The Clock Ticks Down on Whether We've Entered a New Era in American Politics  —  Two years ago, when President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, the idea that its individual mandate provision was unconstitutional was laughable.  There was no case law, no precedent, and frankly …

Obama picks John Kerry to play Romney in mock debate rehearsals  —  President Obama has tapped Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, to play Republican Mitt Romney in mock debate rehearsals, Obama campaign officials and the senator's office confirmed Monday.

Rubio Says Own Dream Act Derailed for Now  —  Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said Monday that President Barack Obama's move last week to block deportations for some young illegal immigrants in the U.S. has likely derailed his own similar efforts, at least until after the election.

Clemens Is Found Not Guilty in Perjury Trial  —  WASHINGTON — Roger Clemens, whose hard throws intimidated even the toughest batters and turned him into one of the best pitchers in baseball history, was acquitted Monday of charges that he lied to Congress in 2008 when he insisted …

More transparency into government requests  —  About two years ago, we launched our interactive Transparency Report.  We started by disclosing data about government requests.  Since then, we've been steadily adding new features, like graphs showing traffic patterns and disruptions to Google services from different countries.

The Obama Campaign Needs an Intervention  —  During a focus group in Denver last week, Jeffrey Penny laid out his “criteria” for giving President Barack Obama his vote this year as he did in 2008.  —  “I just want to see specifics and quit the trash talk,” the 31-year-old web designer …

At Party, Bloomberg Tips Hand on Endorsement  —  Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York has remained coy about whether he plans to endorse a presidential candidate this year, even as Mitt Romney and President Obama aggressively court the billionaire media mogul.

Obama's Harvard law professor says ‘President MUST be defeated in 2012’ (even though he's the man Barack used to have on speed dial)  —  A former professor of Barack Obama has turned against his one-time student and publicly urged voters not to re-elect him.

WBUR Poll: Angus King Heavy Favorite To Replace Sen. Snowe  —  A new WBUR poll shows former Maine Gov. Angus King as the heavy favorite to replace retiring Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe.  Current poll numbers have King, who is running as an independent, with 50 percent of likely voters …

‘How would a Jewish person feel if you put a swastika on a shoe?’  Adidas under fire for unveiling new trainer with orange ‘shackles’ like those worn by black slaves  —  Adidas has sparked outrage and been accused of ‘promoting slavery’ by creating a new pair of trainers which have bright orange 'shackles …

9 Tall Tales From Barack Obama's Memoir  —  1. Hussein Onyango, Barack's grandfather, wasn't really imprisoned and tortured by the British.  —  Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com  —  2. The father of his Indonesian stepfather, Soewarno Martodihardjo, wasn't killed by Dutch soldiers in the fight for independence.

Businesses make $4M off NYC students by holding their cellphones during school  —  The city's ban on cellphones in schools is taking an amazing $4.2 million a year out of kids' pockets, a Post analysis has found.  —  The students — who attend the nearly 90 high schools and middle schools …

Obama's Iraq Envoy Nominee Steps Aside  —  President Obama's nominee for ambassador to Iraq withdrew from consideration on Monday after a series of racy e-mails fueled Republican resistance to his confirmation in the Senate.  —  Brett H. McGurk, Mr. Obama's choice for envoy to Iraq …

Robert Redford: Democrats are bad storytellers  —  Robert Redford's a long-time supporter of the Democratic Party, but he thinks they could stand to learn a thing or two from his profession: Storytelling.  —  In the latest issue of Outside magazine, the actor and director is asked why …

Michelle Obama slaps ‘corporate’ work, ‘fat paychecks’  —  President Obama along with his mother-in-law Marian Robinson and wife Michelle Obama watch a basketball game November 2009 between GWU and Oregon State, coached by the first lady's brother, Craig Robinson, standing at right.

Taliban to U.S.: End drone strikes in Pakistan, or no more polio vaccines  —  Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) — A Taliban commander in northwest Pakistan has announced a ban on polio vaccines for children as long as the United States continues its campaign of drone strikes in the region, according to a statement by the Taliban.

Two Partisan Warriors, Michael Steele and Lanny Davis, Going Purple  —  Michael Steele and Lanny Davis are challenging their parties to stop the politics of demonization.  The strange bedfellows tell Howard Kurtz why they're teaming up.  —  Michael Steele and Lanny Davis are quick to admit they are reformed sinners.

Comedy Central host Jon Stewart regularly bashes American multimillionaires for their wealth while ignoring the awkward fact that he's one of them.  —  Though Stewart distances himself from the “one-percenters” and bellows over their extravagance, his bank accounts bear all the marks of the …