicts on freedom of information and its protagonists.  The ranking of some countries has also been affected by a tendency to interpret national security needs …

Democrats, Media Slam President Romney Over Health Care Law Changes  —  Washington D. C.  — In a move certain to please his conservative supporters and infuriate his critics, President Romney announced this afternoon that his administration would make yet another change to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.