Cruz to House Conservatives: Oppose Boehner  —  On a Thursday conference call, a group of House conservatives consulted with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas about how to respond to the leadership's fiscal strategy.  Sources who were on the call say Cruz strongly advised them to oppose it, and hours later, Speaker John Boehner's plan fizzled.

Your False-Equivalence Guide to the Days Ahead  —  A kind of politics we have not seen for more than 150 years  —  Two big examples of problematic self-government are upon us.  They are of course the possible partial shutdown of the federal government, following the long-running hamstringing …

OBAMA SPEAKS TO ROUHANI, SAYS IRAN DEAL POSSIBLE  —  You are here  —  Home » United States government » Obama speaks to Rouhani, says Iran deal possible  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by telephone Friday …

Judge legalizes same-sex marriage in New Jersey  —  TRENTON — A state judge today ruled to legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey, saying gay couples would be denied federal benefits if the state kept allowing only civil unions.  —  Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson granted an emergency request …

Worse Is the New Normal  —  A few years ago, after the publication of my book America Alone, an exasperated reader wrote to advise me to lighten up, on the grounds that “we're rich enough to be stupid.”  That's to say, Western democracies and their citizens are the wealthiest societies ever known …

DoD issues detailed shutdown guidance  —  American troops would continue fighting in Afghanistan if the government shut down next week, the Defense Department said Friday — but if any were killed, the Pentagon could not pay out their death gratuities until the government reopened.

Ted Cruz again refuses to back John Cornyn  —  AUSTIN, Texas — Sen. Ted Cruz refused point-blank to endorse his Texas Republican colleague Sen. John Cornyn in his upcoming reelection bid at an event here Friday.  —  “I think it is very likely I'm going to stay out of all incumbent runs,” …

U.N. Security Council OKs Syria resolution  —  In a vote Friday night, the Security Council's 15 members voted unanimously in favor of the resolution its five permanent members—Russia, the U.S., Britain, France and China—agreed on Thursday.  —  Its 10 other members are Argentina, Australia …

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'Eyes gouged out, bodies hanging from hooks, and fingers removed with pliers': Horrific claims of torture emerge as soldiers reveal gory Kenyan mall massacre details  —  Soldiers told of the horrific torture meted out by terrorists in the Nairobi mall massacre yesterday with claims hostages were dismembered …

Exclusive: McCain Hires Controversial Syria Analyst Elizabeth O'Bagy  —  Sen. John McCain has hired Elizabeth O'Bagy, the Syria analyst in Washington who was fired for padding her credentials, The Cable has learned.  She begins work Monday as a legislative assistant in McCain's office.

Editors' Note: September 27, 2013  —  The On Religion column on Saturday examined the crisis of faith of a minister, Teresa MacBain, who resigned her pulpit after concluding that she no longer believed in God.  After the article was published, questions were raised about her educational background.