Why the Speaker capitulated to Obama  —  Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) abrupt decision to capitulate and hand President Obama a straightforward debt-ceiling increase resulted from simmering divisions that have virtually paralyzed his majority.  —  On an issue that once defined his Speakership …

Wendy Davis backs 20-week abortion ban that defers to women  —  Wendy Davis said Tuesday that she would have supported a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, if the law adequately deferred to a woman and her doctor.  —  Davis, a Fort Worth senator and the likely Democratic nominee for governor …

‘Impeach the President’  —  You guys in the press who are reading this right now can be such shameless whores.  I generally try to hold to the standard these days that if I wouldn't be outraged by George Chimpy McBushitler Halliburton and Darth Cheney doing something, I shouldn't be outraged by President Obama.

‘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 …

Exclusive: Stop the NSA while we still can  —  Editor's note: Rand Paul is a Republican senator representing Kentucky.  Matt Kibbe is president and CEO of FreedomWorks.  Ken Cuccinelli is former attorney general of Virginia and a former Republican candidate for governor.

U.S. Uninsured Rate Drops so Far in First Quarter of 2014  —  Rate among 26- to 34-year-olds continues to fall  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The percentage of uninsured Americans fell to 16.0% so far in the first quarter of 2014 from 17.1% in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Kentucky ban on gay marriages from other states struck down by federal judge  —  In a ruling that could open the door to gay marriage in Kentucky, a federal judge on Wednesday struck down Kentucky's ban on recognizing valid same-sex marriages performed in other states, saying it violates …

Eight Corvettes swallowed by massive sink hole at National Corvette Museum  —  A 40-foot sink hole at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green swallowed eight of the sports cars on display inside the the facility's iconic Sky Dome Wednesday morning, said executive director Wendell Strode.

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 …

No one can make ObamaCare work  —  I could rage on and on about Monday's gobsmacking announcement that the Obama administration is once again unilaterally delaying a key aspect of its health-care law and what this act of astonishing royalism suggests about the president and his fundamental disrespect …

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 …

Union Drive Doesn't Bother Management, but G.O.P. Fumes  —  As workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., prepare to vote this week on whether to join the United Automobile Workers, they are facing unusual pressure from the state's Republican legislators to reject the union.

Former New Orleans mayor guilty of bribery, money laundering, fraud  —  (CNN) — Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, whose desperate pleas for help during Hurricane Katrina drew national attention, walked silently out of a courthouse Wednesday after a jury convicted him of federal corruption charges.

California GOP Rep. Gary Miller to retire  —  Washington (CNN) - California Republican Rep. Gary Miller announced Wednesday he would not run for re-election in November, giving Democrats a good chance to pick up his seat in the midterm election.  —  “It has been a great honor to spend …

North Dakota Leads in Job Creation for Fifth Straight Year  —  Rhode Island replaced Maine in 2013 as state with lowest Job Creation Index  —  PRINCETON, NJ — For the fifth consecutive year, North Dakota topped all other states in employee perceptions of job creation at their workplaces in 2013 …

Topless Images of Olympic Skier a Scandal in Lebanon  —  BEIRUT - Lebanon has long been known as the most liberal Arab country in the Middle East, many of its women unafraid of baring the kind of flesh that would invite scorn and outrage elsewhere in the region.

Both Sides Object to I.R.S. Plan to Restrict Nonprofits' Political Activity  —  WASHINGTON — With time running short, both progressive and conservative advocacy groups are raising serious objections to new rules proposed by the Obama administration to rein in political activity …

How Much Does It Cost to Be Ambassador to Hungary?  —  Watching John McCain set-up a fellow senator like a bowling pin is a rare Washington pleasure.  Even when he does it in Budapest.  —  A couple of weeks ago, McCain led a large congressional delegation to the Munich Security Conference …

The plot to make Big Food pay  —  Lawyers are pitching state attorneys general in 16 states with a radical idea: make the food industry pay for soaring obesity-related health care costs.  —  It's a move straight from the playbook of the Big Tobacco takedown of the 1990s …

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 …