Paul Ryan will support budget deal  —  <p>After sharply criticizing how it came together, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan announced he would support the budget deal Wednesday.</p><p>" What I've heard from members over the last two weeks is a desire to wipe the slate clean, put in place a process …

Ben Carson vs. Ben Carson  —  <p>Ben Carson calls abortion murder but thinks states should decide whether it's legal.  The retired neurosurgeon says it's wrong to accuse fellow Americans of treason, yet suggested President Barack Obama could be guilty of the crime.

Bill Press: Carson: Smart, but wrong  —  Everybody knows the Republican presidential primary has been good for cable television.  The first two GOP debates scored record-high ratings for Fox News and for CNN, and record-high revenue from advertisers — and this week's encounter should do the same for CNBC.

Dennis Hastert pleads guilty in hush money case  —  <p>CHICAGO — Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of evading federal bank reporting laws in connection with a scheme to pay hush money to a former associate.</p><p> Hastert entered the plea in front of a federal judge in Chicago.

S.C. Deputy Who Slammed Student to Be Fired: Sources  —  South Carolina authorities will announce Wednesday that Richland County Senior Deputy Ben Fields, the school resource officer who was caught on camera violently flipping a high school student in her classroom, will be relieved of duty, sources told NBC News.